This evening I went out to get a screwdriver from my work bench. As I headed back towards the door into the house I saw a http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/l.g.californiae.html stretch out against the wall to the right of it. I didn't yell, but I did kind of jump around and back (it would have been quite humiliating if anyone else had seen it. It was a baby at that - just about a foot long. I guess the warmth of the car engine drew it in (its cool tonight). I used one of those http://www.amazon.com/32-Reacher-Grabber-Pick-Stick/dp/B0016P1VT2 to grab it and take it out to the yard. I didn't want to hurt it - they're very beneficial for killing rodents and even rattlesnakes when they're grown (and they aren't venomous). Still, it unnerved me and now I'm looking all over my house hoping to not see one in here. That very thing happened with another baby King Snake at my work a few years ago, so I know they can find their way indoors.

So I find I'm a big chicken where snakes are concerned. Ever find an unwelcome visitor in/near your house (non-human )? Did it make you cautious for a while afterward?

No I never had an ill welcomed (non human) visitor(s). Except once. A couple of wasps got in my house and I put some dish soap down and the little bastard's got stuck to it.

Hmm. You did overreact a bit, but I wouldn't of called you a chicken. It's nice to hear that you didn't murder the snake, some people kill possums, snakes, and other non-domestic animals on site which I don't like. If the animal is a visible threat, I can see why they may need to be exterminated, other than that no.

Well if you didnt scream and call a man to come help your good. No need to feel bad.

Worst one was when I had a raccoon get through the roof and make it's way into the utility room. Those things can get nasty when backed into a corner.

I'm imagining that weather man having the encounter with the cockroach.

No especially interesting visitors here; about the scariest things are a hedgehog who likes eating tandoori chicken, though we haven't seen him in years, I think he changed his route after we had a new fence built, and one of the local deer that comes and eats the flowers. The scariest sounding things are passing foxes which sound like goblins, quite unnerving at 2am.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClwIj3x24Q4

I once had a shed snakeskin in my backyard. I never saw the snake though.

There was a small spider on my carpet the other day, it blended in. I had to climb across the furniture to get around the room.

I'm actually not scared of (non-deadly) snakes at all, however, if I see a big insect close to me I scream like a girl, so I guess you're still braver than me at least.

If it's venomous(such as rattlesnakes) it's getting killed on sight, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Two little girls and a dog that I won't have bitten.

About 5 years ago, was outside when I heard a rattling coming from a nearby bank(just about 10 feet from top to bottom, not very steep). I looked over and saw the largest rattle-snake I've ever seen in my entire life, including at zoos. This thing was about 6-7 feet long from head to tail, and when we finally killed it(took like 4-5 .22 shots to the head), we counted the rattles(2 rings per year of life). It had 22 on it, meaning it was alive for 11 years >< Damn thing was nearly as thick around as my thigh(I'm 5'11 and 200lbs to give you an approximation). It was very lethargic, guessing it had probably just eaten and was enjoying the sun, otherwise it probably would have taken off the first time we shot it.

It's OK, I would have done the same thing.
I have done the same thing when I saw a spider ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevex2/6706622499/

These are the worst that could ever show up in a house around here, and most people quite like them, they can't hurt you.

Nah you are fine. That is better than the typical reactions I hear about. Glad you didn't kill it. I like snakes but mostly because I live in one of the few temperate places that has none. Unless you count the Hawaiian Snake. Which is a borderline worm.

Now Hawai'i has its own share of dangers. Boars, Sharks etc etc. I have many experiences with many of them. I have full blown panicked in some of those cases. When I was little I got chased up a tree with my brother by a mother boar.

Bah. Weak little babby man!

I live on the edge of a bushland region, so I get quite a lot of snakes around here. Usually they're just blacks, which are cowards and will run away from you. Occasionally though you can get a Red-Belly or Brown snake, which are venomous. The Brown really is the bad one, one of the world's deadliest snakes. And those bastards will happily chase you. Most snakes are scared of humans, but browns will happily go for you if you annoy them. Best thing to do with snakes though if you encounter them outside is to just ignore them or let them slither by. 99% of snakes are more scared of you than you are of them, and usually only attack idiots who think "Cor! Lets go chase the snakey snakey!" If I see a snake, I just either walk around, giving him a wide berth, or just let him go on his business.

Spider problems though are usually removed with the application of a heavy book. Admittedly though, seeing a Black Widow's likely to make me vacate the room, board up the room, and then set fire to the house to ensure the spider can never come near me again.

Psychotic and venomous wildlife in Australia? Surely not!

Alert: In the future all snakes will be replaces by venom-bearing rabbits.

I just thank God every day that Drop Bears arn't venomous too.

the way I see it is if anything invades my home, be it bug or man, then the penalty is death. I never kill any bugs that are outside my house as that's their home but if anything enters without my permission then they will be dealt with swiftly and without mercy

I've dealt with mostly black racers/garden snakes that have gotten in the house from time to time. The only unfortunate thing is I have to "deal" with them since there are water mocasins near me, and though my zoology teacher brought in his pet snakes which helped to desensitize me, i'm no herpetologist, so I don't want to take any chances.

Aren't there those venomous caterpillars that cause life long pa

Got bit by a snake that was hiding under the steps to my front porch, thankfully it wasn't venomous and I was wearing jeans, so it didn't pierce all to much. I just picked him up under the head and took him into the woods.

When I was around 5-6, a pretty big black snake, maybe 5 foot, was sitting about 4 feet from the swing I was on in my backyard. Didn't even notice it for 10 minutes or so until I looked over and it was just watching me. I got my neighbor to remove it.

Either way, we don't have many venomous snakes here in North Carolina. The most dangerous ones are water moccasins/cottonmouths and copperheads, the only difference between the two being one is semiaquatic and one is not, they're both pit vipers. It's usually rare to see water moccasins up this far north, as they can't really bear the cold of the winter, you only really see them in mid-late summer. I've seen a couple in the lake I wakeboard at. Used to see copperheads all the time, haven't seen one in a while though.

We also have rattlesnakes and some coral snakes, though they usually stay on the coast. As for spiders, we have black widows, which are pretty poisonous, but not too bad. The worst is the brown recluse, if you bitten by one of those, you're pretty much [censored]. You'll most likely have to get surgery and will lose a good chunk of skin because they're venom kills local tissue. Spiders are the only thing that scare the living bajeezus out of me.

What's with the thread title?

Everywhere.