On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:32:05 CST, Chris Barnes
wrote:

Generally speaking, I like having Bobs around.

And therein lies the problem, I kinda like snakes too. In my youth, I
used to keep a few around, at least until my mother and father found
out, I was a trying child. I've fed snakes, I've handled snakes, I've
spent some time identifying them and such.

They are certainly
preferable to the other things that would be around if they weren't
(mice, rats, vols, even rabbits & skunks in my garden). But seeing as
how it was a water snake (which tend to eat more fish than rodents), I
can see why you would want it relocated.

I have all of those anyway, except the voles.

If your pond is too large for a net, your only real alternative option
is a BB/pellet gun (an option I personally wouldn't like, but then
again, I like snakes).

I've not run across a BB gun yet that has either the power nor the
accuracy to dispatch much of anything. A BB gun might just anger the
snake, which, in the case of a venomous one, is not a particularly
smart thing to do. Besides, unless you pay attention, you are most
likely to end up with copper-clad BBs, and I'm not sure I'd want to
introduce copper into the pond. With pellet guns you can easily
achieve the power and accuracy needed. I have a supply of non-lead
pellets in .177 and .22. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the snake)
I am extremely reluctant to go that route.

The hassle is that the pond is so much more "laid back" now that the
snake isn't there. I can't really put my finger on it, but it seems
like the whole pond has breathed a sigh of relief. I got sort of a
perverse pleasure out of having a snake in my pond while it was there,
but while it hung around virtually nothing moved, and those critters
that did made quick, fearful movements.

In days past I'd have just waded into the pond, grabbed the snake, and
stuck it in one of the other ponds, but that is a bit beyond my
capabilities now. I've had some experience with the Hav-A-Hart type
traps but fail to see how that might be useful with a 4 1/2 footer. Is
it possible to trap such a snake?