Snakes will be found where the food and cover is. The more productive the pond the more likely you will find snakes and more of them. The ponds that have more cover around the edges, cattails, tall grass, and brush will have more snakes.

I keep track of dispatched moccasins by the foot. I am past the 30 foot mark for our 3 acre pond. If I do not keep the grass cut short near the waters edge we will see more snakes. I do not call them docile. They hold their ground. They know you are near & they do not run. Black racers & even the rattlesnakes run if they can. They see you and you are bigger than they are.

While using a walk behind mower near the waters edge I pasted within 4 feet of a moccasin. He did not move. Consider the noise and vibration from the mower. As I mowed at the edge of the water, I was 2 feet from him before I saw him and he dropped into the water. I was within on step of being bitten.

My motto: 12 feet & a 12 gauge.