I suppose I might be quite startled if I ever came across a snake in my pond. The other day I lifted my 5 year old's kiddy pool in our back porch, and there was a big empty taping compound bucket underneath. Inside were coiled rubber runners from my son's huge Tonka tank, they looked like a snake or two snuggled down all cozy and comfy. I just about leaped out of my skin. LOL! I don't really mind snakes, thankfully we don't have many poisonous ones here.