New use for barbecue tongs

[marlingardener]

I went out late this morning to gather eggs from the hens' coop, and found a "chicken snake" in one of the nest boxes. I went back to the house, got my husband to be official door keeper, grabbed my garden gloves, and went back to the barn. I got the barbecue tongs I keep in the barn for just such an occasion, used the tongs to grab the snake just back of its head, used my other hand to get a grip on its body, and my husband opened the coop door for me. The snake was tossed out into the pasture, and everyone got on with their day, including the snake.
Chicken snakes, which are really rat snakes, are not venomous, but because of their diet (mostly rats and mice) their bite is particularly dirty and can cause a nasty infection. We've been lucky since in the eight years we've kept hens, we've only had two snakes invade the nest boxes. Our barn is quite devoid of rodents, however.
And if you are wondering, the barbecue tongs in the barn are dedicated to snake catching--we do not use them when cooking out ! Here is a picture of a rat snake that was in our driveway last year:

 

[Beth_B]

I love that you calmly do catch and release rather than freaking out, good for you.

 

[IcyBC]

Yikes! You are brave to handle this situation! I would screamed and left it for someone else to remove the snake. I hope your barbecue tongs was long enough to grab the snake.

 

[marlingardener]

Living in Texas I have learned to be respectful of snakes--they do so much good in keeping a balance of nature. So many folks try to kill every snake they see, what a shame.
Yes Icy, my tongs are about a foot long and when a snake is in a nest box, there isn't room for it to coil to strike. I'm not as brave as I make myself out to be, just practical.
That snake was about 3' long, but by the time I got back to the house it was a 12 footer in my mind!

 

[DeborahJane]

Living in Texas I have learned to be respectful of snakes--they do so much good in keeping a balance of nature. So many folks try to kill every snake they see, what a shame.
Yes Icy, my tongs are about a foot long and when a snake is in a nest box, there isn't room for it to coil to strike. I'm not as brave as I make myself out to be, just practical.
That snake was about 3' long, but by the time I got back to the house it was a 12 footer in my mind!

I think I would have likes much longer tongs!!! You sound very cool, calm and collected in a crises Marlingardener. Very impressive.

 

[marlingardener]

Deb, cool, calm and collected I am not, although I sincerely appreciate your compliment.
When my husband had an accident with the table saw and took off the upper part of his thumb, I got him in the house, iced the thumb to reduce bleeding, called the ambulance, and when it arrived, spent a few moments in the workshop looking for parts of thumb. Most of the afternoon was spent at the hospital evaluating the need for surgery and getting my husband's thumb bandaged and elevated (a pink foam tower that he rested his hand on--boy, did I tease him about that later!). Took him home, got him hydrated, and went to the local pharmacy for pain medication. Got home, gave my husband the pain pills, and then broke down and sobbed for an hour.
He is fine now, although his thumb is slightly shorter than the other, and I've learned not to get down on my knees and pray when he goes to the workshop!

 

[tasha]

This is why I live in an apartment most of the time as my worst fear is snakes and this is something that would simply give me a heart attack, my aunt used to tell me stories about vine snakes on her farm and that was enough to keep me away.

 

[Rosyrain]

I hate snakes and I would have run away very fast. You and your husband sound like you kept your cool and made a decision that did not harm the snake and solved the problem for you.

 

[Pat]

You were alot calmer than I would have been in that situation. I hate snakes and rats. I lose it when I have to deal with either of those critters. I have had a snake on my deck and mice in my house and will admit the show I put on was not cute. Glad your situation worked out for everyone, including the snake.

 

[DeborahJane]

Deb, cool, calm and collected I am not, although I sincerely appreciate your compliment.
When my husband had an accident with the table saw and took off the upper part of his thumb, I got him in the house, iced the thumb to reduce bleeding, called the ambulance, and when it arrived, spent a few moments in the workshop looking for parts of thumb. Most of the afternoon was spent at the hospital evaluating the need for surgery and getting my husband's thumb bandaged and elevated (a pink foam tower that he rested his hand on--boy, did I tease him about that later!). Took him home, got him hydrated, and went to the local pharmacy for pain medication. Got home, gave my husband the pain pills, and then broke down and sobbed for an hour.
He is fine now, although his thumb is slightly shorter than the other, and I've learned not to get down on my knees and pray when he goes to the workshop!

Still sounds very cool, calm and collected to me!
I think we are allowed a little "break down" every now and then surely!!!

 

[marlingardener]

Pat, I thoroughly dislike mice in my house, but we've learned to deal with the little critters (foam around any pipes, no small openings around doors, and keeping the kitchen really, really clean and devoid of any scraps or food particles.)
Snakes I can tolerate. Shucks, I might as well admit that I admire anything that is totally muscle and has existed for millennia! We have a resident rat snake that lives under the kitchen (we are on pier and beam for the kitchen, which leaves a 2' crawl space. The snake has done more for rodent control than any amount of mice traps!
Deb, my "break down" lasted for about two months. Talk about nightmares! I guess that is an indication of how much I adore my husband, and hate to lose any part of him!

 

[DeborahJane]

Lucky loved man, every single inch!!

 

[tasha]

No I just cant do it! I hate the thought of even seeing a cartoon snake and on a farm that must be crazy and nerve wrecking at times.

 

[DeborahJane]

I don't really come across snakes where I live except of course for the 2 pet pythons in their PADLOCKED glass homes in the garage.
We do have big spiders though, just now there is one in the family room and was very inconsiderately on the door as I was about to change rooms. I really don't mind them as much as I used to as long as they stay UP!!!!! It is early morning but a bit of an EEEEK and pushing the door open with my foot, a dash through and a SLAM and now I'm safe and sound in the loungeroom. Unfortunately another cup of tea Is out of the question .
I've just looked across and the door is ajar!!!! The spider wasn't that big. I deduce that one of the 3 cats that now reside here ( 2 temporarily along with the afore mentioned pythons and a lovely old very hairy dog) is the culprit!!! And I mustn't have closed the door properly.

 

[tasha]

Oh my word!!! Lol, that's a crazy morning I would grab another tea if I were you!