Local resident Rodney Reid is a snake wrangler and so far this year, he has removed nearly 150 snakes from the Four Points area like the one shown here.
By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News
Brian Jameson found a large rattlesnake in his backyard one evening earlier this month and called snake wrangler Rodney Reid to remove it and relocate and release it.
“He was very calm and handled the situation with professionalism and ensured everyone watching was in a safe place,” said Jameson, of Steiner Ranch.
Just Sunday afternoon, Suzanne Lucas, also of Steiner, found a rattlesnake curled up under her flowers near her front door. She also called Reid to remove it, and that event made his 149th snake removal in the Four Points area since January 1.
Reid, who lives in Four Points, removes snakes as a service to the community. By trade he has been an insurance broker since 1999.
Last year, Reid removed fewer than 90 all year. More people may be calling him this year but he also thinks weather plays a part in the snake numbers.
“The snakes are out in higher numbers and have increased in size with the warm weather that we experienced last winter,” Reid said. “They never were forced underground and into brumation so they kept eating and kept breeding.”
Local venomous snakes
There are four types of venomous snakes here: rattlesnake, water moccasin, copperhead and coral.
The rattlesnake, water moccasin and copperhead all have a viper-type (triangular) head and all have hemotoxin venoms. “They stop the blood from clotting and destroy red blood cells fast. This can quickly lead to internal bleeding out or severe damage due to internal bleeding,” Reid said.
“The coral snake has a neurotoxin venom… it is destructive, almost immediately, to the nervous system, causing neurotoxicity and possibly respiratory paralysis,” he said.
“I have taken, by far, more rattlesnakes than any other snake this year, then copperheads, then corals. I have yet to remove one water moccasin this year or last year,” Reid said.
Snake safety tips
“A strong point to remember is snakes move from dusk to dawn. Always be looking where you’re stepping if you’re out and about during this time,” Reid said.
The best overall snake safety tip is to be “conservatively aware of surroundings at all times” especially during the warm and hot weather, he said.
Be cautious. Parents and caregivers should walk outside, look around and make noise before allowing children or pets to go outside, he suggested.
Keep clutter and storage items at a minimum, and up and off of the ground if possible.
There are products like glue boards for garage areas but some people don’t like the fact that those can stop a snake from moving and/or eventually could kill the snake.
One deterrent is quarter-inch mesh fencing sold at home improvement places like Home Depot which can be connected to the bottom of a fence line.
Reid does not charge for the removal of snakes but encourages anyone with a snake issue to call or text him at (512) 554-6407.
“I think the biggest part of all of this that I am doing is to protect kiddos and pets in our neighborhoods. It helps us all sleep a little better at night,” he said.