By Lexi MooreFew things I have written about in the Crescent have come up as often in my everyday life as my "issue" with snakes.Last spring in a shocking discovery I came across a snake while gardening. Before the shock wore off, I got on my computer and told the world (my column readers, anyway) about my fears and disgust with these seemingly innocent creatures.In my little column I pleaded with local residents to help me with my problem. I needed a cure and I needed it fast. I had suddenly become a prisoner inside my own house. My fear and subsequent paranoia were prohibiting me from enjoying my yard.In the weeks and months that followed the publication of my discovery, I have had many comments and suggestions about the situation. By and large, the majority are from others experiencing the same problem at their homes and wondering if I had come across a solution.I figured I would share what I had heard and tried.Last year, the only solution was to stay on the pavement if my husband was not home. If he was around, I could be in the yard. Being a chivalrous man, he would quickly be at my side when he heard my screams, shovel in hand, to "take care of the problem."Last winter he began preparing the house for this year’s serpent problem. All holes were sealed with some sort of crazy foam in a can, mothballs were placed strategically around buildings, and he assured me this year would be better.When the sun finally came out and we took to the flowerbeds, the lawnmower and the clothesline, I kept my eyes alert and always looking down. For the first few weeks I thought the problem had been solved. I hadn’t seen a snake, and my confidence was building.As is often the case in life, just when you start to let your guard down and feel secure, something happens.While home alone one afternoon, sitting on my front steps, enjoying the fresh air, being humored by the cats as they ate bugs and rolled in the dirt, I saw them. Yes, them.About three feet from where I was sitting, nuzzled up against the same concrete that held my backside, was a giant mama snake with what looked like dozens of super tiny and scary snakes on her back. It was as if she was giving her entire family a piggy-back ride through my front flower bed.I freaked out, ran into the house screaming, and then I remembered I had abandoned all of my cats out there with what could possibly become an army of snakes. The cats were clearly outnumbered and this was little Wendell’s (the kitten) second or third time outside.I quickly assessed the situation. Would it be best to rescue the cats or call for help? I opted to make some calls. First, to that chivalrous husband of mine, who was in the middle of teaching a class and offered zero help. In fact, his voice almost sounded as if he didn’t believe me. After all, he had already taken care of the problem.Next I called my mother. She offered plenty of sympathy but no solutions. She recommended I try to find out where the mother planned on going. Perhaps she would go back to the nest, which would make it easy for David to destroy the snakes.This sounded like a necessary chore. I took a big ol’ drink of lemonade, hoping the sugar would empower me. If I weren’t pregnant, I would have opted for something much stronger. I then put on some shoes and went back to my place on the steps. The snakes were still there, as were my cats. They weren’t paying any attention to the serpents or my anxiety.With just a few seconds of bravery I was able to discover a small hole in the concrete on my steps. A good portion of the mama snake’s back half was still in the hole. That was enough for me — I didn’t need to watch any longer. I was sure that was their home and I had plenty of snake imagery to last me years of nightmares.I showed off my discovery when David returned home from work, and I demanded action. We headed to the hardware store to get some magic foam.We also purchased cocoa bean chips. This mulch had been recommended by some of my readers and the Internet as a deterrent of snakes. Apparently, like marigolds and mothballs, the bean shells put off a smell snakes do not like.This past weekend, we finally had both the time and the energy to prepare the flowerbeds for the cocoa mulch. Unlike the snakes, we thought it smelled great – like a giant chocolate bar in our front yard. Plus the flowerbeds looked beautiful.So did it work?Within a day and half I found a snake at my front door. The dirt it liked to hang out in had been covered with cocoa beans, so it had decided to sunbathe on the concrete steps in front of my house. Unfortunately, screams and terror filled the final moments of its life. David quickly hunted it down.So perhaps the smell of the mulch worked, but I guess not well enough for them to move off my property. So far, that seems to be the case with every method we have tried. Fortunately, we don’t have as many this year. Plus, the advice of many not to be afraid is slowly sinking in — although I am sure the neighbors don’t believe that, since they are the ones who hear my screams.Story ideas or comments can be e-mailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.