Do you have a game camera? Maybe put it up and try to snap some pictures. You might be able to tell weather it's a good guy or not. I don't do well with snakes. I put my bike up in my glorified shed, and saw a bull frog hopping around one evening (didn't think anything about it). Rode to work the next day, put the bike up and heard a hiss. I hauled out of there. Forgetting about that hiss, the next day I was going to go for an afternoon ride, walked in my shed, started to throw my leg over the motorcycle, and heard a LOUD hiss. Got out, looked down, and coiled underneath my motorcycle was a massive water moccasin. Found out where the frog went. Now I knock before I enter, hoping the noise will scare anything out, and look under my bike every time. I didn't shoot that one. However, last year I was mowing, moved the dog house and a copper head had make a home underneath it. He was a risk to my livestock. Long story short, if you come to the conclusion that this thing is a risk to you or your livestock, .22 lr ought to work. Be careful, don't get bit, and good luck