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Hummingbird Garden

Found another snake on a feeder

13 years ago

No one answered when I first wrote about finding a snake on a humming bird feeder. I never dreamed I would find another. I moved the Feeder and put it on a line. The snake had eaten 1 hummer. I hope and pray I get some feed back now. I hate to feed hummers to feed snakes. Red

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Comments (7)

tracey_nj6
13 years ago
Wow; that sucks! Is there any kind of baffle that would deter the snakes, if you put the feeder on a shepherds hook or pole? That's one pest I'm glad I don't have to deal with, although I truly do love snakes...
ctnchpr
13 years ago
To get an answer, you first have to ask a question. I don't see a question in either of your posts about the snake.
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ran into another snake...can we remind eachother the do's and don
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Comments (22)
lucia: Good, you only have the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) to worry about. I know, some people would say to just look for the rattle, which is diagnostic, but what if you can't see it? What if you see only the loop of a snake sticking out from under a board? What if the tail is hidden in the brush? What if you're seeing the snake from a distance, as you were? Herpetologists could easily distinguish a rattler from a gopher snake at a glance at that distance, but others may not be able to do so. Gopher snakes are generally tan with dark brown or black blotches on the back. You may be able to perceive the blotches as in being in staggered length-wise rows. Their head is proportionally rather small, though an angry one can spread it out somewhat to make himself look more imposing. Your rattlers will be gray, brown, or (occasionally) greenish, with big rhomboid shaped blotches on the back. Your local outdoors-people probably call them "diamondbacks," but that's another species. The point is, no way are you going to be tempted to call a gopher snake a "diamondback." Also, the rattler will have a prominent white line running diagonally down the side of the head. If you can see the head, then you can see that easily from 10 ft. If he sees you, even if he's not rattling or coiling, he'll probably be waving his long tongue slowly up and down, and the tongue has a blue base -- but you're probably way too close for comfort if you can see the blue!
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Wayne...another snake ID, please
Q
Comments (11)
Not trying to stir the pot, but both non posionous and even posionous snakes eat lots of pests we don't want in out gardens, sheds or homes. Killing them really isn't nessecary and they can be moved with a snake hook or even a shovel. Killing animals just because they are there and I don't like them seems like a poor excuse. No flame inteneded, but it would be better to throw them back in the woods. I've been bitten by a copperhead and it was my fault and I didn't kill him because he happened to be posionous and I was handling him incorrectly. I'm far from being a tree hugger, I hunt and fish, but don't think the idea of killing because you don't like an animal is very sporting. Garter snakes are great around the garden as they eat slugs and so will baby copperheads.
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Another snake - Need ID - this one was in my office.
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Comments (4)
Not sure why the message did not post, but again... we are having serious storms here. I want to send out a BIG THANK YOU!!! You are so unbelievably helpful! EG
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The hummingbirds finally found my feeder!
Q
Comments (9)
I love hummingbirds! I put my first feeder up sometime in April & within an hour already had a hummer there eating. I have 4 feeders out & any time of the day you can go out & at least 2 or 3 are at each feeder; at sunrise & sunset the feeders are packed w/ at least 5-7 or more hovering around each feeder waiting their turn! I have to refill my feeders every 2-3 days so my "nectar" doesn't have a chance to go bad. I will however disagree w/ some of the given advice. I'm not saying I'm right, but my hummingbirds like what I do. I make up a 3 1/2 qt. juice container of "nectar" at a time. I put 2 cups of sugar in 1 quart of water (so 7 cups to my 3 1/2 qt. container)... I've read some agruments about this on here, but again, my HB's seem to like it & keep coming back. I never boil the water, I mix the sugar w/ cold water & shake the container vigorously before filling each feeder. Mine is stored in the fridge & doesn't last more than a week. I don't notice any difference between warm/cold feeders when I put them out, so they will drink the cold nectar (I've read where some ppl warm it up before putting it in the feeder). What you do is up to you, I just wanted to add my 2 cents. Good luck & hope you have many HB's come your way! :) ~Shannon
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hummersteve
13 years ago
chao

Bummer-- I dont have to deal with snakes here mainly praying mantis is one I have to watch out for as I have found those on feeders before and in plants. You have done about all you can do hang it high so snakes cant get to it . We are at the end of the season now and hummers will soon be gone, but I have read that if your culprit is a black snake that is a good thing as they will kill the more poisonous snakes you might have there in the southeast.
chao
Original Author
13 years ago
It wasnt a black snake but a oak snake. People here say they kill poisonous snakes.Thanks for telling about the praying mantis. I have seen pictures of them on feeders. I intend to keep trying. I hope I am the only person thats had this problem with snakes Red
rob_a
13 years ago
Wow, I've heard of intruders on feeders like bats, wasps, wood peckers, finches, ants, and raccoons. But now snakes?

I'm not into killing any living thing, but that's too much. I just couldn't allow that. Do you have a 410?
homerpa
13 years ago
I certainly hope you don't take it out on the snake; what we're doing here is attracting hummingbirds in locations and concentrations that would not normally exist. It's only natural that you will attract predators, if they're around.

We're also making it easier for the predators, in my opinion, w/ the feeders w/ perches. Yes, my feeders have perches, too- I'm not judging, just making an observation.

I would try to hang the feeders in such a way that they wouldn't support anything else besides the feeder and the birds. ALso, maybe hang them more out in the open, maybe on a long thin metal wire hanger, from something high above.

Good luck! :)
HU-671005186
last year
last modified: last year
We live in Ky. Found this black snake on the chain holding the feeder.

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