[BucksandDucks]

I have always loved snakes. When I was in school we did a study for psychology class. Put a large rubber snake on the center line of a road and then hid and observed. I think it was around one in 9 cars that intentionally swerved to hit the snake

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[Dish7]

I have always loved snakes. When I was in school we did a study for psychology class. Put a large rubber snake on the center line of a road and then hid and observed. I think it was around one in 9 cars that intentionally swerved to hit the snake

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I did a similar study on my own when I was about ten. Also with a rubber snake. I thought it was hilarious to hide it around the house in cupboards and closets. The best one was under my mothers pillow...never saw that rubber snake again.

 

[6Speed]

I was pulling the boat yesterday and saw a northern water snake about four feet long sitting in the shallows at the ramp. I tried hard to catch him for almost 10 minutes so I could take him home and scare my wife. He got away everytime and even stopped to eat a baby blue gill in front of me (probably laughing at me). I'd already put my wallet in my pocket of I'd have showed him who was boss!

I haven't tried to catch a snake in the water in many years, it was fun and would have made a good uTube.

 

[R.J.M.]

According to the Audubon society the turkeys are doing a number on the snake population in Michigan


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[fairfax1]

"According to the Audubon society the turkeys are doing a number on the snake population in Michigan."

No kidding?
I hadn't heard that before.
Do you have an article or a link on it.....I'd love to read more about that phenomena. It certainly sounds plausible.

………………….……………………………………………….

Speaking of 'Audubon' insights, I read (please don't ask for a link, I can't remember when or where)….but I read that with the demise of the ash tree due to emerald ash borer, well, it has spurred a population boom in woodpeckers. Counts are coming in higher than in memory.

"In nature's infinite book of secrecy...…"

 

[6Speed]

According to the Audubon society the turkeys are doing a number on the snake population in Michigan


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LOL...

 

[ReallyBigFish]

I'll be in the UP in a week. Hopefully I get to see one of the pine snakes. I've heard of em but haven't seen one yet.

 

[farmingsand]

According to the Audubon society the turkeys are doing a number on the snake population in Michigan


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We need more turkeys!

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[T Brown]

I’m fortunate enough to have the Copperbelly snake in my pond. Not a lot of people get to see them in MI. Here’s the skin of the big female after she shed. She’s been here the last 4 years since I moved home.

 

[cakebaker]

Gotta love the blue racer. Skin shed of 6ft pretty sure that's the record.

 

[fairfax1]

I hafta admit it …..blue racers startle me whenever I suddenly see 'em up close.

When I see any other snake I'm more curious than startled, but racers give me pause. They always seem formidable.....as if I'm the one trespassing on his land and he's somewhat PO'd about it.

It may just be my imagination.

BTW, Cakbker -----a live 6ft blue racer would give me a whole lot of pause.

 

[Uncle Boopoo]

For me it’s not really the snake itself, it’s more not knowing where they are and then suddenly finding out that I don’t like! When I see them in the wild, I force myself to get close enough for a pic!

Here’s a pair of blue racers at the beginning of May. Lake Co

Garter snake on a warm day in February. Monroe Co

This guy was in the parking lot at work. Wayne Co

Turkey season a couple years ago. Lake Co.


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[ReallyBigFish]

I had to look up the copperbelly water snake. Cool looking. It would be nice to see one eventually.

 

[T Brown]

They are super docile compared to a northern water snake.

 

[Dish7]

I hafta admit it …..blue racers startle me whenever I suddenly see 'em up close.

I have not seen one since I was a young kid. I will never forget it. I reached for what I thought was an old bicycle tire laying in a small junk pile. I took a big step back when the bike tire took off LOL.

This guy was in the parking lot at work. Wayne Co

Your third pic is a Brown snake. I stop for them while mowing my yard all the time. About the size of a pencil, cool little guys.

 

[ReallyBigFish]

Northern water snakes are crazy. Had one try to eat a bluegill I had on a stringer. Also I dared my brother to catch one and it turned around and chased him out of the water. I got a good laugh though.

 

[GIDEON]

As a kid growing up and playing in the mountains of W.Va., I learned to respect snakes at an early age. Lost a dog to a rattle snake bite at the age of ten, a couple more got hit but survived. I was first bit at the age of seventeen, three more bites since then. All Copperhead's. First struck by a rattle snake in my forties, (thank god for a wife whom insisted that I purchase chaps). Two years ago stepped on a thirty eight inch copperhead late one evening while camping, no strike though. Non poisonous snakes get a pass, so long as they are willing to go on their way. When I encounter the poisonous variety, well then it is game on. To date the largest oe I have encountered was a fifty three inch Rattler. She had 18 rattlers. If she had of nailed me, doubtful I would have survived.

 

[Wild Thing]

Well, the Pine Snakes are definitely out and about in Dickinson County. Last week one of them emerged from the lean-to of the barn. Knowing that Elaine isn't real fond of them, I kind of scooted him towards a firewood pile on the other side of the lawn and hoped he would take the hint.

I had purchased some snake repellent over the winter in hopes that maybe these reptiles would take up residence someplace else. I poured an ample amount of it in the 2 places we know they like to escape to...

like the corner of the lean-to wall where they have been able to either go down under the concrete or up under the corner steel surrounding a post.

Apparently, this stuff is an attractant rather than a repellent as we saw the snakes just curled up with the granules - no worse for the wear.

Today, 2 of them were snuggling one another on the other side of the barn. Even though I like having them around for their ability to consume ticks and voles....I thought it was best to just relocate these so Elaine didn't have to see them anymore.

I got a plastic trash can out and caught one of them and took him for a ride on the Gator:

I tipped the trash can over next to one of the many rock piles we have around our food plots - this one is about two 40's north of the barn.
The snake exited the trash can and scooted right into the rocks...

When I got back to the barn, I found that the smaller female snake had come back out and I was able to catch her as well. Before I could get the trash can loaded back onto the Gator, Elaine informed me that there was another one on the other side of the barn. I was able to catch him as well and took both of them for a ride to the same rock pile. They both scooted into the rocks just like the first one.

This afternoon while walking out to the garden, I noticed that there were 2 more Piney's in the lean-to. I was able to catch the larger one but the smaller one crawled up into the wall and got away. I actually had to catch number 4 three times as he kept getting out of the trash can before I could get the lid on it. Unlike the first 3 snakes, #4 crawled out of the trash can and back-tracked into the grass like he was headed back to the barn immediately. Hope it takes him a while to find us again.

Unbelieveably, Elaine saw another one come down the corner pole and crawl into the lean-to shortly after I got back from relocating number 4. I was able to catch him and took him for a ride as well. He scooted right into the rock pile when he got out of the trash can.

I know we still have at least one more - the smallest of the bunch which was hanging out with number 4. Hopefully I can catch and relocate her tomorrow.

I also saw a dead Pine Snake on the county road on my way into town this morning so this hot weather has definitely got them moving...

 

[6Speed]

Old thread but I'll say watch out for these puppies...

 

[ReallyBigFish]

I have yet to run into a pine snake in my UP travels. Hoping to see one sometime soon. Heading there in two weeks!