Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Snakes in the pond

We seem to have a large number of snakes in the Zephyr pond. I know some will eat fish (I have seen them in Oklahoma crawling out of water with fish in mouth). I am thinning out some of them especially ones that appear to me moccasins. I guess the question is are they of some benefit? I opened the door to my storage building down there the other day and a small solid green snake was draped across the top of the door. I didn't see him until he dropped between my feet. Laundry time!

"Laundry time!"

Kudos to you, heybud, for being man enough to admit that.

Snakes are harmless in a pond. Their metabolism is slow, and they only need to eat one or two small fish per month to survive. Unlike birds and otters, they can only eat about 2 or 3 per week at most. Snakes usually catch only slow, injured, or stupid fish**. You might say they clean up the gene pool.

I used to fish a pond with too many small BG, and the owner instructed us to "throw them up on the bank". There were many hungry water snakes waiting for the fish. Without those snakes, we would have had a major stink and fly infestation on our hands.

**as opposed to alert, intelligent, enlightened fish, of course.

I get two kinds of snakes in the pond, "the boy it's hot I need to cool off" kind and the ones who live in the water kind. The first group usually don't eat anything in the water, but some are poisonous and seem to be seasonal, almost migratory. The second eat a small fish every other day or so, depending on the size of both. Comical to see a snake with eyes bigger than it mouth. My water is turbid so fishing by the snake is easy, but even so the water snake moves on. Like all the rest of your visitors they are part of the package. Kill them or ignore them, either way will probably not make much of a difference. I used to let them all live, but now I kill the ones I know to be poisonous. Just too many kids around the pound.

Quite a few years ago, I noticed some commotion around the side of one of my small ponds. I saw a 4 ft water snake of some kind coming out of the water with an 8 inch CC in his mouth. It was sideways like a dog carrying a bone. I had a gun and killed it. I didn't know they would do that.

I end up shooting one or two snakes a year at the pond to help ensure domestic tranquility. My wife still claims all Northern Water Snakes will try to climb in a rubber raft full of helpless women and children after having only one exhibit this behavior.

If you are killing snakes to please your spouse, be sure she sees the corpse. You get more Honeydew Points that way.

heybud, get a book about the snakes of Texas so that you can identify what you have. "Snakes" like "fish" come in all kinds of sizes, shapes and dispositions. Of course, most people think any snake in the water is a water moccasin . In general, moccasins are amoung the most docile of snakes. The common water snakes (Natrix species) are not venemous but can be very agressive.

Theo,

Quote "If you are killing snakes to please your spouse, be sure she sees the corpse. You get more Honeydew Points that way."

I always practice that. It is amazing that they seem more secure in the person they are with, is an actual "protector of all things."

Oh, didn't you mean DMD points?

Sometimes that can even backfire, though. To the wife and granddaughters, "there are no snakes around the pond since I have been cleaning it up. They dont like to be around people." If I would bring up a dead snake, that may shoot down the 'papaw knows all, sees all' myth.

interesting topic......we've had four basic types of snakes around and in the pond. after living with many varieties in the foothills here in ca, i've learned quite a bit about them, and echo bobad's comment that they will not need or eat much.

you guys may be interested to know that on two occassions i've seen our native pacific diamond backs (rattlers) swim across the pond. i have never read or heard of rattlers taking to water, but have witnessed it on my property.

the usual loiterers in the water are common garters and giant garters (up to 5 feet)....both types of garters love the water. passersby near pond edges are typically bull/gopher snakes, golden racers, and king snakes...a very docile and "friendly" snake. We really like those cause they will eat rattlers....of which we have by the dozens throughout the dry season.


D.I.E.D.

Water moccasins are extremely shy, and will not bite unless stepped on or cornered. They are mostly night feeders, and are rarely seen in ponds.

The various species of water snakes can become habituated to people, and will swim right up to you. They can become real pests, but are not dangerous or harmful. I refuse to let them worry me. It takes the fun out of fishing.

My wife had pictured herself floating around the pond cooling off come June. Now that she has seen the snakes, pond floating is going to be a lonely affair.

This is the first year of 3 that I know I have Northern Water Snakes. I walked up on one with a 3-4in bg in its mouth. While stalking the snake I found another smaller one and managed to kill it.My book on snakes has one picture in it, it is called, DEAD.

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.

This isn't really on topic, but has anyone been to a recent movie and seen a preview for an upcoming flick called "Snakes On A Plane?"

The preview shows that Samuel L. Jackson is starring in "Snakes On A Plane."

I can see the sequel now...."Bees On A Bus."

The final movie in the series will be "Spider In A Port-A-Poddy."

Unfortunately, there is a website:

www.snakesonaplane.com

So sad...

Who says they don't make great truly bad movies anymore? My family of MST3K-ies and I shall be awaiting this movie's inevitable appearance in the bargin bin at Wallyworld. It may rival the Sam Elliot-Raymond Massey truly bad classic "Frogs" (where the horror was rampaging frogs, 100% played by toads - there was not a single frog in the entire picture).

Snakes can't hear. The nearest thing they have to a sense of hearing is they can feel the slightest vibration through the ground. A mower to them is probably like having a 12ga going off by your ears continuously. They get sensory overload and sort of shut down.