Snake problem

[Beachcomber]

I am trying to help an ill friend get his boat ready for summer and when I opened the hatch over the Genset I was greeted by a copperhead about 20 inches long. Does anyone have ideas on what I can use to convince this most unwanted visitor to leave?

 

[rswirtz]

bb gun, aim for the head

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

Having grown up in the south I can tell you that there are basically two ways to kill a snake: one is to cut off it's head, the other is to cut off it's tail........right behind it's ears.

Like the guy up on Lake Lanier said years ago, if I find one in my boat it better have a few good credit cards, it just bought the boat!

 

[jim rosenthal]

This probably rates as the most unusual problem ever presented on this forum....if it were me, I'd call an exterminator, or phone the zoo and ask them.

Or, buy a mongoose- otherwise known as a ferret. They like going after snakes, from what I gather. At least that's what I've read...

 

[DavidK]

Copperhead?

seriously.
Snake Away
http://www.pestproducts.com/snakeinfo.htm

I know it works...my friends in Texas use the stuff, as did a student of mine that was in the USMC in Iraq (2 tours). But, some have noted that the most prevalent ingredient is Naphthalene...which is also the same stuff as in moth balls. (the real chemical smelling ones..not the ones which smell "nice"). Make sure the moth balls are NOT para Dichlorobenzene. While that repels moths, it doesn't work as well on snakes.

The main issue you are going to have is providing it with a pathway to get out of the boat. Its not like you can "escort" that poisonous viper off the vessel. Thus, the previous 2 postings may provide options. Put the moth balls or SnakeAway in the engine room and walk away. It may take a day or two. But, it may just go to another part of the boat that the smell did not permeate into. (like bedroom, closet, etc)

Other options may be gunpowder (sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate)...but this tends to make a mess of the boat when you light it or a cattle prod (but be careful...they get real pi$$ed when you do that...but they move!). I saw a cop taser a snake a couple years ago (not stun gun...you have to get too close with that). That froze the snake for a couple minutes, and he carried it out. (it was in a public area). Caution about buying one. Its easy to buy one off the Internet, but many states have outlawed them. (I guess they don't want the general public from hurting the criminals too bad)

Just some ideas

David K>

 

[Starman]

Once caught, yes kill him.

A twenty inch copperhead is rather small and the bite while not normally fatal will cause a great deal of pain. Copper heads ( also know as Red Oaks and White Oaks ) give no warning, so be careful in your searching.

I would consider some non staining smoke in that area.

And believe it or not, Oleo resin Capstun ( pepper spray ) will stop a snake as fast as a 220lb bad guy.

You can douse the area with pepper spray and if he is there, he will come out.

One other thing, copper heads ain't good eatin' but rattlers are very good

 

[Boss Lady]

long handled tool like a shovel or hoe. Cut his head off. If squeemish or a tree hugger call a professional. Do not try to handle/capture if you do not know what you are doing. If you try the repellent, where do you think he is going to go? Don't disturb him, or else you will create more of a problem if he moves where you can't see him.

 

[captddis]

I will admit it , I am petrified of snakes! I have always mothballed the perimiter of the house, however there is a stubborn snake that likes my garage. Once the mothballs start to dissolve he comes back. I hate to kill things but next time he faces the shovel. IF one gets inside I will leave and have the house tented. I have nightmares about snakes on the boat!
A friend says he went to school with a couple Coon Asses. They were fishing and a snake fell in the boat. In their hast to shoot the snake, they sank the boat.
I was delivering a Hatt and stopped in Belhaven NC. While standing on the platform fueling, a water snake tried to get me. I scurried up the ladder and the snake kept striking up out of the water at me on the aft deck, then it turned and shot under the water like a spear. Pure evil!!! The next morning I ran over a snake in the canal. I hope it was the same one.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I hate 'em too. I once went waterskiing in the harbor on the south end of Washington Island (north end of Green Bay, WI). As I was skiing I kept seeing all of these floating sticks. Imagine my surprise when I noticed that those sticks were not sticks at all. THEY WERE SNAKES! I held on for dear life until we were in an area that looked clear of them. Then I dropped the rope and just hoped the boat got back to me quickly. Needless to say, no one else in the boat would ski after I pointed out the snakes.

