Doc Mck wrote:
Unfortunately, most city(and some country) kill every snake they see. Most are very beneficial to us. Don’t ever let a local find out you killed a blue Indigo snake in south Texas. They prefer to dine on rattlesnakes. They are huge.
I'm a city person, raised in NYC, but now I'm living in what used to be a semi-rural area. I had read that black snakes were beneficial, that they ate mice. One day I encountered a very large black snake crawling up a short flight of stairs in my house. I figured I'd pick it up and put it back outdoors where it belonged. I picked it up and got a really bad bite. That's a hard way to learn a lesson.
JimBart wrote:
... I was told once down south anything orange you kill it. ...
...
I lived in Central Florida for 27 years and
never heard that!
I've NO conceivable idea on what that was based.
What should one do at construction sites on the road?
Sendai5355
Loc: On the banks of the Pedernales River, Texas
Coral snake stripes:. Red on yellow-kill a fellow.
Sendai5355 wrote:
Coral snake stripes:. Red on yellow-kill a fellow.
I'd dispatch coral snakes and water moccasins.... nothing else.
But don't kill a black racer!
Soul Dr.
Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley
berchman wrote:
I'm a city person, raised in NYC, but now I'm living in what used to be a semi-rural area. I had read that black snakes were beneficial, that they ate mice. One day I encountered a very large black snake crawling up a short flight of stairs in my house. I figured I'd pick it up and put it back outdoors where it belonged. I picked it up and got a really bad bite. That's a hard way to learn a lesson.
If you ever want to pick up a snake, grab it right up behind it's head. That is the only way they will not be able to bite you.
I know from experience. In my younger days I used to wade in a river and catch water snakes swimming on top and put them in a burlap bag. I would give them to a friend of mine who had a King snake. King snakes eat other snakes.
One time I grabbed a water snake and did not grab close enough behind it's head and it bit down on my hand. I had to go up on the river bank with the snake still clamped down on my hand. I had to get my wife, who was with me to pry it's jaws apart to free my hand.
will
Thanks guys I’ve learned a lot from each of you today. Curmudgeon.... no apologies necessary just appreciated the comment
Note... as a northerner in the south I’m always skeptical about these critters since there are more poisonous ones in the south than back home.
Thanks again
JimBart wrote:
Thanks guys I’ve learned a lot from each of you today. Curmudgeon.... no apologies necessary just appreciated the comment
Note... as a northerner in the south I’m always skeptical about these critters since there are more poisonous ones in the south than back home.
Thanks again
In SE PA where I lived we have two, copperheads and rattlesnakes.
Where I lived in Florida, we had two, water moccasins and coral snakes.
Of course gators, but they weren't poisonous.
Some caterpillars in Florida, don't touch the fuzzy ones!
Coral snakes are a non-issue.
They are very reclusive, and just want to get away from you.
Rear fanged, so you literally would have to be bitten between your fingers or your thumb 'web'.
Like most snakes...just walk around...continue on your way and they will do the same.
In our area the ring necked are rarely found even if they are here. I have one, kind of beside my pond and sometimes when I move something laying on the ground he? she? will be there. I can pick it up and it doesn't seem to mind being handled.I have never seen a large one but I hear they exist. People around here kill a lot of copperheads only they are not copperheads. Too many any snake is poisonous people around.It will probably be a long time before you see another ringneck, they seem to be invisible most of the time.
In our area the ring necked are rarely found even if they are here. I have one, kind of beside my pond and sometimes when I move something laying on the ground he? she? will be there. I can pick it up and it doesn't seem to mind being handled.I have never seen a large one but I hear they exist. People around here kill a lot of copperheads only they are not copperheads. Too many any snake is poisonous people around.It will probably be a long time before you see another ringneck, they seem to be invisible most of the time.
Canisdirus wrote:
Coral snakes are a non-issue.
They are very reclusive, and just want to get away from you.
Rear fanged, so you literally would have to be bitten between your fingers or your thumb 'web'.
Like most snakes...just walk around...continue on your way and they will do the same.
"rear fanged"? I thought their fangs were simply shorter and non-retractable. They "chew" (wiggle) to get the venom into their victims.
Mostly reclusive - a friend of mine in Florida had one in his screened in porch.
I would still be very, very cautious with them - the venom could inhibit one's breathing within hours.
I wouldn't exactly call them a "non-issue" at all, especially with kids and pets.
Addendum:
"Like all elapid snakes, coral snakes possess a pair of small hollow fangs to deliver their venom. The fangs are positioned at the front of the mouth.[6][7] The fangs are fixed in position rather than retractable, and rather than being directly connected to the venom duct, they have a small groove through which the venom enters the base of the fangs.[8][9] Because the fangs are relatively small and inefficient for venom delivery, rather than biting quickly and letting go (like vipers), coral snakes tend to hold onto their prey and make chewing motions when biting.[8][10] The venom takes time to reach full effect.[9]" - Wikipedia
And that's how erroneous stuff gets propagated through the internet.....
Longshadow wrote:
"rear fanged"? I thought their fangs were simply shorter and non-retractable. They "chew" (wiggle) to get the venom into their victims.
Mostly reclusive - a friend of mine in Florida had one in his screened in porch.
I would still be very, very cautious with them - the venom could inhibit one's breathing within hours.
I wouldn't exactly call them a "non-issue" at all, especially with kids and pets.
Addendum:
"Like all elapid snakes, coral snakes possess a pair of small hollow fangs to deliver their venom. The fangs are positioned at the front of the mouth.[6][7] The fangs are fixed in position rather than retractable, and rather than being directly connected to the venom duct, they have a small groove through which the venom enters the base of the fangs.[8][9] Because the fangs are relatively small and inefficient for venom delivery, rather than biting quickly and letting go (like vipers), coral snakes tend to hold onto their prey and make chewing motions when biting.[8][10] The venom takes time to reach full effect.[9]" - Wikipedia
And that's how erroneous stuff gets propagated through the internet.....
"rear fanged"? I thought their fangs wer... (
show quote)
Thank you, I stand corrected. They are fanged in the front...very small fangs with a very small mouth.
I have never examined their mouth since I simply let them pass. Yes, I get them near my house on a regular basis...never a problem. Just let them be. Everything serves a purpose.
I was routinely around water moccasins doing my wetland work...some bigguns too.
What gets folks in trouble is freaking out. Just relax. I have had some bigguns crawl over my bare feet before.
Keep calm...and they are calm.
Freak out, and they freak out.
Canisdirus wrote:
...
...
...
Keep calm...and they are calm.
Freak out, and they freak out.
Exactly!
Well, water moccasins are kind of inquisitive though. I'd give them a MUCH larger birth!
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