It's Spring in Texas and love is in the air!

[Denver Dick]

Spring? . . . Spring in Texas? . . . Wait a minute, I lived in Texas for 3 years and I don't recall that as one of the seasons. Let's see, I recall Almost Summer and there was Summer (oh boy, was there summer) and then there was Still Summer . . . and of course, Deer Season. Well, there you are . . . no Spring.

 

[SilentPartner]

As for snakes in Washington, I lived on the eastside more than 20 years. Driving from the Tri-Cities to Spokane in the days of the 55 mph speed limit I often took the backroads to avoid the speed traps on the main hwy.
On the appx 14 miles of State hwy between Kahlotus and Washtucna I spotted a total of 14 snakes along the road early one summer evening warming themselves on the blacktop. I remember the number because it was about one per mile and all rattlers.
They were quite small - about a foot. The "growing season" for snakes on the eastside can be as little as a couple months as June and August are frequently as cool as April and October.
Stopping to take a closer look at one I recall its tiny head only as large as my thumbnail.
Also, I killed none of them. As small as they were they really keep the rodent population down. This of course was a remote area.

 

[rburg]

I guess we all have different opinions on poisonous snakes. Where I'm from, if you see one where you walk or work or live, it dies. Those who work outdoors generally have a very dim view of the things. Anyone who's been bit, or who's lost a dog or a relative to one just plain hates them. I know some suggest we have an unfounded fear of them. Others of us prefer not to run any more risk than we need.

We took a hike back in 1962, in the mountains of North Carolina. We came upon a huge rattlesnake on the trail. The native of the region who was leading us killed it. My mother wasn't sure he should have done that. Everyone else was positive he did the right thing. He also cut the rattles off, 17 and a button. It was a big-un.

Copperheads are just nasty and ill tempered. They die when I see them. The instrument doesn't matter, with a shovel being more than adequate.

I don't like places where poisonous snakes frequent. I don't wear proper apparel for that kind of thing. If they remain out of sight, they can live for another day. If they come out where I'm working or walking, they can die.

 

[Guest]

As for snakes in Washington, I lived on the eastside more than 20 years. Driving from the Tri-Cities to Spokane in the days of the 55 mph speed limit I often took the backroads to avoid the speed traps on the main hwy.

Yep, but for the last 50+ Years that I've lived here in the State most everybody considers Eastern Washington to be a totally different State from Western Washington. The Climate, the "Look" and the people are all very different. We've also got a couple of Counties that are like two different Counties. The Counties have actually tried to separate themselves from the "others" but even with the Laws saying one thing and making it legal to do so; the Liberal have refused to allow something like that to happen. The two sides of the State are very much like two sides of a coin - same coin but one could easily be a Nickel and the other side would look like a Fifty Cent piece!

 

[Glitch]

Cool pics!! Sighhh...arguing the value of snakes is like arguing with the anti-gun crowd. You're not likely to change anyone's mind. In my experience they mimic what they saw their daddy do, unencumbered by the thought process.

As far as people claiming to kill only poisonous snakes, I have to laugh. Most of the good old boys here (I won't use the 'R' word) think every water snake in NC is a "moccasin". I was doing trail maintenance on my riverfront property a couple years ago when a trespasser comes hiking through. I try not to hassle people who want to hike or fish on my property, so I just say 'hi' to this guy and go on with my work. Next thing, he's proudly proclaiming to me that he just killed a big snake. Of course it was just a water snake. I let him know how much of a hero I thought he was and told him not to come back, ever. Yes, we have poisonous snakes (copperheads), and no, they are not a problem unless you are completely oblivious to their existance and step on one.

My kids could ID the dozen or so species of snakes inhabiting our property by the time they were 7 or 8 years old.

 

[n4zov]

I don't like places where poisonous snakes frequent. I don't wear proper apparel for that kind of thing.

That brings up a question! For those more familiar with big snakes than I am, what kind of apparel would protect you from snakes that large? Those two seem to come up to belt height, and I wonder if the snake proof boots would be of any use.

 

[rburg]

Most snake bites are on a persons feet, ankles, or lower legs. The boots I've seen are designed to protect against that risk. The higher the bite is toward your torso, the greater the risk is going to be. Bites to the hands and arms are really hard if not impossible to protect against, and those to your chest or midsection (or head and neck) can be much more lethal.

What I find amusing about these debates are the differences of opinion between country folk and city fellars. As stated above, you're not going to change anyone's mind. Both feel they have the superior point of view. The folks out and about in snake country from real live experience, the city folk from their view of how the world should operate.

 

[BarbC]

what kind of apparel would protect you from snakes that large?

A 4WD vehicle. Stay in it.

 

[redlevel]

Originally posted by Glitch:
Cool pics!! Sighhh...arguing the value of snakes is like arguing with the anti-gun crowd. You're not likely to change anyone's mind. In my experience they mimic what they saw their daddy do, unencumbered by the thought process.