 

[captddis]

Sky,
Sounds like one of my nightmares!

 

[Walter P]

About 20 something years ago, I lived in Panama City Beach, Fla at a place called Bay Point. I kept my then 43 DC at the marina in the compound.

One morning while doing some chores on the boat I heard someone yell "water moc" and I saw this good size black snake slithering on the dock. Someone called the dockmasters office and one of the employees came running down with a shovel. When he swung at the snake (and missed) the thing got rather annoyed and started chasing him. Well he got away, the dock employee that is, the snake just kind of hung around. Well not wanting to be aprehensive about walking down the dock, I did what most red blooded American boys would ---- I went down into my boat and retreived a snake deterent tool also known as a gun, walked to within a safe distance of the intruder and eliminated him.

In your case, I would not recommend using my kind of snake deterrent tool inside your boat. Many years ago I learned of a very effective material to control snakes around your shrubs etc in your yard which I believe will work on your boat. It's called Rotanone dust (check spelling) and is available in most garden supply stores. The material was developed to control insects on flowers, especially Roses but it has a very fast deadly effect on cold blooded animals which includes not only insects but fish and reptiles. Toxicitity to humans and domestic pets (cats & dogs) is pretty low having very high LD-50 numbers (measure of toxicitity to mammals). After applying the dust wait a day or so and take a vacuum cleaner and after disposing of the body, just clean up the dust.

Walt

 

[rswirtz]

BB gun, telling you from experience. Other than that a rider lawn mower, but that ain't working in the boat. Hate em too, shot that bugger, then whip in the field. A BB won't hurt the boat or you, but will get the snake.

Snake & Rat Killer, Rick

 

[Capt K]

[
I was delivering a Hatt and stopped in Belhaven NC. While standing on the platform fueling, a water snake tried to get me. I scurried up the ladder and the snake kept striking up out of the water at me on the aft deck, then it turned and shot under the water like a spear. Pure evil!!! The next morning I ran over a snake in the canal. I hope it was the same one.[/QUOTE]

That wouldn't have been River Forest Manor, would it have? A really weird place but a great bar and some great old photos in the Inn ala "The Shining"!

K

 

[Trojan]

There are a number of ways to get rid of him. I would not use anything that would scare him to some other part of the boat. You must know he has left the boat. If you are not afraid of snakes. I would just down a pair of welders gloves and just grab him right at the head. His mouth is so small and his fangs are so short he could not penetrate the glove. The massaga rattle snake is a little bigger snake and that is how I handled them here in Michigan. You could spray it with starting fluid and fumigate it. But you must trap it first so it won't get to some other part of the boat. You could grab it with log tongs from the fire place. A pellet gun would work well if you could hit it. Use the end of a baseball bat and just crush it's head. How about a machete. A CO2 extingisher will freeze it. I use to catch snakes snakes for the Tolado Zoo. Above all be careful. If your not sure what you are doing. Hire someone that does. But you want to make sure the snake is removed from your boat and see it removed.

BILL

 

[Trojan]

A brown or blackish water snake will not attack you. They are afraid of you and there bite is harmless outside of drawing a little blood. The Moccasin or Cotton Mouth is another story they are just down rite bad and they will come after you. One of the few that will. You folks in the south have those 6ft black king snakes. Those are a nice snake to have around.


BILL

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

If you are not afraid of snakes. I would just down a pair of welders gloves and just grab him right at the head

Bill

are welding gloves like snake boots? If a snake bite penetrates your snake boots and causes injury not to worry, the manufacturer will gladly send you a new pair of boots

 

[Trojan]

I don't think so.

Bill

 

[Rickysa]

A1 Wildlife Control in Paducah KY

270 841 2479 (cell)

They will remove the snake for you tomorrow.

Rick

 

[Beachcomber]

The marina was due to make some repairs on the boat and I called them to warn them about the snake. They had one of the guys that works there say "no problem", he then went and removed the snake

 

[Tawney1]

...what'a guy!