Snakes in southeast Texas are not a rare thing. Our particular part of this great state is very swampy and I was raised in these swamps. I used to catch snakes all of the time as a young boy. I had a net with the mesh gone and I'd go to a gully behind our house, flip a rock over and pin the snake down. I had another forked stick which I'd use to pin down his head so I could pick him up. I have no fear of snakes and there is no shortage of them around here.
There are only four species of poisonous snakes in the U.S. and they are easy to identify, rattlesnakes, water moccasins, copperheads and coral snakes. Any snake that comes into my yard is a welcome part of nature unless it is venomous, I have pets and grandchildren. I am well aware of the balance of nature and don't just kill a snake because its a snake, but I would not just pass by a copperhead in my woodpile and wait for it to bite me some night as I gathered fire wood.
I view a snake in my pond as I would a rat in my refridgerator, there are plenty of woods right behind my house, creeks and rivers. If any critter chooses to stake out my property as his hunting ground and dinner table, it is my responsibility to protect my pets. Yesterday evening right at dusk we were sitting on the back deck as we do every evening watching the birds feed thier babies at the feeder. Our pygmy goat is now a month old and smaller than a dog. The same owl that tried to eat him a week ago came back and landed in a tree about 12 feet away. I had my pellet rifle ready because it is my duty to protect him, the owl was there to try to eat our pet. I got up for a better shot and it flew away but it will be back.
I love animals, we have 4 dogs, 4 cats with three kittens, a bearded dragon and a pygmy goat (soon to get his mate). We love to watch the birds around our feeders every evening and plan on integrating a bird feeding station as a part of our new back yard along with many bird and bat houses. But, if a snake gets into my pond to eat my fish, a rat moves into my garage or an owl plans on dining on our goat, it is history.