I agree leave the snakes alone and a glove is a good idea. Too bad I never had a glove around when I was a kid. Isn't that an eastern racer, they can be real fast and not happy when bothered. Just looked it up your'e right it's a rat snake.

Rat snakes, as the name should imply, can handle all sizes of vermin and are really fantastic snakes to have on or around your property. They are very docile, do not respond aggressively unless completely cornered or startled.

The only caution I would voice with them is that they tend to live in the same areas as copperheads, so if you see rat snakes you probably have the right conditions which would be inviting to copperheads and you should be extra careful when working in gardens, brush, stone walls or around woodpiles on your property.

Copperheads too are actually very timid, but because of their camouflage and being that they're predominantly nocturnal (relevant because they're usually asleep during the day when initially encountered) they tend not do be noticed until people are right on top of them and within striking distance.

Really cool pictures and nice to see the little ones handle and have respect for the snakes. My 4 and 5 year old grand kids handle the snakes here that Dad catches for them. While not quite as large, they are poisonous. Hope this link works. https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v...amp;oe=59CFD7A7

I just leave snakes alone. No need for senseless killing.

I saw a big black snake crossing the highway the other day. I really wanted to take it home to help fight the rodents that have infested my yard with ticks. My mother in-law found a snake in her yard and killed it with a shovel. I wish I could reciprocate as the real pest continues to thrive.

We need more predators. We have totally screwed up our ecosystem and are paying the price with zoonotic diseases. On a positive note, the Hawk population seems to have increased where I am.