As far as people claiming to kill only poisonous snakes, I have to laugh. Most of the good old boys here (I won't use the 'R' word) think every water snake in NC is a "moccasin".

My Redneck Daddy taught me to let non-venomous snakes live. He said they were the best rat-catchers on the farm. I don't know what bunch of good old boys you have been around, but all the good old rednecks I associate with can identify most different kinds of snakes native to our area, and just about 99% of them (us) can differentiate between a venomous and non-venomous (I think that is the proper terminology, rather than poisonous or non-poisonous, but what do us good old boy Rednecks know?) snake from 50 feet or more.

I will continue to kill every venomous snake I see on my farm. I have a couple of bird dogs with thousands of dollars invested in training them. I do my best to "snake-proof" my dogs, but a dog is a dog, and they are going to stick their noses into places where they shouldn't.

Even though the Tall Timbers research on quail nest predation lists snakes of all kinds as one of the worst, if not the very worst, nest predators in the woods, I still refrain from killing non-venomous snakes. I am convinced they do more good than they do harm.

As far as being "unencumbered by the thought process," the fact that someone might have a different opinion than yours doesn't really mean they are wrong.

Signed:

good old redneck boy who can identify snakes and knows not to pop a cap on a harmless rat snake or king snake but does gladly blow away rattlers, copperheads, and cottonmouths on his meager agricultural holdings

 

[MK]

When I'm up at my dirt patch during snake
season, I wear the plastic leg protectors
and usually my heavy work boots. I feel fairly
safe with that get-up. But I still have to be
very careful where I put my hands when around
brush, wood piles, etc.
They have all the various types of snakes up
there, including cotton mouths down around the
lake. Rattlers and Copperheads upland, and those
two are the ones I'd be most likely to see.
But in the 2+ years I've had that property, I've
been pretty lucky. I've run into no poisonous
snakes yet on my property. One non poisonous,
which I don't bother. If I saw a big rattler
like that on my own property, I'm almost surely
gonna cap it. Those things are no fun, and I
don't want to spend the next few months worrying
about where I'm gonna run into him next.
Ditto for Copperheads. If that offends some,
too bad..

And yes, I can tell the difference in most
cases. As far as water snakes, it's fairly
easy.
#1 the head.. If a water snake has a head that
looks like a worm, and is the same size as the
body, it's almost surely non poisonous.
Also, the two types float and swim differently.
The cotton mouth is very buoyant and most of
it's body will float above the water line when
swimming. Most non poisonous watersnakes don't
float well, and most of the body will be below
the water line when they swim.
Also..Most non poisonous snakes have round
eyes and pupils. Most poisonous vipers have
the slant eyes and pupils.
As far as land snakes, much the same. If the
head is like a diamond, and bigger than the
body, stay away! If the head is worm like and
the same size as the body, it's almost surely
non poisonous.
But even the non poisonous can bite, and even
though no poison, the bites are nasty and germ
laden, and can cause nasty infections.
Myself, I can't stand a cottonmouth.. Probably
even worse than a big rattler.. They can be
ornery things, and I don't have any use for
them. We've had them climb up into the back
of our boat when out on the lake. They will
sneak up the back where the lower motor plate
will let them climb in easier. We had to flick
them out of the boat with a paddle. No fun at
all. Also, they like to hang in trees along the
waters edge, and often will drop down into the
boat if you come under the branches. So I
always avoid getting under low trees when on
the lakes, rivers. Cotton mouths have a very
stout body and can be pretty wide. It makes them
look bigger than they are. Most non poisonous
water snakes are fairly thin, and the head will
be about the same size as the body and worm
like, not viper head shaped like the cotton
mouth.
I have to be very careful up there as I'm
usually by myself, and the hospital is a long
drive away if I get bit. So I'm very snake
aware everywhere I walk around there. Loads of
places for them to hide and wait for you to
come long. IE: I'm real careful when I cross
downed tree trunks, etc, where I can't really
see whats on the other side, or under the log.
I see a lot of snakes crossing the roads around
there.. Tarantulas too for that matter.

 

[bettis1]

I'll make a few more comments based on experience.

As Dick said, the majority of snake bites do probably occur on the lower extremities. However, bites on the hands and arms and even the face are not uncommon when folks poke around into areas where they can't see clearly (i.e. rocks, crevices, wood piles, debris, etc.) Where ever there might be a mouse, rat, rabbit, or other small vermin, etc. there also might be a snake. Not all poisonous snake bites inject venom. Some of them are "dry". But all of them, even the dry ones, can result in a serious bacterial infection. You only have to see the results of one rattler bite on a cow, a horse, a dog or a person to sensitize yourself to the necessity of vigilance.

