Coral Snake Attack

Kylie Sommer · August 2012

So a month or so back, I was working in my yard(edging the sidewalk leading from our back door to our garage) and I a full grown coral snake slithered right over my feet. I called my BF, who brought out our dog to chase the snake. (Really?) Anyways, the snake got away and my dog was unharmed. This morning we were working in the yard again(I was edging). I was walking the edger to our front yard to edge the front walkway when the same coral snake ran under my feet again. I called to my BF and luckily this time he didn't get the dog. Instead he took the edger and chased it under my car while I ran back to the garage and grabbed a hoe. When I came back, my BF had it cornered under our porch. I had to use the hoe to pull out a heap of leaves that the snake was in. When I found the snake again, it begato slithered towards my BF, who cut it in half with the edger(ew). Then the snake started twitching and was still moving so he chopped it again about eight times. 0.0 Long story short, my BF is a snake killer and we are now 'Red on Yellow kill a Fellow' FREE! But it was a scary and nasty process!

^Oriyana^ · August 2012

As far as I knew, coral snakes weren't native to that area. Maybe they're moving in? It's nerve racking when species start to shift habitats lol. (Reading the Uglies series made me want to say nervous-making :P)

Kylie Sommer · August 2012

Oriyana wrote:

As far as I knew, coral snakes weren't native to that area. Maybe they're moving in? It's nerve racking when species start to shift habitats lol. (Reading the Uglies series made me want to say nervous-making :P)

We think it came from behind the garage. We have a large pile of old wood and ruble that was here when we moved in, so we are guessing that is where it is from, but it was a shock seeing the snake considering we live right in the middle of town. Granted, it isn't a large city two, but it is still in the middle of the town. Either way, we just hope it wasn't a mother. -.- That would be really bad.

^Oriyana^ · August 2012

They aren't supposed to be native to your state was my concern lol Although you do have two of the red next to black guys, the northern scarletsnake and scarlet kingsnake (which is rather cute lol)

Kylie Sommer · August 2012

Oriyana wrote:

They aren't supposed to be native to your state was my concern lol Although you do have two of the red next to black guys, the northern scarletsnake and scarlet kingsnake (which is rather cute lol)

Oh, haha yeah, I get what you are saying:) Either way it was bizarre but I am glad it is gone.

^Oriyana^ · August 2012

Yea, I bet it was scary. I'm glad we only have one venomous snake in our area and it tends to rattle a warning :P

Kylie Sommer · August 2012

Haha, I've had my encounters before I moved with those before. All in all, snakes are no fun!

^Oriyana^ · August 2012

I like the non venomous guys, some are even cute! I don't hate the venomous guys, just don't want to get bit by one :P

FlyTM · August 2012

Erm, mother or not, when snakes hatch they seem to be on their own to grow up, no clue about where snakes come from and such have none at all where I live >.>.

Kylie Sommer · August 2012

tbone wrote:

Erm, mother or not, when snakes hatch they seem to be on their own to grow up, no clue about where snakes come from and such have none at all where I live >.>.

I just hop she wasn't a mother because I would want to stumble upon a nest or just see more if one or so decide to stick around. I am not familiar with coral snakes, all I know is they are snakes and are venomous. -.- Not a good mix for me.

Trianna · August 2012

tbone wrote:

Erm, mother or not, when snakes hatch they seem to be on their own to grow up, no clue about where snakes come from and such have none at all where I live >.>.

Some snakes are pretty protective of their young, but baby snakes could probably fend for themselves.

Cecctl2 wrote:

I just hop she wasn't a mother because I would want to stumble upon a nest or just see more if one or so decide to stick around. I am not familiar with coral snakes, all I know is they are snakes and are venomous. -.- Not a good mix for me.

As Oriyana said, are you 100% sure it was a coral snake? Even if it was, they're not agressive, and if there are more around they really don't pose much of a threat. It's not breeding season for most snakes - generally, they breed in the spring. I believe both Eastern and Western coral snakes confirm to this. If you are really worried about the potential of their being more, call in your local animal control, most will trap and relocate. Also, keep your yard free of snake habitat, i.e. woodpiles, overturned flowerpots, etc., and probably put some rat poison or traps in your garage. If there's a snake around, chances are there are rodents around. Get ride of the food and places to hide, get rid of any possible snakes. Honestly, most snakes really don't pose as much of a threat as most people think. If you've ever hiked through the woods, chances are you've walked past plenty of snakes, even coming within a few inches. Biting, generally, is the last resort for most snakes - they know they're more likely to survive by just staying still or fleeing. Even if cornered, a lot of defensive bites by hots are dry bites(however, treat any bite as a potential envenomation).

