1-19 caught #20 & 21 showed up, not the big one.

[addy1]

Wow Addy1....Could it be due to the excessive heat this year? Maybe a lot of habitat has dried up forcing them to find other ponds? Glad I only have one...hope its a male

I don't know, we had a wet spring, now dry and hot. Last year about the same. If they were around the year before I never saw any and we watch the ponds all of the time via the cams. My first spotting was big fatty she was sunning on the side of the pond, last year.
This year it has been non stop. If I had this many last year, the year before I would have seen them. Last year we caught 4.

The fish aren't making enough babies to keep up with the depletion.

 

[GBBUDD]

I WOULD SAY THEY HAVE OUT STAYED THEIR WELCOME , traps pellet gun spear gun what ever it takes at this point

 

[addy1]

Totally agree @GBBUDD But now need to see it again, since the fish were put in saw it that day, now not again since. Darn thing.

 

[SarahT]

Doesn't it take a while for a snake to get that big?

Waaal, it's got a bunch of bog-fed goldfish in a pond, so ...

 

[addy1]

Waaal, it's got a bunch of bog-fed goldfish in a pond, so ...

With everything I have read they grow fast first two years, then slow down and keep growing. I did see one 10 inch snake this year in the bog, never saw it again. The size I caught ranged from 18 inches to 2-3 feet, they don't hold still for a good measure.

I was surprised to read they don't travel much, ie stick to their area.

Who knows

 

[SarahT]

With everything I have read they grow fast first two years, then slow down and keep growing. I did see one 10 inch snake this year in the bog, never saw it again. The size I caught ranged from 18 inches to 2-3 feet, they don't hold still for a good measure.

I was surprised to read they don't travel much, ie stick to their area.

Who knows

The good news is: they don't travel much, so when you relocate them, they'll stay there rather than get homesick for the Good Ole Days at Addy's ponds and do a road trip.

 

[addy1]

I take them to a nice healthy farm pond, they can co exist with the cows. 6 miles away.

 

[Lisak1]

This is like a horror movie!

 

[Tula]

Some of the pictures you've shown of the mature ones, lead me to believe they're older due to their darker color. Gosh, the farm pond could become infested !!!!!!

 

[addy1]

Some of the pictures you've shown of the mature ones, lead me to believe they're older due to their darker color. Gosh, the farm pond could become infested !!!!!!

Agree on that, they also change color if wet vs dry. Get darker, less markings.

 

[addy1]

He is not happy at all striking through the minnow trap. A few fish had gotten in, saw two late last night. I was going to release them today. Mr Snake had a snack once he entered the trap. There are a bunch of tadpoles in it right now, once we dump the snake I will bring them home and put back in the pond. Guess they can eat multiple fish at a time. Feel for the fish, a few lost their lives to save the others.

We are still going to be on high alert for #16

 

[YShahar]

he mother gives birth to five to 60 young, sometimes over a period of several days. One female was observed to give birth to 99 babies.

99 babies?! Oy vey!
You'd have to become a full-time snake wrangler just to keep up!

 

[addy1]

Where are you dumping them? Is it possible they are somehow getting back to your pond from their "exile"?

They would need to wiggle across roads, lawns, river for 6 miles to get back. Don't think they are returning.

 

[rubyduby]

They would need to wiggle across roads, lawns, river for 6 miles to get back. Don't think they are returning.

Congrats on your success addy1.... Hopefully this is the end of it!

 

[GBBUDD]

it would be the axe for any more going forward

 

[addy1]

it would be the axe for any more going forward

The problem is they disappear into the water the moment they see us. Big fatty was the only one that moved slower. I had to sneak up on them to even get a pic, then poof gone.

No way it is getting out of the trap until we are near the release spot, they strike a lot and if mad throw up on you and release a horrible musk.

 

[Tula]

Do you know the owners of the farm pond? I worry the pond will be come overrun with snakes if their radius is approx. 400 feet and they multiply so quickly.

 

[addy1]

Do you know the owners of the farm pond? I worry the pond will be come overrun with snakes if their radius is approx. 400 feet and they multiply so quickly.

I ran into them and asked they did not care. Also said the cows, horses, goats will stomp a snake to death. Open for herons hawks etc a lot of snake predators, more than I have here with the pond net protected.

 

[j.w]

Happy to hear another one down and now on high alert for more!

 

[GBBUDD]

Do you know the owners of the farm pond? I worry the pond will be come overrun with snakes if their radius is approx. 400 feet and they multiply so quickly.

The snakes will move on no snake will hang in a pond full of cows