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A Twofer

43 comments

I live in an old house. And like any old house, it’s drafty, and full of various nooks and crannies that allow critters to get inside.

The rats stayed in the barn out back, and over the past three years, I’ve managed to decimate their population with the aid of a flashlight and a .22 loaded with ratshot.

The mice, however, still tend to get into the house occasionally, and whenever I notice the telltale signs of their presence, I set out more glue traps in all the usual places. Last night, a mouse shot out from under the wall furnace, rocketed under the bed, and got stuck to the glue trap along the baseboard.

I thought it a little odd that he’d just zip across an open floor like that, almost like he’d been frightened out of hiding. This morning, I checked the glue trap under the furnace and found out why:

Eighteen inch copperhead.

That’s an eighteen inch copperhead. No wonder the mouse bolted out of there.

On a side note, I finally found something that would skeeve a girl out more than a mouse caught in a trap.

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Posted by on May 27, 2010 • Filed under: Uncategorized
  • landlockedtxn

    Kelly,
    I am thinkin' maybeeeee it is time to move! :) I would have dropped dead of a heart attack had I seen that on MY glueboard!

  • http://twitter.com/scottfactor Scott Factor

    I'd rather have the snake in my house than the mouse….but then again, the snake will crawl into bed with you to keep warm.

    http://scottfactor.com

  • http://injennifershead.com Jennifer

    Yeah… Poisonous snakes in the house are kind of a bad thing. Or at least I think so. YMMV

  • http://www.ckzcj.com Kim

    Dang and I thought our current scorpion issue was a bad thing. Nope. Not even close.

  • epijunky

    Sweet mother of GOD.

  • Old_NFO

    LOL- Yep, THAT got the mouse's attention all right… My Mother found a copperhead curled up in the sink one morning, and that old butcher knife got a quick workout…

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=558160078 Heather Bayliss

    ugh… i would rather deal with a snake then a scorpion any day. either way – death is a quick end to the plight of being stuck to the glue board.

  • Joe Allen

    Move?!?

    It's time to take off and nuke it from orbit – it's the only way to be sure!

  • http://twitter.com/lilminimedic Mini Medic

    AD, I damn near threw my Droid across my apartment when I scrolled down and discovered my finger was RIGHT on top of that picture. (I have a “mild” phobia of snakes, to say the least; the thought of even TOUCHING a picture of a snake gives my the willies.)

    Was that thing still alive when you found it?

    I ordered your book, and it finally came in the mail. I can't to start reading it…

  • Ambulance_Driver

    Yep. Tried to bite me when I removed the glue trap.

  • 40lizard

    I just want to know one thing : how far did you jump back when you discovered what was under that furnace? and by the way your next order of business should be to maybe MOVE?

  • http://chromedcurses.com LL

    Dammit, Kelly, I hate your sorry ass for not putting a “snake” warning in the Post Title.

    I shall get even some day, trust me.

  • maddmedic

    We do not have that problem here where it freezes solid for 6 months of the year!!
    Damn snakes!!

  • Ambulance_Driver

    You can spank me and abuse my body in retaliation, LL. ;)

  • landlockedtxn

    Heather, I have to respectfully disagree….

    I hate scorpions with a passion and snakes even more so; however, with that being said, I would take a whole bunch of scorpions over a snake even a garden snake any day!

    Good thing KatyBeth wasn't there.

    AD,
    You need to set up a pay pal button saying donate to the new home fund. I am sure most of us will contribute at least a dollar or two.

  • steph moore

    Ummm, let me correct you here, AD: That's NOT a copperhead. It's a corn snake. Non-venomous, good for mouse control. I've got a few as pets. And one out by the shop to take care of the mice out there.

  • steph moore

    Copperheads have a triangular head very similar to rattlesnakes. Their scales are keeled like rattlesnake scales. Cornsnakes and most rat snakes are smooth-scaled, and their heads are narrow.

    I know it's irrelevant because you've probably already killed this little guy, but it I just wanted to explain this to your readers because it pains me to see non-venomous snakes tarred with the same brush as venomous ones. They're just trying to keep down the rodent populations, y'know?

  • landlockedtxn

    Steph,

    Most corn snakes I have seen are yellowish in color without all the pretty patterns…If it slithers like snake, coloring, markings like this snake, it is a copperhead…Have seen many like this. We have found one in our house as well that looked just like this..

    best wishes!

  • Coyote

    This doesn't look like a copperhead to me. The markings aren't right. But still, I can see why you weren't crazy about finding it in your house. :D

  • http://swordmastersapprentice.blogspot.com hilinda

    I'd far rather have a snake in the house than rodents. Not that I'm afraid of mice; I'm not. But they destroy things. And rats are much, much worse. They can pretty much eat the damned house.
    When I was a wee one of about three years old, I scared the bejesus out of my parents when they found me petting a copperhead. Nice snaky!
    Generally, I go around relocating snakes for folks what is scared of 'em.
    Only ever been bit by a snake once, and it was my fault. He didn't take kindly to the way I picked him up.
    Only ever been stung by a scorpion once, too, and that hurt like hell and about put me through the roof. Or would have, had I been indoors. Nasty little critter.

    Did you figure out where the snake got in, or is that a losing proposition in your house?

  • Ambulance_Driver

    Several people have called it a corn snake, and another called it a rat snake. It may be either.

