Raccoons defeated-Now Snakes??

[kelownaguy]

Had raccoon problems until I installed an electric fence.
Works great! Thanks for the good advice folks.

I recently added a 1 metre high rockpile/waterfall.
About a week later,I discovered what I believe to be a Western Terrestrial Garter snake(http://www.bcreptiles.ca/snakes/westterrgarter.htm)nestled under the uppermost rock.Saw him for 2 consectutive days.
Cool I thought,one of nature`s creatures approves of my work.
Then I noticed several 2 inch goldfish missing.No bodies found.
4 inch goldfish doing fine.Baby fish A-OK.Only snake bite size fish are missing.
No wanton destruction or other telltale signs that normally accompany a raccoon attack.
I`m having trouble getting the electric fence low enough to keep the snakes out.J/K...LOL

My questions for the congregation:
Am I giving the snake a bad rap?
Anybody else have snake trouble?
Any advice?

[Shell Dweller]

The only thing that comes to mind would be to get a Mongoose.......

[onefishtwofish]

The only thing that comes to mind would be to get a Mongoose.......

hahahahahahahah

[-DC-]

It is possible that the snake is snapping up small fish, they are opportunistic, could let the raccoons back in would likely keep the snake at bay LOL

Snake will be very tricky to stop, best bet is to simply catch it and release somewhere away from your pond!

Snake's are opportunistic they wouldn't be actively seeking fish ponds for food like a raccoons would. This just happened to find an easy meal next too some nice rock's too hide in so it'll stick around as long as it can keep eating. So if you catch it stick it in a pillow case, drive 5 minutes away and release your problem is solved!

[Keri]

I agree with dc, if he ate it it was because it was right there, you can move him easily

Or get bigger fish

He probably won't bite you but they do musk when scared and it stinks.

[Keri]

This is a neat melanistic one my husband found beside our pond last year.

[BigFatLyre]

Considering the time of year (apparently it's hot in Kelowna?) and fish would "swallow" pretty easilly it looks like:
1) the fish you have are fine
2) nature wins this one
3) how much for the snake? have $$$ (lol; I'm assuming they're protected)

also, not to dissapoint, but warm rocks and garter snakes (plural) go together. garters are pretty social; where there is one there are probably more. and the problem will solve itself with cooler weather. at least they won't be killing your big ones just for the fun of it, like cranes do.

[BigFatLyre]

Had raccoon problems until I installed an electric fence.
Works great! Thanks for the good advice folks.

I recently added a 1 metre high rockpile/waterfall.
About a week later,I discovered what I believe to be a Western Terrestrial Garter snake(Reptiles of BC : Western Terrestrial (Wandering)Garter Snake)nestled under the uppermost rock.Saw him for 2 consectutive days.
Cool I thought,one of nature`s creatures approves of my work.
Then I noticed several 2 inch goldfish missing.No bodies found.
4 inch goldfish doing fine.Baby fish A-OK.Only snake bite size fish are missing.
No wanton destruction or other telltale signs that normally accompany a raccoon attack.
I`m having trouble getting the electric fence low enough to keep the snakes out.J/K...LOL

My questions for the congregation:
Am I giving the snake a bad rap?
Anybody else have snake trouble?
Any advice?

the western "wandering" garter snake is apparently a better fisherman than I am, and that INCLUDES fresh AND salt water. Great; now you've got me interested in reptiles.
more troublelol

[gmachine19]

WOW Keri! That is a gorgeous specimen!

[-DC-]

I love that melanistic one. I've caught 2 Blue Easterns here in NB (not shedding they were blue in color), I've also seen t+ albino garters, and albino red bellies, never a melanistic though

Very nice find!