Who likes snakes?

JJEH

JJEH

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2011
Messages
7,162
Reaction score
8,451
Location
Central Texas
Around the corner from where we currently live there's a Festival once a year called the Apache Rattlesnake Festival. In 2012 we went for the first time, 2013 I skipped b/c my wife was deployed, but this year we went again.

It's really nice there, lots of people, food, stuff to buy, kids rides and snakes. Lots of snakes. They have a 5-10min snake "show" in the snake pit, telling you about different kinds of snakes and what to do in case you cross path with one.

I think it's pretty interesting and very educational for kids.

Here are some pictures:

1978861_404345513040687_8406032921859193568_n.jpg


1907973_404345583040680_2575289090526880490_n.jpg


1939677_404345606374011_1602626237153750235_n.jpg


10173514_404377876370784_6805446811916907269_n.jpg


10277801_404380353037203_5626802252344213962_n.jpg


10267764_404692583005980_5496395184743495620_n.jpg


1001970_404811092994129_922035182668325946_n.jpg


This is also where I tried my first fried rattlesnake ever. It tastes okay but it's not becoming my favorite snack...

More info about the Festival here:

https://www.facebook.com/ApacheRattlesnakeFestival

I think it's well spend quality time if you are local.
 
Register to hide this ad
We breed snakes. Rat snakes, Corns and Ball Pythons. One of our female Ball Pythons should be laying eggs in this week and most of our Corns have bred already.

I have no issues with them at all. They get a free pass when we see them in the wild at my place. We routinely get calls from the neighbors to remove snakes from their property. I have them trained to call me rather than play God and whack them with a shovel out of fear.

We really don't have venomous snake in this area, so I've finally convinced everyone that there is no danger from snakes in these parts.
 
It's not that I like snakes, but I don't try to kill every one that I see. They play an important role in the balance of nature. A venomous snake near my house, I would have to destroy it to protect my family, pets, and friends from being bitten. In the wild, I don't bother them unless they bother me.

I tend to be more prejudiced against Cotton Mouths tho. They are territorial and aggressive. And they can bite under water.
 
Last edited:
I give a snake a break and don't mess with 'em unless they are poisonous and in my yard.
I have a snake stick I use to capture them and place them in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid that I duct tape shut, then take them for a long ride out in the forest where I release them.
When I walk my dog I carry a NAA .22LR mini-revolver, just in case I come across a water moccasin that won't leave us alone.
 
I have snake hides in my backyard. Just some boards or pieces of tin held off the ground an inch or so where snakes can find shelter. I love it when the granddaughters come over and ask to go see the snakes. They run out to the backyard and start lifting the hides. Mostly garters but an occasional fox snake. They will even handle them much to grandmas consternation.
 
I like snakes. Fascinating animals, many of them quite beautiful, and all of them useful. I haven't killed one in over fifty years, despite encountering them countless times while fishing or hunting, or just doing yard work.

DISCLAIMERS: I have no experience of cottonmouths, and would just as soon keep it that way. And a venomous snake on the grounds of the seniors' apartment complex where I live would be in serious trouble. The neighbors and I are old and slow, and some of us have dogs. But I've lived here six years and never encountered one
 
They're OK, but too many little bones to be considered good...
 
Years ago my sister & I went to the San Antonio Zoo. One of the exhibits was the largest snake I've ever seen;maybe a Rock Python? I know it wasn't an Anaconda. The snake was easily thicker than my upper thigh & had a head the size of a football. Just a huge snake. I have no problem with snakes mostly because I'm never around them these days. When I was growing up in the Canal Zone there were quite an assortment of dangerous snakes that you definitely had to be aware of.:eek:
 
Even though they are probably the major nest-robbers that Bobwhite Quail are afflicted by, I give non-venemous snakes a pass on my place. I see mostly common king snakes and timber rattlesnakes. The rattlers get a dose of snake shot. I have too many birddawgs and young'uns running around. Not necessarily my young'uns, but young'uns none the less.

This'un was just a few feet from my back door. Not 20 yards from the dawg-pen.

 
JJEH said:
They are. But if they are in our yard than there's no mercy :)

10156028_405191659622739_1635220623961787537_n.jpg


10253827_405191832956055_2801671078055461027_n.jpg
Click to expand...
That hook looks very similar to mine - mine isn't so rounded in the cradle. The best design ever for a hook - built mine in 1961, and still use it.
 
cass said:
That hook looks very similar to mine - mine isn't so rounded in the cradle. The best design ever for a hook - built mine in 1961, and still use it.
Click to expand...

I bought a "Professional Snake Hook" from Midwest Tongs, Inc. It's expensive but I rather have one...
 
