Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me About the Snakes?

A New View

Angela Connor is Managing Editor for User-Generated Content at CBC New Media. She recently relocated to the Triangle from South Florida with her husband and two young daughters. In this blog she shares the ups, downs and uncertainties that come along with making North Carolina her new home.

Posted: September 25, 2007
Updated: October 12, 2011

A member of WRAL.com’s online community Golo, wrote a blog yesterday about finding a Copperhead snake in his garage, and I must admit that it freaked me out.

But what freaked me out more was some of the advice he was given on how to get rid of the snake, most of which was to get yet another snake to run it away.
I am deathly afraid of snakes, and if the solution to get rid of one is to actively seek out another, I’m in big trouble.

Now, I’ve lived here in NC since February and I think I’m doing a fine job of adjusting to my new environment. I managed to make it through the pollen, I passed the driver’s test which is required here even though you hold a driver’s license from another state, and I’m adjusting to riding my bike up and down all of the hills.

But snakes?? That’s a different issue, and if I see one, I am going to pass out.

So instead of asking how to get rid of one, I’m asking how to get AWAY from one. If I happen to see a snake in my garage, what do I do? Get back in the car and drive off?
Go check into a hotel? Ignore it? Run like the wind?

Please note that “wrestling” it is not an option.

Any advice?

16 Comments

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Why kill snakes? They are crucial to rodent control, simply have it removed. Call animal control.

scorekeep
September 26, 2007 2:09 p.m.

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Be careful with the mothballs - if you get too many, they will run YOU out of the house!

outlawtaxi
September 26, 2007 1:15 p.m.

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I just leave Copperheads be. They will go about their business and on their way. Copperheads are members of the pit viper family. They eat mice, birds, frogs, snakes, and insects. Their bite is extremely painful and but rarely deadly. Biting is their last defense, they will remain still hoping the threat passes. If not, then they will vibrate their tail. Remember, unless you step on it or try to pick it up it can’t bite you. My father was bitten by a neonate (baby) on his right hand. After the swelling went down the bite had actually helped his arthritis. Don’t hate; educate.

Deep thoughts
September 26, 2007 6:42 a.m.

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I hear ya Angela. You really shouldn't worry about snakes though. They're usually just as pleased to stay out of your way as you are freaked out when ya see them. Usually they're looking for food, so try and keep that from being available and usually all you'll have is an occasional transient coming through. For me, I freak out on the spiders...as someone already said, those Brown Recluses seem to be on the increase as I keep hearing of people being bitten far more than I used to.

oldrebel
September 25, 2007 9:46 p.m.

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HEELZareNumber1...I have heard of that method also with snakes. Luckily I have never seen one but may be my dogs would get them first or scare them off. Mothballs also keep cats from doing thier business around your yard, flower beds, out of garbage cans, or getting under house too.

headlong
September 25, 2007 7:39 p.m.

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Welcome to North Carolina. Just thought I'd pass this on to you:

Indigenous poisonous snakes -- copperhead, cottonmouth, rattlesnake (3 species), coral snake.

Poisonous spiders -- black widow, brown recluse.

Poisonous insects -- bees in all their various forms, wasps, hornets, saddleback caterpiller, pus caterpiller.

Nasty insects due to diseases they carry -- mosquitos (encephalitis, west nile), ticks (rocky mountain spotted fever, lyme disease).

Nasty non-insects due to diseases they carry -- bats, racoons, and other vermin with rabies, Squirrels (plague).

Nasty things that bite -- deer flies, snapping turtles, and a whole host of other things.

And did you know that rotting cows can incubate anthrax?

Did I forget anything?

Again, welcome to North Carolina. :)

Steve Crisp
September 25, 2007 6:49 p.m.

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.Milky - Good descriptions! I think I have used the walk-on-water as well as the cartoon-rev-up-the-legs-while-in-place-and-then-zoom manuever as well!

oceanchild71
September 25, 2007 6:36 p.m.

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A cinderblock or similar-sized heavy rock dropped on the head worked real good one time.

oceanchild71
September 25, 2007 6:34 p.m.

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Shovels and garden hoes work wonders on snakes. A .22 rifle with a few rounds of shotshell works great too.

JuanGrande v3.0
September 25, 2007 6:31 p.m.

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We've had success with a shovel, but then again, if I saw a snake, I merely call my husband or, if not available, the first available male with a backbone.

I hate snakes, any kind.