Tell me how to be safe if I encounter a snake (semi rural Texas)

[/pine]

Most breeds of dogs have a natural resistance to snake venom...smaller dogs are are more susceptible depending on the amount of venom that is injected...it is not uncommon for snakes like copperheads to strike with what is known as a "dry bite"...meaning that even though the fangs break the skin there is no or very little venom associated with the strike...

IMO, the best dangerous snake repellant is having "King Snakes" around...they prey on other, venomous snakes like copperheads and rattlers...That is why it is important not to kill every snake you see for the sake of elimination...learn to recognize any King snakes that are native to your region and regard them as highly beneficial...

 

[Dftodd]

Rattlesnakes are pretty good about warning you. It's in their interest to do so- it's less effort and danger to them to scare you off with a rattle than to bite you. To them you're huge and scary. I've been wandering and working in the woods in California Arizona and Wyoming for 40 years and I've never been bit by a snake. I've handled pet snakes and rescued gopher snakes that got stuck in deer netting. Even the wild gopher snakes are pretty mellow if you pick them up right.

One day I went out to the garage in shorts and bare feet to get something off my workbench. As I was standing there I heard the unmistakable sound of a rattlesnake's rattle, under the workbench. I backed up carefully but quickly. Then I got some pants and boots, pulled the cars and motorcycles out of the garage, and used a long stick with a bracket on the end to pull the snake out from under the bench and slide him across the garage floor and out the door. I did not want to kill or injure him since rattlesnakes are beneficial. My one outdoor animal at the time was wise to things like snakes and we didn't have small children. I did however want to make the snake's experience unpleasant enough so he would not come back into the garage. Never saw him again so it must have worked.

A lot of people who get bit by rattlesnakes were messing with them, usually for no good reason. The safest thing to do is to get any kids and curious pets away and let them leave be to move off when they get over being scared of you. If they're inside your building like my story above then you might want to take a little more action.

Most of the time a rattle snake will warn you. I rolled up to a jobsite to set up some equipment. Was driving through grass that was about 4ft tall. Parked the truck, jumped down and immediately knew something wasn't right. At the same time I felt something wrap around my boot and impact the side of it.

Looked down and had a Large rattle snake stuck to my boot All of this happened in about a second. The next second......... I freaked!!!!!! Screamed like a little girl, hopping around on one foot, hyperventilating and trying to figure out how to get the blasted thing off my boot

 

[Dftodd]

Copperhead bites, the more mature the snake the better. Average treatment in our area for a mature copperhead bite. This goes for dogs also. Broad spectrum antibiotic and steroid. The majority of the time a mature copperhead bite is a dry bite. Just swells some, and possibly get infected from the gunk in its mouth.

Baby copperhead is another story. They will usually give a full dose of venom requiring anti venom, steroids, and antibiotics. My grandson got bit on his heal by a baby copperhead. Poor kids leg swelled up triple it's normal size. He ended up with 7 doses of anti venom and 5 days at the children's hospital.

 

[bunyip]

We were fly fishing in water just over our knees, a rather large tiger snake was in the rapids we were wading and wrapped himself around his leg, he was wearing 1/4" neoprene thigh waders at the time, held his arms in the air and asked me to come and take it off him, I declined his kind invitation and suggested he walk to the shore very carefully.
He did and when he was out of the current the snake dropped off and continued on its way.
Tigers are extremely venomous and there was no way I was going to try and remove it, needless to say friend was not impressed but I had no idea what else I could do.
Another friend is a deer shooter and uses dogs, he told me that massive doses of vitamin C injections is what shooters use on their dogs if they get bitten and they seem to survive, he suggested it could work for humans too.

 

[Tangoddess]

Thank you all of you this is very wise and helpful knowledge!!!!

How about snake boots like the Chippewa brand that run knee high at least for males

Do they work or at least work in the mind and make one feel more secure when doing outdoor work on the farm

 

[LouNY]

Several years ago, over twenty there was talk of using electrical shock on bites, plug wires or the small hand held tasers.
I didn't see that mentioned so I'm assuming that method petered out.
One thing I'll add is that you will very seldom see a snake where any petroleum products, gas diesel or oil have been used or spilled.
We almost never saw one in the gas booster and cleanup stations.

 

[Dftodd]

Thank you all of you this is very wise and helpful knowledge!!!!

How about snake boots like the Chippewa brand that run knee high at least for males

Do they work or at least work in the mind and make one feel more secure when doing outdoor work on the farm

I would go with a good pair of leather cowboy boots personally. I have a pair of snake boots (size 11) if someone is interested and wants to pay for shipping Wore them for a couple hours.

Bought them around 15 to 18 years ago. Wore them for the day hunting. Darn things were so hot and heavy, after an hour hunting and hiking, I was really rethinking things. Had a plain set of cowboy boots in the truck. Hiked back to the truck after a couple hours and switched to the cowboy boots. Worked just as good, half the weight, and much cooler then the snake boots.

 

[/pine]

...How about snake boots like the Chippewa brand that run knee high...

IMO...high end snake boots are for guys that have to be out in the brush...off of beaten paths (like surveyors etc....)

A decent walking stick thrashed about costs a lot less and are not uncomfortable...
I know the OP does not even like looking at pictures of snakes...but the safest way to avoid dangerous snakes is being able to recognize them...
I suggest visiting local/regional zoos or herpetology displays that have local specimens to see...different habitats can cause specimens of the same species to look much different...Turn fear into recognition and respect with knowledge...

 

[YLee Kioti]

If you get Chippewa boots look for the ones with the zipper on the back.
I have to yet to find a boot maker willing to cut mine open and install the zippers. So removal even with a boot removal jig is a pain.
If you shred tall pasture grass, work around/trim oaks, pecan or any other type of trees these boots are really an investment and a tool.



Most folks just forget to tuck jeans into their normal cowboy boots. Many old hands here tell tales of snake crawling up the leg faster then one can spin a yarn.....fact or fiction don't know.

in a semi-rural areas though cowboys boots would be the minimum.

 

[gwstang]

"Small copper heads are MORE venomous then old adults."

Don't think that is true, experts say it is because the youngin's can't/haven't learned to control that precious venom. The snakes do not want to use their venom on you (something they cannot eat). The will out of self preservation though.