Special offer

Snakes in the Rocks and Grass of Texas

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® TX License #0566780

Snakes in the rocks and grass of Texas comes as no surprise to natives of the area. About forty-percent (40%) of my clients relocate from other areas of the country. So some have never encountered snakes except perhaps at a zoo or on television.

Over the past few weeks, some of my clients have been looking for acreage property. So we've been checking locations in northern Bexar County and Medina County. The question are snakes on the property has come up a few times. I cannot state for certainty whether snakes are there or not. There is a possibility, maybe even a high likelihood that, snakes live on country property that is covered by rocks and grass. 

If the grass is not cut like the greens on a golf course or a city lot, it is wise to assume surprises are waiting in areas we cannot see.

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Crotalus_enyo.JPG

 Photo under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Of course snakes were here before people and will probably be here after we are gone. Even though most people have, if not a fear of snakes, at least a healthy respect for them. Snakes are helpful in controlling certain other unpleasant creatures in the area.

Here are my three tips for being careful in areas where snakes may live:

  • Wear boots, I prefer leather and greater than ankle high
  • Watch before you step. Snake skins and markings tend to blend with the surrounding landscape. You may think something is a rock, but maybe it's somthing alive
  • Do not let kids or pets wander the area unattended if you cannot clearly see the ground.

Getting out of the city is liberating. There are things to consider about risks that are different from city living.

If you want to look into buying or selling country property in the San Antonio area, call or text me at 210-394-2269. They are not making any new land, but I can help you find your piece of Texas.

It should come as no surprise that snakes live in the grass and rocks of Texas. 

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Good advice, Wayne. 

     I am aware of two tragic snake bites in north Florida this year, one resulting in the death of a child.  With total respect to the victims, both instances were avoidable. 

     The first case was a 50 year old man poking a 6 foot diamondback rattler with a branch.   The second instance involved a little boy playing on the edge of some deep woods behind the family home, while his father was planting a garden.   A 5 foot rattler bit him on the leg.

    

    

Sep 22, 2014 11:13 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Wayne, very good advice, and anytime you are out in rural areas, you need precautions.    That is why I live in the City!  

Sep 22, 2014 12:08 PM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I had a snake curl around the outside door handle of my patio porch. It was a harmless snake but the bite still would have hurt like crazy.

Sep 22, 2014 12:40 PM
Winston Heverly
Coldwell Banker Access Realty - South Macon, GA
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

Wayne, a nice read with some really useful information to utilize.

Sep 22, 2014 02:28 PM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369

Hi Wayne, Great advice, I would be wearing boots as well. We keep our grass short and if we take the boat out late at night, I have my iPhone flashlight on coming up the hill, I'm terrified that there's one waiting to bite me!

Sep 22, 2014 03:04 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Wayne. The photo is pretty amazing, that snake just blends in, so it would be hard to spot, unless someone is really paying attention. Nice job with your list, hope all you clients are paying attention.

Sep 22, 2014 07:30 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Yikes, I'd be wearing boots for certain. We only have those little harmless garter snakes around here - even then, they can startle  me when they slither out from under a rock or shrub.

Sep 23, 2014 12:42 AM
Will Nesbitt
Nesbitt Realty at Condo Alexandria - Alexandria, VA
Nesbitt Realty is a family-run brokerage.

Realtor Wayne Johnson at (210) 483-6329, this is a pertinent Active Rain article on snakes in the rocks and grass of Texas.

Sep 23, 2014 01:57 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Excellent advise, Wayne. We have lots of them here too-luckily most are not venomous.

Sep 23, 2014 08:19 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Wayne -- although your post freaks me out, it does highlight your local knowledge of your market.   I'm sure your out-of-area buyers appreciate the insight.  

Sep 23, 2014 05:30 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Wayne good advice.  I would have a hard time showing land, snakes terrify me.

Sep 24, 2014 01:05 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Wayne, just looking at your photos gives me the creeps, and good thing living in the city we don't see any! 

Sep 25, 2014 10:57 AM
Robert Bob Gilbert
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties - Katy, TX
Your Katy TX ( West of Houston) Real Estate Expert

Wayne, Yep this is Texas and snakes could be anywhere even in a master planned community in Katy. Snakes come with the turf. Last week we had a lot of rain and I am sure snakes showed up many places where they would not normally be found. Good tips you left for folks to think about before charging out some place. 

Sep 26, 2014 07:39 AM
Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert
Richmond, TX

Wayne,

 I absolutely hate snakes and anything to do with them. I heard there are natural ways to keep them away...I will have to look into this!

Sep 26, 2014 09:46 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Wayne love this post, it is truly a very beneficial post to all...having went through Ranger School we took classes about snakes and I never forget the Florida Phase...many opportunities to practice what we learned...Endre

Sep 26, 2014 04:41 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Dear Wayne,
Once in downtownAustin, we thought we drove over a branch in the road but it was a snake. It didn't seem to even notice we had driven over it. Just continued across the street as we stopped to watch. It was about a SIX-INCH diameter and this is no "fish" story.

Hate to think of the load of venom it carried!
Have a happy day -
Lynn

Sep 28, 2014 02:36 PM
ReadySetLoan Team
ReadySetLoan Condo Team LLC - South Windsor, CT
Residential, Commercial & Condo Financing Experts

HI Wayne - the snakes up here in CT are mainly of the non-venomous varieties except for a couple small ones.  We are more concerned about fisher cats and bears.

Sep 29, 2014 10:52 PM
Shanna Hall
Real Estate Solutions - Kirkwood, MO
I love selling houses!!!St. Louis, MO 314-703-1311

Wayne- what a funny question for a client to ask, lol;)  Of course there could be snakes anywhere!

Oct 01, 2014 01:40 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is very good advice and anther good reason to buy boots as soon as you arrive in Texas.

Oct 07, 2014 08:41 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

The small harmless ones we have are frightening enough to me, LOL.

Oct 19, 2014 09:41 AM