Snakes? Meh, I can take 'em or leave 'em, although I'd just as soon leave 'em. I don't go looking for them but I don't fool around with 'em if they threaten me or anything or anyone in my world. Put in terms of today's vernacular, I have a 0 tolerance policy.
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
I cane to work this morning and found a dead possum in my parking place.
Click to expand...
Cajun Possum Chili - NUCLEAR HOT !!!

Ingredients:
Tomatoe Sauce (depends on possum)
1 tsp.-1 cup Chili Powder (Depends on Taste and possum)
1 Large possum or 3 small (If you ran over the possum better make it 4)
1 large pot or two large ones if the first isn't enough.
5-10 chili peppers (depends on taste and possum)
5-10 red peppers (depends on taste and possum)
5-10 jalapenio peppers (depends on taste and possum)
How ever much Cayenne Pepper you like, it depends on your taste and possum.
1 tsp. Black Pepper
a pinch of salt
Chili Beans for extra flavor
And whatever other ingredients that are hot and spicy you would like to add.

Directions:
1. Skin possum(s)
2. Remove internal organs, head, claws, and bones. There is no flavor or use for these. But if you want to add them, Go ahead.
3. Put some tomatoe sauce in the pot(s). Then add the possum.
4. Chop peppers
5. Skip step four if you don't want chopped peppers; it doesn't matter.
6. Put the rest in and let set for a long dang while.
7. Before serving make sure you have enough bread, Milk, and Toliet paper for after dinner.
8. Serve. Enjoy
9. Race for bathroom. Whoever is first will make a large stench. Have enough air freshner.
Serving size of Meal-depends on how much you put in and on the possum.
 
I grew up in West Texas, where rattlesnakes were common. I don't like snakes. I don't go out of my way to kill them, but I'd just as soon not share living space with them.

A while back, my wife started screaming that there was a snake in the bathroom. I came in and saw it disappearing under a cabinet. The cabinet apparently had a small space between the base and the floor (it was built in, and not moveable.) We sat and watched for a while, and occasionally the snake would stick it's head out, but retreat when it saw us. I could tell it was probably a garter snake, or some other small, harmless snake, so I wasn't worried about it, but my wife insisted that I remove the snake from the house.

I tried to grab the snake with tongs when it would stick it's head out, but it was far faster than I was. So, finally, I got a piece of cardboard, and covered it with duct tape with the sticky side up, and put it at the base of the cabinet. The next time the snake stuck his head out, he got stuck on the duct tape. I pulled him out, and he was less than a foot long, and looked harmless.

I carried him outside, but he had thrashed around and gotten his jaw dislocated on the tape, and some of his body was stuck by then as well...I was afraid I'd pull his jaw off if I tried to pull him off the tape, or parts of his skin, so I killed him rather than let him suffer. When I came back in and told my wife, she was actually sad that I'd killed it....but she still didn't want it in the bathroom, or anywhere else in the house either.
 
DR505 said:
I like them, unless one of them gets a little too friendly with my (then) 3 year old son!
Snake_zpsbbe363b4.jpg


http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/320474-model-67-saves-3-year-old-boy-fearsome-rattler.html
Click to expand...


Is this a Prairie Rattler? I bet that head could still bite.
\
I remember the photo from a prior post, but don't recall your .38 load or the snake's size?

Some snakes are brighter than you'd think. The zoo here used to have a Black & White Forest Cobra (Naja melanoleuca) that was deemed to be very dangerous. It was aggressive and had learned to feint one way and when the handler moved his hook to counter, it'd switch direction and try to hit him. They finally traded it off to another zoo.
 
Texas Star said:
Is this a Prairie Rattler? I bet that head could still bite.
\
I remember the photo from a prior post, but don't recall your .38 load or the snake's size?
Click to expand...

It looks to be a Desert Massagua, about 18" in length. The revolver was loaded with 158 grain +P SWCHP (Old FBI load). Had mountain lions around earlier (hence the load)...wasn't expecting snakes.
 
I hate snakes. Crazy thing is I remember how my grandfather and dad would just hack them to pieces with a machete or shovel. Didn't matter how big or dangerous they were, they'd just get real close and hack the head off (rattlers and cottonmouths). I remember being around 13 and a big cottonmouth while we were fishing had snuck up behind us. With a cigarette in one hand and a machete in the other grandpa somehow got him. Me, I shoot them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

chief38
SNAKES - NOT COLTS
2
Replies
44
Views
2K
LVSteve
LVSteve
Kiwi cop
A little humor
2
Replies
41
Views
2K
handejector
handejector
R
Black rat snake, oh what a biggun
Replies
25
Views
1K
swsig
swsig
8shot
Some "one liners"
Replies
11
Views
1K
Engineer1911
Engineer1911
Faulkner
Tales from the Faulkner Files: Vehicle vs deer
2
Replies
42
Views
2K
steelslaver
steelslaver

Latest posts

Back
Top