awww, toss them in a neighbors yard? Buy bigger fish?
Yup. I'm not sure I agree with killing snakes and coyotes (or for that matter wolves and lions) on sight. Well as long as it's not a me-or-them situation.
It seems you open yourself to unintended consequences. As I understand it some years ago Larimer County had an issue with rabid foxes and so they exterminated them. Now the mountain parks have
tons of rattlesnakes. Which is arguably worse.
But that does remind me of story about rattlers.
I was once riding at Coyote Ridge west of Loveland and came across not one but two rattlesnakes right on the trail tangled.
Me in my naivety thought I happened upon an intimate moment and gave them their space only to almost step right on a third I had not seen. Turns out it was two males fighting for the affection of the third.
I removed myself from the scene and took the very long way 'round that spot. Later research indicates seeing this is actually a pretty rare thing so in a way I feel lucky for the experience.
Snakes don't really bother me. I don't like rattlesnakes but I can appreciate them anyway. But happening on a bunch of snakes. Nope. Too Indiana Jones for me. I have an almost irrational fear of stepping on a rattlesnake nest out hiking or riding. I'm glad we don't see them often here. Unlike Larimer County where it could be almost guaranteed in certain seasons and times of day.