Regarding the size of these snakes, I would say that they are mature and about an average or slightly larger than average in size. They are certainly nowhere near the biggest that I have seen. Texas Diamondbacks (aka Western Diamondback Rattlesnake) are pretty normally found at 4' length and 5' and 6' ones are not uncommon. (Those of you in the eastern US have an even larger species, the Eastern Diamondback, which can reach more than 7' in length.)

As you look at those snakes in their erect posture, you will see that they probably reach knee height on an adult and those two are almost in a passive situation. When a "rattler" strikes from a coiled position, they can easily reach a half of their length.

I've reached the point in my life where I rarely kill many creatures anymore. Old habits of a lifetime are hard to overcome though, so I would probably still make an exception in the case of a venomous snake. They are NOT an endangered species. And I DO wear plastic leggings when I'm out walking in unknown territory in the summer.

I've never forgotten what one of my first teachers in wood lore told me. It was an old Indian saying that has applicability to both stealth and safety. "Never step on something that you can step over; never step over something that you can step around" .

Bob

 

[Doug M.]

The pictures were neat, much as I am not a snake fan. I have to admit I would be tempted to shoot them if I had to go anywhere near where they are; while I don't begrudge them their existence, I value mine a bit more.

I am pretty careful about where I go, and just like crummy parts of Spokanistan, I try to avoid snake friendly areas.

 

[Glitch]

Good to hear you are one of the enlightened folks, redlevel.

We seldome have game wardens sniffing around our area, but a couple of years ago one was called to investigate some illegal activities going on downriver. I was walking down my river trail and started seeing big rocks that had been pulled up and strewn around the trail. What the heck?? I made it down to the road and there was a game warden sitting in his car. "Is that your property? There's a big snake up there!!" I laughed and said, "Oh, that was you that flung all the rocks around. Jeez, I've got a seven year old daughter who knows better than to be afraid of water snakes! I'm surprised you didn't try to shoot it". He went on about how he hates snakes, is scared to death of them, etc. etc. I just laughed. For someone with a snake phobia he made a strange choice of professions.

 

[cass]

As for safe attire in "snake country", the various leggings you see advertised will all do the job, but they are heavy, hot, and unconfortable. As for me, when I'm in the field snake hunting, I don't use leggings (never owned any). Instead, my hunting jeans are all HEAVY STARCHED from the knee down. It's worked for me for years.

 

[bettis1]

A few days ago I started another post and the first picture shows me with one of my early snake control tools. As I mentioned, I carried it on my saddle. If you can visualize a snake cammoflaged in that dead grass that I am standing in, you can understand better the precautions that ranchers take.
Bob

http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...03904/m/12610491/p/1

 

[MK]

Originally posted by cass:
As for safe attire in "snake country", the various leggings you see advertised will all do the job, but they are heavy, hot, and unconfortable.

The plastic ones are real light. You don't
really notice them at all. The only downside is
they tend to "clank" a bit when you are walking
if they hit together.
Doesn't bother me, but might a hunter who's
trying to be quiet.
The thick starched britches are a lot better
than nothing though. I really don't know how
thick a material a big rattler could bite
through.
One thing though.. I was once fishing at a sand
pit, and had a decent catfish in a metal fish
basket which was thrown in the water.
It was about sunset and getting dark.
I had a cotton mouth actually chew a hole in
that metal mesh basket underwater, and he bit
that fish many times. I was afraid to eat it,
and threw it away.
They must have some pretty strong mouths to eat
a metal fish basket. Surprised the heck out of
me.

 

[jkc]

That is actually a combat dance between two male diamondbacks. Quite a rare sight out in the field...........

I've had the extremely rare opportunity to witness the accurately described "combat dance" of Western Diamondbacks locally. It looks for all the world like a very sensuous mating ritual, much like a silent ballet, but is in fact a dominance struggle for territory between two males --- the reptilian equivalent of a bar fight... but, very "genteel" and "civilized" --- the loser is uninjured, just loses face. I'd guess that few of the most snake-phobic posters would even think of harming these critters after watching this remarkable display. Whomever took these photos was extraordinarily fortunate to have both witnessed and photographed this unusually obscure occurence.

 

[BOB THE PALINDROME]

 

[dennis40x]

We have our fair share of snakes around here. There is an endangered species of timber rattler in this area but more often encountered are the copperheads. Most common are what I refer to as black snakes and green snakes.

 

[walkinghorse]

Similar to Glitch's story we had a Iowa DNR biologist and assistants come around and asked if they could check the property for Massauaga rattlesnakes. He explained that they are endangered in Iowa. As one had bitten my Vizla in the front yard I explained that they were all endangered around my house. They used my faucet for water and my walnut trees to park the truck in the shade etc. They found nothing in about 2 weeks searching. After they left I found another in the yard caught it (long handled shovel) put it in a aquarium and turned it over to the DNR. It was exhibited at the State Fair in the DNR office for several years.

The rest on my property remained endangered, because of dogs and kids.

So I did my good deed in several different ways!