Kylie Sommer · August 2012

Trianna wrote:

tbone wrote:

Erm, mother or not, when snakes hatch they seem to be on their own to grow up, no clue about where snakes come from and such have none at all where I live >.>.

 Some snakes are pretty protective of their young, but baby snakes could probably fend for themselves. 

Cecctl2 wrote:

I just hop she wasn't a mother because I would want to stumble upon a nest or just see more if one or so decide to stick around. I am not familiar with coral snakes, all I know is they are snakes and are venomous. -.- Not a good mix for me.

 As Oriyana said, are you 100% sure it was a coral snake? Even if it was, they're not agressive, and if there are more around they really don't pose much of a threat. It's not breeding season for most snakes - generally, they breed in the spring. I believe both Eastern and Western coral snakes confirm to this. If you are really worried about the potential of their being more, call in your local animal control, most will trap and relocate. Also, keep your yard free of snake habitat, i.e. woodpiles, overturned flowerpots, etc., and probably put some rat poison or traps in your garage. If there's a snake around, chances are there are rodents around. Get ride of the food and places to hide, get rid of any possible snakes. Honestly, most snakes really don't pose as much of a threat as most people think. If you've ever hiked through the woods, chances are you've walked past plenty of snakes, even coming within a few inches. Biting, generally, is the last resort for most snakes - they know they're more likely to survive by just staying still or fleeing. Even if cornered, a lot of defensive bites by hots are dry bites(however, treat any bite as a potential envenomation).

We are 99% positive it is a coral snake. The coloring and size suggested it and my mother confirmed our suspicions through a photo, I will get a photo as soon as I can for you all to see and judge for me. It's not exactly the bites we are worried about as coral snakes really don't 'strike' like other snakes, it is more so them just being there with dogs and the constant visits of my nephew(who is 2 1/2). We really just don't care to have them in/near our house. Traps and poision aren't an option due to our dogs and young visitors, so if we do see any more signs, we will most likely call the local animal control. We have a wood/ruble pile from behind our garage, so we are guessing that used to be its home, and I wasn't sure about the breeding season for snakes, so hopefully you are right about it not being time. I'm not sure that mice are what attracted it, because I read somewhere online their prey is more do geckos and bugs, but their may be mice, so we will most likely be checking for those soon. We do have 3 cats that hang around our house, so we think they handle the majority of the mice.

Adrianna32 · August 2012

We are 99% positive it is a coral snake.

So... you don't know?? xD A picture would definitely help, in fact, I could be certain of it's species with one look. I adore snakes, even the ones that slither into my yard. There are a few impersonators that could have you fooled, it's all about colors and pattern. It is unfortunate that the little guy had to die the way he did, but I understand your concern, most people I know immediately think: "KILL IT!!" when they see a snake in their yard as well.

Kylie Sommer · August 2012

Zyndalee wrote:

We are 99% positive it is a coral snake.

 So... you don't know?? xD A picture would definitely help, in fact, I could be certain of it's species with one look. I adore snakes, even the ones that slither into my yard. There are a few impersonators that could have you fooled, it's all about colors and pattern. It is unfortunate that the little guy had to die the way he did, but I understand your concern, most people I know immediately think: "KILL IT!!" when they see a snake in their yard as well.

It was a 'Red on Yellow' snake, so I am almost certain, but I don't want to say it is and then it e a impersonator. I really didn't want to kill it, I more do wanted to re-home it, but I really didn't want it under our house either(which was were it was headed). I will see if I can upload the picture now.

Kazuko · August 2012

It's hard to rehome a snake anyway. At least, rattlesnakes are. That's what I'm used to. If you take them outside of their territory, they'll find their way back. If you take them too far out of their territory, however, they just die.

Night Walker · September 2012

Awwr.. Poor snake I Love snakes but i could understand why you wouldn't want it anywhere Near your house.

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Coral Snake Attack

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