Water Moccasin in Pond

I spotted a good size water moccasin (4+ feet long) in my pond last night.
Well, it wasn't exactly in my pond but curled up under the liner on the edge
of the pond. My pond is not typical in that it's built into a slope. It's a
tear drop shaped 3,000 gallon pond with a filter/falls at one end. The "down
side" is built up a little more than 3 feet above ground with inter-locking
blocks and the other side is only about 6 inches above ground.

The mint in the filter/falls has really taken off and was diverting water
off to one side and out of the pond. I pulled out a bunch of mint and then
was topping off the pond when I noticed that liner had sunk in a little on
the down side. I removed the rock on top of the liner and pulled back the
liner and there was the moccasin, curled up underneath. I got a hoe and
poked at it. It came out of the liner, dropped out on the ground and came
towards me for about 10 feet with me hauling it the other way. It then
darted underneath some ivy that cascades down the block wall onto the
ground. I poked it again and it high tailed it the other way and disappeared
into a crevice behind the filter/falls where there's a small opening in the
block. No telling what kind of tunnel network exists underneath and between
the block and the liner. (I'm not sure I'm describing it so you can "see"
what I'm talking about.)

Anyway, I'm a little concerned about having a water moccasin in my pond. I
got to thinking that it's probably a perfect place for one to live. Lots of
food in the pond - small goldfish, etc. I'm not concerned about it getting
my Koi because they're 2 feet + and approach 10 pounds or so. I get into the
pond frequently to prune plants and clean out a pre-filter I have attached
to a 1600 gph pump with a foamer attachment. I've seen king snakes in the
pond before but these never bothered me in that they always run the other
way and don't go looking for trouble because they're not aggressive like a
water moccasin.

Any advice on what to do? We live on a lake and I'd like for it to go back
from where it came!

TIA

JB

On Sat, 31 May 2008 16:42:12 EDT, "JB" <> wrote:

>I spotted a good size water moccasin (4+ feet long) in my pond last night.
>Well, it wasn't exactly in my pond but curled up under the liner on the edge
>of the pond. My pond is not typical in that it's built into a slope. It's a
>tear drop shaped 3,000 gallon pond with a filter/falls at one end. The "down
>side" is built up a little more than 3 feet above ground with inter-locking
>blocks and the other side is only about 6 inches above ground.
>
>The mint in the filter/falls has really taken off and was diverting water
>off to one side and out of the pond. I pulled out a bunch of mint and then
>was topping off the pond when I noticed that liner had sunk in a little on
>the down side. I removed the rock on top of the liner and pulled back the
>liner and there was the moccasin, curled up underneath. I got a hoe and
>poked at it. It came out of the liner, dropped out on the ground and came
>towards me for about 10 feet with me hauling it the other way. It then
>darted underneath some ivy that cascades down the block wall onto the
>ground. I poked it again and it high tailed it the other way and disappeared
>into a crevice behind the filter/falls where there's a small opening in the
>block. No telling what kind of tunnel network exists underneath and between
>the block and the liner. (I'm not sure I'm describing it so you can "see"
>what I'm talking about.)
>
>Anyway, I'm a little concerned about having a water moccasin in my pond. I
>got to thinking that it's probably a perfect place for one to live. Lots of
>food in the pond - small goldfish, etc. I'm not concerned about it getting
>my Koi because they're 2 feet + and approach 10 pounds or so. I get into the
>pond frequently to prune plants and clean out a pre-filter I have attached
>to a 1600 gph pump with a foamer attachment. I've seen king snakes in the
>pond before but these never bothered me in that they always run the other
>way and don't go looking for trouble because they're not aggressive like a
>water moccasin.
>
>Any advice on what to do? We live on a lake and I'd like for it to go back
>from where it came!
>
>TIA
>
>JB

It may not be a water moccasin (cottonmouth). In virtually every
local where the cottonmouth is found there is at least one (often
several) types of non-poisonous snakes that look almost identical.
However, unless you are absolutely sure, beyond *any* (not even
reasonable) doubt that what you see is in fact a non-poisonous snake
it is best to treat it as though it is a cottonmouth.

