Help! Water Moccasins in my pond! Need Solutions!?

First off: I’m born and raised in FL I know the difference. These ARE water moccasins not just harmless watersnakes. We killed a very large one (for these snakes) yesterday. They are eating my goldfish and wild frogs faster than I or nature can replace them here in South Alabama. Not to mention I have outdoor cats that drink from the ponds edge and curious kids who like to watch the wonder of tadpoles close up and personal. At first, the pond was deep (2 feet) and steep sided….that didn’t work, it just let them dive where we couldn’t see them OR the fish we bought. Then we dug it out and expanded the pond sides making it more space with gradually sloping sides but less than a foot deep so that we could clearly see the sandy bottom and the fish we bought…..Still even though we can see them, they’re unwelcomed guests and now probably more of an issue because we now know there are more of them than we originally thought. When we kill one, another large one has replaced it within a week! Now, there are babies in the water and those are even harder to kill because they’re so small and quick. I need a pond solution and fast!
Here’s my thoughts: We have already spent nearly $1000 over the last two years trying to build a lovely water feature. I would hate to waste a brand new liner, brand new pump, not to mention all the rocks, plants and fish. But…..If I don’t find a safe solutions, my husband is threatening to fill it in. So, I need "snake proof" pond plans…if there is such a thing.
-IF I were to build a square box with sides say 2 or even 3 feet off the ground. Lay my liner inside this form and have a sort of large container garden; would this solve my problem with the moccasins?
-Are there any pond design ideas that will bar snakes from entering?
Please let me know….we love our pond, but Daddy’s more concerned with safety as all good husbands are.
Yes…sure they’re cotton mouths. Thanks. We are 1 acre away from a large lake system. I’ve cleared the brush completely around my pond hoping the open area would discourage them. We usually only have one or two at a time, but when we remove one, another takes it’s place within a week. I’m sorry….I won’t just kill a watersnake but in a neighborhood with kids I’m not making them someone elses problem. These things are prolific and we obviously didn’t find yesterdays snake in time. Now, we have babies.

I’ve always found moccasins to be rather gentlemanly (or ladylike) as regards biting. Leave them alone and they will return the favor. However, this doesn’t save your fish. While the above-ground box you suggest might work, snakes can climb. You might try a fence made out of aluminum flashing. If it extends into the soil and is high enough, they won’t be able to climb it. Then you step in and remove the snakes with Pilstrom tongs or some such.

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5 Responses to “Help! Water Moccasins in my pond! Need Solutions!?”

Adrian O says:

November 24, 2009 at 8:36 am

Call an exterminator to relocate them.
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luvexotics says:

November 24, 2009 at 8:55 am

First of all it is wrong to just kill a snake. Secondly are you absolutly posative they’re cotton mouths. Becase these snakes don’t usually all congragate in one area. It is uncommone to find large groups of cotton mouths together but is common to find water snakes. You can not make your pond free of any snakes. They can climb if you put up a wall or fence. Snakes are a part of nature and people really should learn to live in harmony with them. Usually a snake is more affraid of you and will retreat. If you teach your kids how to responsable live with nature having snakes in your pond won’t be an issue. As for the cats personally that is why I feel cats should not be outdoor cats. They will always run risks of animals, cars, and poison. If you really don’t want the snakes around then disassemble the pond. You have made a home, water source, and food source for them, as long as all that is there they will continue to be around. Either learn to live side by side with nature or take away the source of food, water , and shelter. And please stop needlessly killing animals a little education goes a long way.
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mimi says:

November 24, 2009 at 9:00 am

call animal control!!!
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exothermicartist says:

November 24, 2009 at 9:45 am

house cats came from Africa they dealt with spitting cobras they can deal with a slow heavy bodied snakes people can be taught to do this to teach your kids to walk around snakes I played with rattlers at 15 and I have never been bite I keep snakes and rarely get bite by the ones I just pick up (non-venomous) teach them to avoid ledges and things as I do when I hike around here also make your pond open don’t plant next to it or around the path your children take to the pond so they can see snakes in your path just common sense and a little information can keep them safe I have always loved snakes and I get plenty around my home (a reason I like the aria) people lived along side a cat the size of compact car a monitor lizard that reached 20 feet an eagle that could carry off a small human we can live next to a six foot long poison delivery system use sparse landscaping to allow good visibility at ground level fill over hangs and dark holes with dirt and avoid the pond at dawn and dusk as for the fish any koi to big to eat will be bothered the frogs will live the have for over a million years before we came in and don’t need to be protected from natural predators and you can always not replace the fish and let the food run out for a while many of them will move on to better hunting grounds you are not going to be able to build any thing “snake proof” they will get over or under unless you like to dig cinderblocks in to the ground a yard or so and you may fence as many in as out depending on pond size learn to live with them as all people in North America have before you
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oikos says:

November 24, 2009 at 10:19 am

I’ve always found moccasins to be rather gentlemanly (or ladylike) as regards biting. Leave them alone and they will return the favor. However, this doesn’t save your fish. While the above-ground box you suggest might work, snakes can climb. You might try a fence made out of aluminum flashing. If it extends into the soil and is high enough, they won’t be able to climb it. Then you step in and remove the snakes with Pilstrom tongs or some such.
References :

Help! Water Moccasins in my pond! Need Solutions!?

5 Responses to “Help! Water Moccasins in my pond! Need Solutions!?”

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