From
http://www.wikihow.com/Catch-a-Snake
Steps
1. Be sure the snake isn't venomous. You don't want your first attempt at snake catching to end in a disaster! Observe the snake- its length, its colors, and other distinguishing features. Identify the species by using a search engine (e.g. +snake+red+yellow+"North Carolina"). If you are at all uncertain of what kind of snake it is, and are worried it might be venomous, call the local animal shelter ASAP (as soon as possible) and let them know before anyone gets hurt.
2. Get a stick or other long slender object, or whatever you have at hand.
3. Distract the snake with the stick. Firmly grasp its tail and lift the snake upwards, leaving the front part of its body on the ground, but keeping your legs and own body as far away as possible.
4. Place the end of the stick under the front half of the snake. Lift the front half of the body off the ground. This will keep the snake calmer than if you grabbed its head, and will also let you control the snake's position easily.
5. Release the snake into a new area with plenty of places to hide such as a stone wall or some bushes. 'Aim' the snakes head toward the hiding places, and release the tail. The snake will immediately seek shelter to escape the 'predator' that picked it up.
6. Go wash your hands well- snakes and other reptiles sometimes carry bacteria. While usually a minor concern, there have been examples of serious illness and even death in humans who have handled reptiles that carry the bacteria.
Alternate Method 1
1. Lay a large garbage can on its side.
2. Sweep snake in with a household broom. Snake can easily be transported to a wilderness area, away from homes.
Alternate Method 2
1. Get a larger bushier stick. Something with lots of branches, twigs, and vegetation.
2. Allow the snake to 'hide' in your makeshift 'bush'. Tease the snake a little with another stick or by wiggling the bushy stick. The snake will often curl around the branches and twigs.
3. Simply move your stick to where you want the snake to go and leave it there. The snake will leave when it feels safe.
Indoor Method (without sticks)
1. Assemble necessary items: shirt, pillow case, and secure lided container or lingerie bag (snakes are strong, so flimsy cardboard boxes are not recommended, but shipping boxes are good).
2. Gather up the pillowcase (like a sock to put on) and set nearby.
3. Toss the rumpled up tee shirt over the snakes head and upper body. The snake will generaly be afraid and coil up under the cloth.
4. Without delay, place the pillowcase down over the shirt. Slide the edge firmly along the floor, scooping up the shirt and snake together. This can be done with the lingere bag if it is large enough and you are not squeamish and know the snake is not venomous.
5. Place entire bundle into container. The snake will probably lay quietly for quite a while, then work its way safely out of the cloth inside.
6. The snake will be fine and able to breathe until you release it or call animal control for pick up.
Tips
1. Always be very gentle with snakes, and avoid angering them if at all possible. They are scared of you, and most of the time you can shoo them out of your yard without ever touching them at all.
2. Snakes can be caught without the use of a distraction, but it is much easier and safer to distract a snake before grabbing it. Not to mention that it gets the head pointed away from you, which is how you have to grab it.
3. If you do not have an area to release the snake, you can put it into an old pillowcase and transport it to a fitting place. If travelling by car, remember to tie a loose knot at the end or you may have a snake loose in your car!
4. If you are afraid of getting bitten, wear thick leather gloves, as most snakes will have a hard time biting through the hardened leather. However, depending on the kind of snake, it might be able to bite through, and gloves will impede your dexterity.
5. When handling a snake, it will want to slither through your hands, which is natural. After you pick up a snake, some species like the common Garter Snake will act like it is in a tree. You should handle it by keeping your hands about 10-12 inches apart, and rotate them so that the snake has someplace to go instead of dropping to the ground. Also, letting it run through your separated fingers is acceptable.
One way remember how to identify the coral snake, a poisonous snake found in the Southeastern U.S., particularly Florida and Georgia, is this rhyme : "If red touches black, you're OK Jack; if red touches yellow,you're a dead fellow.".
Warnings
1. If the snake is venomous, or if you are not sure whether it is venomous or not, do not bother it. Leave it to a professional - too many people are bitten trying to catch or kill snakes so dont take the chance. If it is a threat to life then try to use a stick, or other object to shoo it away. 2. Just make sure you don't step on the tail as you're shooing it away.
Remember snakes are wild animals and can react unpredictably when threatened. And your being near it is threatening it. Always exercise extreme caution when catching snakes.
3. Try to avoid picking snakes up ONLY by their tail. Most snakes cannot curl their bodies up to bite your hand, but they can easily bite your leg or even crotch. Use a long stick or other long object to cradle the first foot or so of its body. If you have to pick a snake up only by its tail, get a firm, but gentle grasp and hold it as far as possible from your body.
4. When you pick up the snake, it will understandably be scared and will likely musk on you. If you wash off immediately, it will reduce the smell, but you may still smell for a few hours more. If the smell truly bothers you (or it is particularly strong) then try using a soap with a scrubbing agent mixed in. Fast Orange or Lava soap has bits of pumice mixed in, and can scrub the smell away.
5. Snakes' heads are remarkably flexible. Avoid grabbing the snake by the head as some snakes (ESPECIALLY certain venomous types) can actually bite you even when held in this fashion.
6. It may be illegal to keep a wild snake as a pet in your jurisdiction. A wild snake may also be scared of the home you are providing for it, and not eat. If you do keep a snake in captivity for more than 30 days, it will have a hard time surviving in the wild, if you decide you don't want it. So make sure you are ready to accept the responsibility of caring and maintaining a cold-blooded reptile.
Don't do anything stupid.
Things You'll Need
Snake (chances are, you already have one)
Snake-stick
Transport-vessel for the snake
Place to release the snake
Alternate Method 1: large garbage can with lid, broom
Alternate Method 2: a hollow stick, a length of rope
Indoor Method (without sticks): tee shirt, pillow case, and secure lidded container or lingerie bag.
by Oracle » Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:40 pm 
