Those who fear venomous snakes need to recognize and protect the other snakes. King snakes, rat snakes, and black racers will all kill and eat venomous snakes. I have fiercely protected the king and rat snakes here on the farm, as well as catching some elsewhere and releasing them here.
I even keep a net bag in the Gator when we do our late afternoon rides. Have caught a few crossing the road, brought them home and released them. Never see a venomous snake here, but I see my buddies often. Saw a black rat snake that I think I released last year earlier this week. It's about 4 feet long now.
This. We have a large king snake that hangs close to my place. Saw her Friday about 100 yards from my back door. I’ve told my neighbors, who are very anti-snake, to call me if they see a snake around their property. I’ll come remove it. Want to protect the kings and other non-venomous snakes if at all possible. Too many kids running around our neck of the woods to be killing the good snakes that eat the venomous ones. If I see a venomous snake here around the house, it’s getting gone. I see one out in the woods it will get to keep on keeping on.
