Quote Originally Posted by PurpleNGold View Post
No need to apologize Dan, if everyone thought and acted the same way it just wouldn't work. I should have been more specific wording my opinion. If the truth be known, I'm usually long gone from a snake before I'd think about killing it. BUT....BUT.... When it comes to my back where daughter plays, I'm going to do what I do.

As far as the rat/mouse v's snake death toll, you could be right on. Considering my child is a 2yr old, she's more likely to actually catch a snake in my yard rather than getting a hold of a rat or mouse.
More people die each year from diseases spred from rats and mice. You can die from the smell of mice. Looke up Hanta Virus. If you don't kill the snakes they eat the rats and mice and you have no problems.
You remember the dark ages when everybody killed all the snakes and cats because they were evil. You'all remeber how that turned out.

The amount of mice a black snake eats in its life time is incredible.
Leave them all alone. I'm a kill them all and let God sort them out sort of guy but learn how to ID them and leave the good snakes alone.