We have only lived here on the lake for 2 years but have never even seen a snake anywhere. However this year our neighbor passed a huge rattlesnake on the road so backed up and killed it... As of 3 weeks ago we have a huge water mocassin in our cove this year that has to go!! I actually saw him come right down the middle of the cove and now he is under our dock and goes back & forth morning & dusk. Plus last week I had a 3' one at our front door that our Doberman ran by not seeing it & stepped on its tail. I ran got shovel & killed it!! I also killed a baby while planting at the dock!! That is 3 in 3 weeks & 1 is still here!! Even with boat coming & going last weekend & our Sea Doo in & out at our dock he hasn't left:-( I heard mocassins think this is there turf & you are invading not the other way around. There are no good snakes to me unless it's a black yard snake but when there is even a question it's not worth it... I will take a chipmunk over a snake any day. Plus I heard mocassins eat anything including other snakes & if you want to see go to YouTube and watch a mocassin kill & eat a rattlesnake can't imagine a water snake having a chance. Wish there was a way to get rid of the one in our cove ...yesterday!!