You have basically two choices: either you can call some animal
control type and dump the whole mess on them or you can deal with it
yourself. I don't care what some folks say, some claim that the
snake is just very territorial, I say it is aggressive. Very
aggressive. I've been chased by one, and they are quicker than you
might imagine too. You can't just ignore it and hope it goes away. If
you live on a lake calling someone is likely to get real expensive
real quick. If it were me, I'd study up and get real good at
identifying snakes, dispatch a cottonmouth when I had to, and learn to
live with the other snakes. However, it may come down to a choice
between your koi and the snakes (you might be surprised at what they
can eat, even small snakes), and you've indicated which way you lean.

I'm only a few miles from the Suwannee River, and here we get
alligators that wander into our ponds. The law protects them, you
can't hardly do anything to them except call someone with a state
license if you don't want them where they want to be. At least
alligators aren't nearly as aggressive, and, as I'm too cheap to call
anyone to (re)move them, much easier to live with.

Galen Hekhuis

Except for coral snakes, all US snakes with ROUND eyes are non-
poisonous. If it has vertical arcs () in the eyes, it is poisonous.

Water snakes look like moccasins and are aggressive. They do not have
the very white mouth and they do have round eyes.

Jim

On May 31, 3:42 pm, "JB" <jr...@spamnoipa.net> wrote:
> I spotted a good size water moccasin (4+ feet long) in my pond last night.

> Well, it wasn't exactly in my pond but curled up under the liner on the ed
ge
> of the pond. My pond is not typical in that it's built into a slope. It's
a
> tear drop shaped 3,000 gallon pond with a filter/falls at one end. The "do
wn
> side" is built up a little more than 3 feet above ground with inter-lockin
g
> blocks and the other side is only about 6 inches above ground.
>
> The mint in the filter/falls has really taken off and was diverting water
> off to one side and out of the pond. I pulled out a bunch of mint and then

> was topping off the pond when I noticed that liner had sunk in a little
on
> the down side. I removed the rock on top of the liner and pulled back the
> liner and there was the moccasin, curled up underneath. I got a hoe and
> poked at it. It came out of the liner, dropped out on the ground and came
> towards me for about 10 feet with me hauling it the other way. It then
> darted underneath some ivy that cascades down the block wall onto the
> ground. I poked it again and it high tailed it the other way and disappear
ed
> into a crevice behind the filter/falls where there's a small opening in th
e
> block. No telling what kind of tunnel network exists underneath and betwee
n
> the block and the liner. (I'm not sure I'm describing it so you can "see"
> what I'm talking about.)
>
> Anyway, I'm a little concerned about having a water moccasin in my pond. I

> got to thinking that it's probably a perfect place for one to live. Lots o
f
> food in the pond - small goldfish, etc. I'm not concerned about it getting

> my Koi because they're 2 feet + and approach 10 pounds or so. I get into t
he
> pond frequently to prune plants and clean out a pre-filter I have attached

> to a 1600 gph pump with a foamer attachment. I've seen king snakes in the
> pond before but these never bothered me in that they always run the other
> way and don't go looking for trouble because they're not aggressive like a

> water moccasin.
>
> Any advice on what to do? We live on a lake and I'd like for it to go back

> from where it came!
>
> TIA
>
> JB

Around here we execute poisonous snakes, esp moccasins, as they are
aggressive...as you saw. If you do kill it, be careful of the head.
Their nervous system lasts a long time, even if the spine is severed.
Smash the head is the rule here.

Jim

if you got a clean shot take it out, than look at it

>
> JB

Around here we execute poisonous snakes, esp moccasins, as they are
aggressive...as you saw. If you do kill it, be careful of the head.
Their nervous system lasts a long time, even if the spine is severed.
Smash the head is the rule here.

Jim


Even a non-poisonous snake will make you hurt yourself when one suprises
you.

