I wanted to check the link I used to use for how to capture snakes without danger to yourself or the snake and laughed when I saw there are now dozens of sites that describe essentially the same thing but darned if I could find the one that had all the nice illustrations that make things much more clear.I know it has been at least 5 years since I last looked at it and the history is two computers lost but the loss isn't major despite the lack of specific information. Get a large, tall garbage can with a lid and a long handled broom. Remove the lid and lay it close by. Lay the garbage can on its side close to the snake. Using the broom, gently urge the snake toward it and then sweep it inside. Turn the can upright and quickly put the lid on it and secure it. Call Critter Control (The dog catcher) if they accept snakes. Put the can in a shady spot until you can remove it to a preselected location for release. Get permission beforehand if possible. It is not a particularly good idea to put more than one snake in a particular can at the same time. Snakes can push themselves upward to their full length with very strong muscles so the can should be at least as tall as the snake is long unless you can be quick with the lid. A friend failed to determine this once and wound up with a snake loose in his bedroom that night. He was able to find it only after scattering corn meal over the floor and observing the track of the snake the next morning leading to the pile of his dirty clothing. LOL! His mistake kept me from making the same mistake but I didn't tell him that. Since there are now so many sites with the same info, I can only assume a lot of snakes have been moved in garbage cans. Releasing them is simple. Loosen the lid and tip the can on its side near a pile of rocks or other hidey hole. If the snake won't come out, use the broom to tip the can upside down and then onto its side again. The snake should come out if only to avoid getting dizzy. Roll the can away from the direction the snake is fleeing so it doesn't mistake the can for a hiding place. Retrieve the lid and leave. If the snake won't let you get near him with the can leave the can on its side that night with crumpled newspaper inside. He will be inside the next morning. Sandy

Great! Is there anything you don't see? :) You sure see some awesome stuff down there!

Matt, My wife agrees with yours about the lack of normality. She doesn't like snakes at all, the other herps she's okay with. I think I've got my 2 yr. old son on my side. He seems to have already developed an interest in herps. But he and I have a hard time convincing her that we're normal. Thanks for your posts, always enjoy them. Evan

I have never, ever seen one of these in the wild, not alive, anyway. The closest I've come was a flattened remnant on a highway in Charleston County. It's a good thing you realized this guy was NOT a shoe string, since this "shoe string" could very well have ended up killing you! Sharon McKenzie