Snake in my backyard!!!

[megadeth]

My wife just called and she saw a 2 and a half foot black snake in our backyard. She is really freaked out because we let our dog out there. She saw the snake burrow too.

I am in Tallahassee, FL and I would like to know that can I do to get the snake out of my yard.

PS - Snakes creep me out.

[jb4674]

Call a pest control company and have them get rid of it. Once that's done, clear out any large bushes/trees you may have in your backyard.

Jimmy

[mike570]

Originally Posted by jb4674

Call a pest control company and have them get rid of it. Once that's done, clear out any large bushes/trees you may have in your backyard.

Jimmy

+1
If it's the snake I think it is I've seen it too and it's relatively harmless. Probably a black racer.
There are, however, about 6 poisonous snakes in Florida IIRC. Google poisonous+snakes+florida and see if your wife can ID the snake.

[ScottB]

Black snakes are harmless to humans and dogs. They will terrorize mice, moles and chipmunks! I say keep the snake where he is.

[Brosa]

Originally Posted by ScottB

Black snakes are harmless to humans and dogs. They will terrorize mice, moles and chipmunks! I say keep the snake where he is.

Meet the black adder:



Lethal to humans and dogs.

[ScottB]

Originally Posted by Brosa

Meet the black adder:



Lethal to humans and dogs.

Meet Black Snakes of the Southeast United States.



The Black Adder, (Vipera berus) is a European / Asian species and is not found in the U.S. Although it is venomous, it is not considered highly dangerous to humans as only about 12% of its bite victims require hospitalization.

[jim777]

Originally Posted by ScottB

Meet Black Snakes of the Southeast United States.

The Black Adder, (Vipera berus) is a European / Asian species and is not found in the U.S. Although it is venomous, it is not considered highly dangerous to humans as only about 12% of its bite victims require hospitalization.

The sound of hoof beats cross the glade.
Good folk, lock up your son and daughter.
Beware the deadly flashing blade.
Unless you want to end up shorter.
Black Adder. Black Adder.
He rides a pitch black steed.
Black Adder. Black Adder.
He's very bad indeed.
Black, his gloves are finest mole.
Black, his cod piece made of metal.
His horse is blacker than a hole.
His pot is blacker than his kettle.
Black Adder. Black Adder.
With many a cunning plan.
Black Adder. Black Adder.
You horrid little man!

[Gurj]

Originally Posted by jim777

The sound of hoof beats cross the glade.
Good folk, lock up your son and daughter.
Beware the deadly flashing blade.
Unless you want to end up shorter.
Black Adder. Black Adder.
He rides a pitch black steed.
Black Adder. Black Adder.
He's very bad indeed.
Black, his gloves are finest mole.
Black, his cod piece made of metal.
His horse is blacker than a hole.
His pot is blacker than his kettle.
Black Adder. Black Adder.
With many a cunning plan.
Black Adder. Black Adder.
You horrid little man!

One of my favourite shows ever!

[moebius]

Make sure you know what species you have. Some are harmless, like the black racer and indigo snake. Some not so much, e.g. water moccasin.

[jaxadam]

Originally Posted by moebius

Some not so much, e.g. water moccasin.

Yeah, you don't wanna f with those.

[megadeth]

It's a black racer. Some dude helped it out of the yard. I got confused and told him that it's a speed racer.

[megadeth]

^^
Yep, we did that. It turned out to be black racer. Phew!

[megadeth]

My friend also taught me this little "song" to identify snake...

If it's black over yellow, go and say him hello.
If it's yellow over black, just step back.

[mike570]

Originally Posted by megadeth

My friend also taught me this little "song" to identify snake...

If it's black over yellow, go and say him hello.
If it's yellow over black, just step back.

That song is how to identify a coral snake, which are poisonous.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_snake

According to wiki, racer mating season is April-June. Your snake was probably out looking for a little sumthin' sumthin' when it encountered a human and was firghtened off. You might see more of them this time of year.

[ColinMmmmm]

Yeah if it's not poisonous I'd have kept it around. There are worse things to have running around your backyard (like mice!)