On Sat, 31 May 2008 21:40:56 EDT, Phyllis and Jim
<> wrote:

>On May 31, 3:42 pm, "JB" <jr...@spamnoipa.net> wrote:
>> I spotted a good size water moccasin (4+ feet long) in my pond last night.
>
>> Well, it wasn't exactly in my pond but curled up under the liner on the ed
>ge
>> of the pond. My pond is not typical in that it's built into a slope. It's
>a
>> tear drop shaped 3,000 gallon pond with a filter/falls at one end. The "do
>wn
>> side" is built up a little more than 3 feet above ground with inter-lockin
>g
>> blocks and the other side is only about 6 inches above ground.
>>
>> The mint in the filter/falls has really taken off and was diverting water
>> off to one side and out of the pond. I pulled out a bunch of mint and then
>
>> was topping off the pond when I noticed that liner had sunk in a little
> on
>> the down side. I removed the rock on top of the liner and pulled back the
>> liner and there was the moccasin, curled up underneath. I got a hoe and
>> poked at it. It came out of the liner, dropped out on the ground and came
>> towards me for about 10 feet with me hauling it the other way. It then
>> darted underneath some ivy that cascades down the block wall onto the
>> ground. I poked it again and it high tailed it the other way and disappear
>ed
>> into a crevice behind the filter/falls where there's a small opening in th
>e
>> block. No telling what kind of tunnel network exists underneath and betwee
>n
>> the block and the liner. (I'm not sure I'm describing it so you can "see"
>> what I'm talking about.)
>>
>> Anyway, I'm a little concerned about having a water moccasin in my pond. I
>
>> got to thinking that it's probably a perfect place for one to live. Lots o
>f
>> food in the pond - small goldfish, etc. I'm not concerned about it getting
>
>> my Koi because they're 2 feet + and approach 10 pounds or so. I get into t
>he
>> pond frequently to prune plants and clean out a pre-filter I have attached
>
>> to a 1600 gph pump with a foamer attachment. I've seen king snakes in the
>> pond before but these never bothered me in that they always run the other
>> way and don't go looking for trouble because they're not aggressive like a
>
>> water moccasin.
>>
>> Any advice on what to do? We live on a lake and I'd like for it to go back
>
>> from where it came!
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> JB
>
>Around here we execute poisonous snakes, esp moccasins, as they are
>aggressive...as you saw. If you do kill it, be careful of the head.
>Their nervous system lasts a long time, even if the spine is severed.
>Smash the head is the rule here.
>
>Jim

What he said. Even completely severed heads of snakes have been known
to "bite" out of reflex several hours after they have been severed,
delivering a powerful (though very rarely fatal) dose of venom.
Galen Hekhuis

"JB" <> wrote in
news: m:

> I spotted a good size water moccasin (4+ feet long) in my pond last
> night. Well, it wasn't exactly in my pond but curled up under the
> liner on the edge of the pond. My pond is not typical in that it's
> built into a slope. It's a tear drop shaped 3,000 gallon pond with a
> filter/falls at one end. The "down side" is built up a little more
> than 3 feet above ground with inter-locking blocks and the other side
> is only about 6 inches above ground.
>
> Any advice on what to do? We live on a lake and I'd like for it to go
> back from where it came!
>
> TIA
>
> JB
>
>

Move to Nevada. The worst we have to deal with out here is Racoons. Our
snakes don't like water.

Shalom!
Michael Lee

One rec.ponder caught a snake in her pond using a
minnow trap. Baited with a fish and the snake swam in
and couldn't get out. She left part of the trap above water.
Depending on the size of the snake you might have to modify
the opening.
Continued harassment might do the job.
otoh, I have no problem dispatching a poison snake who
won't leave.

We had a fellow who was bitten by a decapitated rattlesnake
head in our area.

k :-)

Minnow trap.... I'd not heard of that before. Thanks for the tip. No sign
of this snake since Friday evening.


"kathy" <> wrote in message
news:b647b7b7-0168-46bb-b8f9-...
> One rec.ponder caught a snake in her pond using a
> minnow trap. Baited with a fish and the snake swam in
> and couldn't get out. She left part of the trap above water.
> Depending on the size of the snake you might have to modify
> the opening.
> Continued harassment might do the job.
> otoh, I have no problem dispatching a poison snake who
> won't leave.
>
> We had a fellow who was bitten by a decapitated rattlesnake
> head in our area.
>
> k :-)
>