Jimmy, I don't want to kill them all and know I can't. I don't even mess with rattlesnakes unless they are around the house or water. I take my Gkids to see them so they will understand. However, if they are where I/we spend a lot of time, there is no real upside to their presence. The potential for loss outweighs the possible gain.
I hope they spend a bunch of their life in the natural world and see snakes as part of it. I've only been bitten once but had some close calls. Only a couple of "mean" rattlers that have actually come after me. I stepped on the snake that bit me and it was defending itself. However, I don't personally know of anyone else who has even been bitten.
Of course, none of this matters. Wife says clobber the poisonous snakes around the house and ponds. Yes Ma'am.
