Looking for ideas for a snake trap

Doug 351 · 09-30-15, 03:40 PM

This afternoon I spotted a baby ribbon snake in my small pond. I would like to catch it, but they're very quick, and with a pond to escape in.....going to prove to be very difficult to capture....

My idea is to make an attractive hide that I can close the entrance on and open up to check. So....I'm looking for suggestions to make this hide attractive to that baby ribbon snake.

Doug 351 · 10-02-15, 04:27 PM

Well, I did some cleaning of that pond, so...I've been making periodic trips out there to spot it before I get too carried away trying to catch a snake that's not there.....

As I was walking out there one time, I glimpsed a snake slithering under a lawnmower....even though I only caught a glimpse, I knew what it was, so, I wasn't going to hesitate on pouncing on it....I pushed the lawnmower forward, and grabbed the litktle booger before he knew what hit him. A pretty much newborn Texas rat snake! !!! Can't help it, I love those snakes, and (to me) are some of the prettiest babies around.....

I don't need another one, but........

Albert Clark · 10-02-15, 05:46 PM

Nice, cool strategy! great looking elaphe.

Doug 351 · 10-03-15, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Nice, cool strategy! great looking elaphe.

Thanks, I have two other Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri , both of which are full grown. One was a baby when I caught it.I didn't even know what it was at the time. I've had her around 13 years now. The other one I rescued from a mob about to kill a "copperhead" ....(dummies!)...a couple of months ago....it's a bit touchy handling it, it settles down pretty good after awhile, but it's already bit me on the side of the head and short struck at my nose.

I've saved quite a few over the years and my first rat snake was quite the ambassador to help me educate the neighborhood and at least a hundred different people have held her over the years and she loves attention and people. This little baby has a better disposition than she did as a baby.

pet_snake_78 · 10-03-15, 07:52 AM

Sound good Doug, I hope it does well for you.

pet_snake_78 · 10-03-15, 08:20 AM

You can make a snake trap using funnels and placing them along a hard surface such as a concrete wall. They need to be checked very often though and shouldn't be placed out in hot or cold weather. I've never done it because I enjoy manually searching but I've accidentally stumbled across University pitfall and funnel traps before. The guys told me they had caught some stuff with the tunnels like a hognose but overall I think you can have good luck just catching by hand.

Doug 351 · 10-03-15, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pet_snake_78

You can make a snake trap using funnels and placing them along a hard surface such as a concrete wall. They need to be checked very often though and shouldn't be placed out in hot or cold weather. I've never done it because I enjoy manually searching but I've accidentally stumbled across University pitfall and funnel traps before. The guys told me they had caught some stuff with the tunnels like a hognose but overall I think you can have good luck just catching by hand.

Only if it's on land....and if I can catch it off guard or very far away from that pond. Another problem is that pond is ringed with loose rocks providing it with a multitude of hides. So I'm trying to figure out how to make one it will choose over the others. I've even thought about baiting it with a bowl of fish. First though, I want to spot it again. My big PITA cat Sammy isn't helping....he's figured out I'm going to pond fairly regularly, so now he's camping out there waiting on me!!!!! (Like that snake is just going to ignore his big butt)....sheesh!

pet_snake_78 · 10-04-15, 08:41 AM

Just lay out some pieces of tin. Certain times of year tin will be an absolute snake magnet. Everything from copperheads to garters loves a good ol piece of tin.. try to get a full piece off an old barn or more if possible, sometimes they have a favorite for reasons that are hard to see.

Doug 351 · 10-04-15, 11:21 AM

I actually have a buttload of rusty corrugated tin in my backyard....one piece in particular is too rusty on one end to use it for what I want to. Easy enough, I just wish I could spot the little guy to know it's still around....

The little rat snake had it's first meal last night and slurpped up a pinky, the two big uns had two chicks and mice apiece....and everybody cleaned their plates, so we're all happy happy.

BTW: I may take that big wild one out tonight and see what kind of mood he's in....(I haven't been bit in the head in awhile)...LOL....

Doug 351 · 10-05-15, 05:11 PM

OK!!!!! Well.....Sometimes it's better to just leave things alone.....(but then again
....) inquiring minds want to know......

Soooooo....It's not enough this full grown rat snake isn't so mean it's uncontrollable
....I gotta push the envelope....well....he's not big on kisses, likes chin rubs, but can take or leave body stroking.....

Sooooo....he is definitely not a fan of being tied in knots!!!!! Seriously, I tried this with this full grown wild snake....but what he did really. freaked me out...he musked me to display his displeasure .....but where he really got me was pooping on the recliner.....

However, that's pretty cool...(little chit)....he could have bit the crap outta me instead....

prairiepanda · 10-05-15, 06:48 PM

I would much rather be bitten by him than pooped on! Seriously, pooping is far more offensive with these guys. But...why were you tying him in a knot?

Doug 351 · 10-06-15, 09:03 PM

Just testing his tolerance level...I know they don't like that....so I wanted to guage this snakes "personality" by it's reaction to that....it doesn't really hurt them....(unless you pull it closed)...but it puts them in an uncomfortable vulnerable position....I'm very happy with his response....

EDIT: BTW: This is the second time this little booger has pooped on my recliner....IN THE SAME SPOT! He didn't really poop on me...but ...when he bit me in the head, that hurt more than a little poop....(and poop doesn't make you bleed!)

Doug 351 · 10-08-15, 08:20 AM

I'm embarrassed to admit this....but I'm beginning to think that little rat snake was the same snake I saw in the pond....

I first thought it was a blotched water snake....only saw it from the side from nearly 20' away..and later realized it didn't have the proper head shape or markings...and was in a posture not common for a blotched water snake....so I made the decision it must have been a ribbon snake....However, thinking about it....this little rat snake is exactly the same size...(they do enjoy an occasional dip)...and they posture exactly the same as ribbons when looking around....so...unless I spot a ribbon soon....I'm going to conclude that I've caught the same snake I saw...