Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking snake problems

I have a very bad water moccasin problem in my pond. I go out every night and shoot them but the problem does not seem to be getting any better. Does anyone know of a trap that works or anything that may help the problem

Cottonmouth / water moccasins (assuming you've correctly IDed them) are attracted to the smell of dead fish, and seek habitat that is conducive to concealment. Like every other creature, they will occupy sites that provide ample food and shelter (esp weedy shorelines).
Reduce or eliminate either factor and they won't hang around - or at least not as much.
A partially submerged collapsible wire-mesh fish basket, stocked with a few dead 4" bluegill, makes a decent "trap" (sometimes unintentionally).
Watersnakes will often enter the basket through the mesh, but can't easily exit in the same manner after devouring one or two of the bluegills.
Just a thought....

Sounds logical. Certainly a lot safer than spaying and neutering.

yes I have id them they are water moccasins. I have spent alot of money stocking it and clearing up the water the last thing I want to do is spray anything in my pond. I think you have given me a idea and I am going to build a trap for them.

I killed 20 or so water snakes out of my pond this summer using the aformentioned trap. No need to build anything just buy a few minnow traps, theyre like 5$.

I've pulled out a few "Medusa headed" fish baskets in my day. Always a good time.

Not for Todd3138....

Puke.

Todd they suck!

Cottonmouth Bite #1

Cottonmouth Bite #2

Couple of real rocket scientists there. That is why you ALWAYS approach ANY snake with a 12 gauge! They become very compliant after lead supplementation!

The FDA did just come out and say that supplements have no proven health benefit but can cause health problems. Lead supplements would fall into that category.

All I know is that lead supplements turn any snake into a good snake!

Culummills123, you will need a larger opening than a minnow trap for the large female water moccasins. They will sometimes be 4-6inches in diameter and can't get in as standard minnow trap.

Good point, seems like that could be curred pretty easily with some wire cutters though.

I have found northern water snakes in my minnow trap many times. I leave the top of the trap above water so I can release them unharmed.

Those minnow/crayfish traps are very good at catching snakes. For cottonmouths you need a hole big enough for them. You can get a nice crayfish trap with an extension that makes it about 31 inches long or so for about $15. You might have to make the holes a little bigger than the 2 1/4" size that it comes with.

I have caught black racers accidently by leaving minnow traps in my yard.

My neighbor caught a garden snake in a Have-a-heart trap one time, and a toad at the same time. The bulge in the toad kept the snake from escaping.