    Shame that I couldn't have gotten it off the glue trap, regardless. I had to kill it.

  • http://hecatescrossroad.blogspot.com/ hecate

    Take it from an amateur herpetologist with 40 years' experience. It's a Texas Rat Snake:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaphe_obsoleta_li…

    A non-venomous and highly beneficial species. Fear and hatred of snakes is just as foolish as fear and hatred of guns, and exists for exactly the same reasons.

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  • http://www.ambulancedriverfiles.com Ambulance Driver

    A Texas rat snake? Then if it was poisonous, it was at the very least a damned furriner, which is almost as bad. ;)

  • http://www.ambulancedriverfiles.com Ambulance Driver

    It’s #12 shot. Very fine, loaded into little .22 caliber capsules. You can get it in several calibers.

    I’ve been shot with rat shot, accidentally, at about fifteen feet. Stings like hell, leaves a rash, but no lasting injuries.

    If you’re a rat, however…

  • http://lookingforlissa.wordpress.com Lissa

    What's ratshot?

  • http://hecatescrossroad.blogspot.com/ hecate

    Take it from an amateur herpetologist with 40 years' experience. It's a Texas Rat Snake:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaphe_obsoleta_li…

    A non-venomous and highly beneficial species. Fear and hatred of snakes is just as foolish as fear and hatred of guns, and exists for exactly the same reasons.

  • http://www.medicmadness.com Sean Eddy

    At a recent family BBQ, a rattlesnake showed up on the back porch. Before you knew it, it was on the grill and was then consumed by my family.

    Good eating :)

  • http://lookingforlissa.wordpress.com Lissa

    What's ratshot?

  • Crackmonkey

    Glue traps, huh????? Isn't that inhumane???????? ;-)

  • http://phlegmfatale.blogspot.com phlegmfatale

    This is magnificent and horrifying all at the same time. Someone told me copperheads smell like cucumbers– is that true?

  • Snigs

    Be it a copperhead, corn snake, rat snake or any other name you tag it with, the only good snake is a very dead snake. Thanks for sharing AD…I'll be sleeping with the lights on for a week now.

  • Snigs

    Be it a copperhead, corn snake, rat snake or any other name you tag it with, the only good snake is a very dead snake. Thanks for sharing AD…I'll be sleeping with the lights on for a week now.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=558160078 Heather Bayliss

    Just for future reference – not that it may ever help – but peanut oil will dissolve the sticky glue on those traps. So, hopefully someone AD has as a reader and gets a snake caught that they know for certain is not a nasty one they can gently scrub the peanut oil around the lil guy and turn it loose. Doesn't take much – will take a lil bit of time. wont hurt them in the long run.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=558160078 Heather Bayliss

    I don't mind snakes – I can feasibly chase them off… but scorpions are quite a bit more aggressive.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=558160078 Heather Bayliss

    Just for future reference – not that it may ever help – but peanut oil will dissolve the sticky glue on those traps. So, hopefully someone AD has as a reader and gets a snake caught that they know for certain is not a nasty one they can gently scrub the peanut oil around the lil guy and turn it loose. Doesn't take much – will take a lil bit of time. wont hurt them in the long run.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=558160078 Heather Bayliss

    I don't mind snakes – I can feasibly chase them off… but scorpions are quite a bit more aggressive.

  • 5150

    Just found your blog and am enjoying it immensely. I spent 10+ years as a medic and am also a veteran–your Memorial Day page was very appropriate and much appreciated.

    Please…while no one wants vermin and their predators in his/her house, would you consider alternatives to glue traps? It's a truly heinous way to die. Thanks.

    Did the mouse celebrate its narrow escape by heading for the hills?

    Looking forward to reading more. Stay safe.

  • 5150

    Not that I can change your opinion, but snakes provide a very important role in nature. They certainly won't be coming to visit you (or anyone else, for that matter) as they are very shy and respectful. People are way too big to even be considered as food; snakes attack when they feel threatened/cornered. Give them room to leave and they will, gladly.

    Interesting note: dogs get bitten in the face and cats on their feet because that's what they offer to the snake.

  • 5150

    Just found your blog and am enjoying it immensely. I spent 10+ years as a medic and am also a veteran–your Memorial Day page was very appropriate and much appreciated.

    Please…while no one wants vermin and their predators in his/her house, would you consider alternatives to glue traps? It's a truly heinous way to die. Thanks.

    Did the mouse celebrate its narrow escape by heading for the hills?

    Looking forward to reading more. Stay safe.

  • 5150

    Not that I can change your opinion, but snakes provide a very important role in nature. They certainly won't be coming to visit you (or anyone else, for that matter) as they are very shy and respectful. People are way too big to even be considered as food; snakes attack when they feel threatened/cornered. Give them room to leave and they will, gladly.

    Interesting note: dogs get bitten in the face and cats on their feet because that's what they offer to the snake.

  • Occamstazer

    Biologist and longtime herpetology hobbyist here, just want to second what hecate said, that's a subspecies of ratsnake you've got there.

    I *love* this blog, btw, and I'm having fun reading back through all the stuff I've missed. :-)

  • Scloibert

    That’s not a copperhead, it’ a brown rat snake. Copperheads have large triangular heads and vertical slits for eyes. This snake almost certainly has round eyes although it is quite dark. The colors are similar but the patern is wrong.

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