The only time I would ever kill is snake is maybe if a copperhead is in my backyard. I have a grandson that plays back there and I am not taking a chance. I love having the black snakes and king snakes in my backyard. King snakes usually mean no poisonous snakes. In NC we have all of the poisonous snake. I have had a rattler between my boots once in October while bowhunting. Thank God it was chilly and he was moving slow. I think the snake that really gets a bad rep is the water mocassin- they are fairly laid back snakes and i have never seen an aggressive one. Water snakes are mean as heck and I could never tame one when i was young.