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I was just wondering everyone's view on this.
There's a "lady" on another forum I visit who recently killed a copperhead snake who was on her front porch. She got close enough to kill it but didn't want to relocate it?
I myself don't see any reason in killing another animal when relocation is available and easily done. Now they're accusing me of being a member of PETA because I don't believe in killing wild animals just because they are on my property. :rolleyes:
I can hardly get myself to kill anything. I wouldn't have wanted to kill the copperhead but I wouldn't have tried to relocate it myself either I don't think. I may have called the conservation department or something to relocate it. At least when I lived in Missouri I know you could do that. I'd be nervous for the dogs until I knew it was relocated though. I have a different view on snakes than many do though. I'd have to say I'm of the same mindset as you, although if something was actually in the process of hurting my dog (i.e. biting/attacking), I would probably do whatever necessary to stop it. But that's more "self-defense" and not really the same thing as what you are talking about.
:) Well I am not one for killing anything even a snake; but this being a Copperhead which is very deadly to humans & pets Yes I would have killed it.. For sure if one of my pets was around.. Now if the snake was just out in a field & not bothering anyone then I would not have a problem leaving it alone..
If it were regular, run of the mill type snake, I probably would have just let it be. But the fact that it was a copperhead and therefore poisonous, changes the outcome for me. I probably would have killed it or asked my husband too. I live in a busy neighborhood with lots of little kids including my own 1-year old and don't like the idea of leaving it until someone else came to take it away, because that probably wouldn't happen around here. I could call a number of places but I doubt anyone would come to relocate the snake.
I wouldn't feel great about it, but I think I would do it.
I would try my best to relocate it. When we first moved into our house we found a snake in the yard. We were not sure what is was at the time but later found out it was a Pygmy Rattlesnake. When we found it we carefully scooped it up on a shovel and moved it to a vacant lot. I have never seen it back in the yard again but if it does decide to visit I'll move it back again. I have seen other snakes in the yard but non-venoumous ones so I just make them scurry away so the dogs don't try to catch it. :eek: If it was a larger snake like a Diamondback, which I don't think I would ever see in my yard, I would call someone else and have them get it. I don't think I would kill anything unless it was already attacking my dog.
I completely agree!! I have many pets and two children, if there was a copperhead on my porch i would definitely do something about it!! as far as relocating it, how can one do that???? i would not do it myself, and by the time someone came out to my place to care of it one of my animals could have been hurt!! If i was able to kill it without endangering myself, yes i would!! same goes for any animal that could/would endanger my family or my animals!! I so far in my life have never had to perform such a task, but i would if i had to!!Quote:
Originally Posted by lvpets2002
I have to agree that if it was a non-venomous snake, I'd have relocated it. But given it was a very dangerous copperhead, I'd have called a specialist to come and remove it, possibly donating it to a zoo or something.
All of God's creatures were here LONG before we were. Regardless of how dangerous they are, they deserve a place to live too, even if it IS at a zoo.
We don't have any dangerous snakes, insects ect to worry about around here, but I've had the experience of one of my dogs being attacked by a wild animal. Hobo just barely survived a wolf attack. I know of only 2 other dogs who have survived what he went through. I would not hesitate to kill a wolf on my property. A wolf out roaming around in the forest or even just outside of my fence is a different thing. I don't agree with many predator control programs aimed at wolves ect, but a wolf in my yard thinking my dogs are it's dinner, is dead. I actually chased one out of my driveway in February. Hopefully, I scared her enough that she stays gone.
Moose are extremely dangerous to dog teams and won't hesitate to wade into the middle of a full team and start kicking. We've never run into an aggressive moose and I hope we never do. I'm not sure what I would if we did run into one as I don't carry a gun on the sled(lots of mushers do). I'm not a good enough shot for that. I do carry an axe and I think if I had to, I'd use it to defend my dogs.
I am against killing "things", creepy crawly or not. I have been guilty of killing spiders/flys, too! But, I have also transported many a bug outta the house.
As to snakes- which is a huge fear of mine- I relocate them. I had a huge dilemna several summers ago... Dakky had a teeny snake in his mouth. :eek: I was too afraid to remove it, but, didn't want him to harm it either. My solution? I screamed and screamed and screamed at him, and he dropped it, thank God. I also had every neighbor out of their house for a 5 block radius. :o
Kay, we don't have native venomous snakes here in my area....which is non-rural. I don't know what I would have done if faced with a copperhead. Killing it would be a last resort. :(
I do see your point Kay and agree with you. That being said I have killed 2 rattle snakes in my yard, at the time I was too scared to think of how to safely relocate them.
If it was in my yard I'm afraid I would have to kill it. I hate killing anything and even pick up worms and put them back on my lawn after it starts drying out from a rain but a poisonous snake is a different story. If it were not poisonous I woulnd't care if it was there, as it couldn't kill anyone. My kids and pets take top priority and there is nobody to call here to get rid of it. If I waited for someone to come and get it (not even sure who around here would), I could risk it wandering off into someone else's yard and killing their children or pets. I wouldn't risk being bitten and possibly dying or losing an arm to save the snake. I would hate to do it but I'm afraid in that instance I would have to. We have had many other types of snakes in the yard and they don't bother me, I think snakes are awesome, but not poisonous snakes in my yard.
I could fully understand if it was attacking her dog or causing harm - they were playing feet away from it and it didn't bother them!
I wouldn't hesitate killing something that was hurting my dogs.
But it wasn't causing them any harm at the moment and they could have easily gone inside, called someone and had them remove it.
Kay, I guess for me I feel like if I let the rattlers live they will have babies. I know we build on their homes but I don't want them around I can't help it, lots of houses in our neighborhood have had them turn up in the garage etc.
I guess I am trying to keep the population down.
I would have the snake removed ASAP.I wouldn't try to hurt any
animal or reptile unless they were a direct threat to me or my pets.
You don't have to be a PETA member to hate animal suffering.
I know Harley kills anything in our yard, but as far as humans in my household doing it, I think it's wrong. Not only couldn't I do it I wouldn't. On the other hand, if an animal was attacking one of my pets I'd do what I had to to get my pet back safe.