Do you see it? She needs snake chaps!
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Bird
Rest in Peace
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How did the snakes get way up there? )</font>
Good question, and I don't have an answer. I remember a time when I was less than 10 years old and I put a ladder up in the garage to get up there to see what was in a big wooden box in the rafters. When I opened that box and saw two big snakes, I just jumped off the ladder. That evening, Dad knocked the box down and shot the snakes when they crawled out.
And about 3 years ago, I went through my barn to the shed on the side of the barn and saw a snake go over the wall through a very small hole from the shed into the barn. I went around to the other side of that wall, but never did find that snake. I don't know how they got up there.
Good question, and I don't have an answer. I remember a time when I was less than 10 years old and I put a ladder up in the garage to get up there to see what was in a big wooden box in the rafters. When I opened that box and saw two big snakes, I just jumped off the ladder. That evening, Dad knocked the box down and shot the snakes when they crawled out.
And about 3 years ago, I went through my barn to the shed on the side of the barn and saw a snake go over the wall through a very small hole from the shed into the barn. I went around to the other side of that wall, but never did find that snake. I don't know how they got up there.
edski
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Years back while hikeing w/ friends in upstate PA, a buddy's dog got bit on the nose by a rattler. So this guy decides to cut an "X" on the dog's nose to suck out the poison.
The poor dog is looking at him and us with a pathetic "what did I do to deserve this" look. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
The rest of us were just howling with laughter. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
What a sight. And yeah, the dog is fine, but I doubt is was due to his master's vet skills.
The poor dog is looking at him and us with a pathetic "what did I do to deserve this" look. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
The rest of us were just howling with laughter. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
What a sight. And yeah, the dog is fine, but I doubt is was due to his master's vet skills.
Bird
Rest in Peace
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( striking distance that is equal to 1/3 their body length )</font>
That's what I've always heard, too, and judging from the only ones I've had strike at me, that seems about right. But aren't the strikes always more horizontal than vertical; i.e., a 3' snake can strike 1' away, but not more than 5 or 6 inches high?
That's what I've always heard, too, and judging from the only ones I've had strike at me, that seems about right. But aren't the strikes always more horizontal than vertical; i.e., a 3' snake can strike 1' away, but not more than 5 or 6 inches high?
FLDave
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Hi Don,
Not to worry, the shed skins you found in your eves are most likely from a Yellow Rat Snake. Look at the shed closely and you will most likey see four black stripes running the length of the body. They spend a lot of time in trees and rafters hunting and hiding. They are nonvenomous and constrictors. Constrictors have good muscle control which allow them to be superior climbers.
Generally:
When in the field you should always look where you are walking anyways. A simple pair of cowboy boots or something similar in height is more than sufficient for most North American snakes. A snake is not going to come and get you. They either sit still (such as a Copperhead) and hope its camouflage keeps it from being spotted, or race away (such as the Coachwhip) hoping to outdistance the intruder and head for the nearest bramble pile.
Heck, I go snake hunting all the time and some days I don't see any at all. It's spring now so they are in their eat and find a mate mode. This is the time a year that they are the most active. As soon as they breed then they will only need to travel to find food and water.
A snake that you can't identify is best left alone. Anyone living in areas with a high amount of venomous snakes should basically clear out brush and debris near your house.
A great Field Guide with range maps and pictures is a Peterson Field Guide "Reptile and Amphibians". Once you know what can live in your area you will know what to look for. If you can identify different birds you can do the same with snakes. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Not to worry, the shed skins you found in your eves are most likely from a Yellow Rat Snake. Look at the shed closely and you will most likey see four black stripes running the length of the body. They spend a lot of time in trees and rafters hunting and hiding. They are nonvenomous and constrictors. Constrictors have good muscle control which allow them to be superior climbers.
Generally:
When in the field you should always look where you are walking anyways. A simple pair of cowboy boots or something similar in height is more than sufficient for most North American snakes. A snake is not going to come and get you. They either sit still (such as a Copperhead) and hope its camouflage keeps it from being spotted, or race away (such as the Coachwhip) hoping to outdistance the intruder and head for the nearest bramble pile.
Heck, I go snake hunting all the time and some days I don't see any at all. It's spring now so they are in their eat and find a mate mode. This is the time a year that they are the most active. As soon as they breed then they will only need to travel to find food and water.
A snake that you can't identify is best left alone. Anyone living in areas with a high amount of venomous snakes should basically clear out brush and debris near your house.
A great Field Guide with range maps and pictures is a Peterson Field Guide "Reptile and Amphibians". Once you know what can live in your area you will know what to look for. If you can identify different birds you can do the same with snakes. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
8NTX
Gold Member
Don - I saw an Eastern coachwhip on our place last year. He looked to be between 7 and 8 feet long. Solid black but his tail was tan in color. Did some research and found out that they are pretty shy, but if you corner one, the chaps or boots probably won't help. They tend to aim for your face when striking. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif They're not poisonous but I still wouldn't relish the thought of a snake biting my face.
Steve
Steve
Varmintmist
Platinum Member
Is a coachwhip the same thing as a blacksnake?? The pic looked similar.
Marine1
Silver Member
Bird,
Snakes can strtike vertical or horizontal. Most strikes are in the horizontal position though. Seems that any prey or intrusion is going to be at snake level though. Put a snake in a bucket or some other container and look in to closely, You might get some new nostrils.
Sucking the poison as was stated in another post is the worst thing you can do. If you get poison out you will paralyze your throat causing other problems for yourself.
Texas Monthly put out "A Field Guide To Texas Snakes" by Alan Tennant. This is an excellent book on Snake identification and information. For my Texas bretheren I would highly recommend this book. You can read the Venom Poisoning article before the Forward for proper field dressing of a bite wound and an explaination of how the venom travels through the body. Pretty good info in that book.
I used to be afraid of snakes, but the level of my fear was in direct proportion to my level of ignorance about them.
Snakes can strtike vertical or horizontal. Most strikes are in the horizontal position though. Seems that any prey or intrusion is going to be at snake level though. Put a snake in a bucket or some other container and look in to closely, You might get some new nostrils.
Sucking the poison as was stated in another post is the worst thing you can do. If you get poison out you will paralyze your throat causing other problems for yourself.
Texas Monthly put out "A Field Guide To Texas Snakes" by Alan Tennant. This is an excellent book on Snake identification and information. For my Texas bretheren I would highly recommend this book. You can read the Venom Poisoning article before the Forward for proper field dressing of a bite wound and an explaination of how the venom travels through the body. Pretty good info in that book.
I used to be afraid of snakes, but the level of my fear was in direct proportion to my level of ignorance about them.
OP
txdon
Super Star Member
<font color="blue"> ( How did the snakes get way up there? )
Good question, and I don't have an answer.
</font>
I saw a sight I will never forget a few years ago. I was at my grandmother's house and watched a snake go straight up the brick wall. He was following the mortar lines. He looked like his body had 90 degree bends, it almost looked like like something you would see in the comics, it was amazing. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Thanks for the book tip.
Good question, and I don't have an answer.
</font>
I saw a sight I will never forget a few years ago. I was at my grandmother's house and watched a snake go straight up the brick wall. He was following the mortar lines. He looked like his body had 90 degree bends, it almost looked like like something you would see in the comics, it was amazing. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Thanks for the book tip.
