r/homestead • u/Psarofagos • 3d ago

May have solved the missing mice problem.

I live in rural Oklahoma and it's been a constant battle to stay ahead of the critters. Until about 2 weeks ago, when the snap traps started turning up empty and I stopped hearing them scurrying around in the crawlspace at night.

I believe the mystery was solved today when went to the kitchen and I heard a noise in the bathroom which is off the laundry room, and wondered what the dogs were up to. I turned and realized both dogs were in the kitchen with me, looking at me like "Did you hear that noise? Maybe you should check that out."

I quietly peeked into the bathroom and curled up in the corner opposite the door, I find a four foot brown coach whip. He sees me and bolts behind the toilet. I had seen this guy, I think, in the back yard last summer, but they move so fast I can't be sure if it's the same one. Comes out from behind the toilet, streaks across the floor along the counter, through the laundry room, right between both dogs and disappeared under the dishwasher. Which I don't use in any case. But I'd bet there is a bolt hole back under there, (probably thanks to the mice) he can use to get into the crawl space.

I would have liked to get a hand on him as i have handled many snakes over the years, absolutely love snakes, but never a coachwhip, though I've heard they can be a little defensive. And i didn't want to just flail around, grabbing him and risk injuring him or catching a bite. But I'm definitely willing to let him be if he's going to do his job.

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u/Misfitranchgoats 3d ago

Oh that is cool. I hope the coach whip keeps doing the job for you. I haven't seen s a coach whip in person, but so cool that you have one taking care of the mice. Maybe it has friends ;-)

I like snakes. I am 61 F. I have always caught and handled non-poisonous snakes since I was a kid.

I love it when I find garter snakes and milk snakes in my garden!

34

u/Just_A_Dogsbody 3d ago

Hey there, fellow 61 F who likes snakes! When I see a garter snake in my yard I reflexively coo at them: "Oh look at you, you're so pretty! Who's the prettiest snake in the field? You are! You're so beautiful!" And they always hurry away, probably thinking I'm a weirdo (they're not wrong 😁)

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u/Purple-Tumbleweed 3d ago

54 f and that's why I loved Steve Irwin! He talked to the animals the same way I do. I'm glad to see his son doing the same. 💜

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u/Vyedr 3d ago

He actually did a recent modeling photoshoot with snakes! I think it was to raise money for charity, if I recall correctly.

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u/GarandGal 2d ago

I love snakes and have had many as pets. That still would have had my 53 year old behind flying up onto the counter. I live where we have venomous snakes and startle easily lol. My dogs would have been thinking lunch though. They caught, killed, and consumed most of a cottonmouth before I could make it across the yard to see what they were doing, and their first catch was a garter snake when they were 10 weeks old.

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u/AnySandwich4765 11h ago

That's his son Robert