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A black rat snake has been living around our house & barn for
several yrs, we don't bother it, it doesn't bother us, it catches
the mice and rats, but it has apparently decided to make it's
home on my back porch in one of my gourds, it's been there for 4
days that I know of. It left the gourd Monday, but came back Mon
night and hasn't left since then to my knowledge (I'm at work
during the day), it does come out halfway at night. At first I
thought it was just hungry, we have several feeders there and
feed our birds/humming birds/squirrels & flying squirrels each
day. I don't know a lot about snakes and have been reading info
on this website. Now I'm wondering if (he) is a she and maybe
this is her nest.
My question: Can I move her and the gourd to the barn? Will this
upset her? Will she abandon her nest if I move her? How do I go
about doing this?
The reason for moving her: I have 2 dogs & doggie door to the
backporch, and I want to keep her & babies safe if possible but I
don't want the babies all over the porch and coming in the doggie
door. Thanks for any help you can give me.

>>A black rat snake has been living around our house & barn for
>>several yrs, we don't bother it, it doesn't bother us, it catches
>>the mice and rats, but it has apparently decided to make it's
>>home on my back porch in one of my gourds, it's been there for 4
>>days that I know of. It left the gourd Monday, but came back Mon
>>night and hasn't left since then to my knowledge (I'm at work
>>during the day), it does come out halfway at night. At first I
>>thought it was just hungry, we have several feeders there and
>>feed our birds/humming birds/squirrels & flying squirrels each
>>day. I don't know a lot about snakes and have been reading info
>>on this website. Now I'm wondering if (he) is a she and maybe
>>this is her nest.
>>My question: Can I move her and the gourd to the barn? Will this
>>upset her? Will she abandon her nest if I move her? How do I go
>>about doing this?
>>The reason for moving her: I have 2 dogs & doggie door to the
>>backporch, and I want to keep her & babies safe if possible but I
>>don't want the babies all over the porch and coming in the doggie
>>door. Thanks for any help you can give me.
>>
>>
>>
>>
It is very very unlikely that she will lay eggs in the gourd. She is likely just there for the mice. And go ahead and take her out to the barn. Unless it is a long way away she may head straight back but she may just as likely find a nicer spot there and that way you can go on ignoring each other.
-----
Sonya

I agree, and at any rate ratsnakes don't 'sit' on their eggs. She probably just thinks its an excellent place to nap, and snakes nap 90% of the time... I think that she'd be ok if you moved it.

Thanks for your reply. I'm going to leave her alone and let
her enjoy napping, she can go back to the barn when she's
ready. Carolina

Thanks Sonya, Since I now know there won't be any "little
ones" I will just leave it alone, it's kinda neat going out
on the back porch and seeing it in the gourd with it's head
sticking out, he/she is a pretty snake and a pretty big one
also. I'm sure as it gets colder it will go under the house
or back to the barn for the winter. Thanks again, I've learned
something this week. Carolina