a question from the WIFE, LOL

[Frank C]

The wife and I started looking at houses on the computer and i find one with a big barn,land and a pond.(all the important things ). the pond is close to the house and she ask me what about snakes, (water mocs,rattlers,copper heads,) I did not want to lie to her so i said i would ask. she is a city girl, i spent my teenage years shooting them in ponds and dry creek beds in OKLA. we are looking in the clinton/deepwater area. thanks.

[gabowman]

You wont have any problems as long as you keep it clean around the pond. 'Course that means extra weed eating for you.:rolleyes:

[Matt]

In my opinion, there is no real answer to this...It really depends on the location and again, in my opinion, they do not have a certain habitat they prefer. Just my opinion though. Our last house was out in the sticks with 1 dried up pond and it seemed I could go out and kill a snake anytime I wanted to. My father lived about 3 miles down the same gravel road with a pond and many outbuildings and never seems to have snakes. He also has a couple outside dogs. Do you have a dog? I have always heard that dogs will keep snakes away. Also, they sell stuff that you can put on your yard to keep such pests away. Not sure if it works though.

[talltimber]

Hogs. Good to eat, and love them some snakes. You'll have to keep them ringed, they'll have the pond edge rurnt if you don't. You can't buy this kind of info. Rofl Rofl

[bwillaub]

According to the DNR and the DOC, there are no poisionous water snakes this part of MO. Northern water snakes is about all we get around here......according to them.

[beagle man]

keep it mowed, carry a big stick, and always, and I mean always,,,,let the wife walk in front

[C N]

We keep the pond area mowed and haven't seen any snakes.

[perchplucker]

I have heard that geese were good at keeping snakes away. I think they may eat the little ones. I know my chickens will eat a little snake. Looks just like a worm.

[G.Gordon]

Like was said above, there are no poisonous water dwelling snakes up here. Too cold for too long. The snakes you see in the water in that area are harmless, albeit they will scare the pants off your wife, but they will not harm anything. And also like has been mentioned, tall grass attracts snakes that need cover since they are the favorite meal for several predators, hawks, owls, etc. I'm new up here, but have spent a bunch of time in the back water swampy parts of several conservation lakes... no bad snakes. That said, I don't hunt so I don't know what is around as far as timber rattlers or copper heads.

[DMW1960]

Keep it mowed or grazed down, carry a gun and always let the wife walk in front. If there is enough ground for you to have a pond and barn it might be nice to have a couple of calves running around to feed for beef!