snake story

[PMA]

I killed this rattler about three years ago in the front yard, the snake was charming a rabbit.

 

[patrick_g]

I sure don't look for opportunities to kill snakes but if a poisonous one and I try to occupy the same volume of space at the same time then according to my personal rules it is a dead snake. Having only killed 2 snakes in 8 years I don't think I am destroying the balance of nature.

I'm not a snake fancier and don't keep them as pets but I do grab the odd non-poisonous one for a little show and tell now and then like the one that tried to come in the house from the back porch when my SIL opened the French doors.

I probably jump as far and fast when a snake "appears" by my feet in the grass/weeds as anyone. OK not fast enough to sit on the porch and watch my image arrive.

There are lots of reasons for killing poisonous snakes in inhabited areas, where stock is kept, or where pets roam but very few legitimate reasons for killing non-poisonous ones. Mostly it is ignorance, superstition, stupidity, false sense of bravado, machismo, FEAR, or whatever...

Survival training? OK but eat it.

Pat

 

[deerefan]

I killed this rattler about three years ago in the front yard, the snake was charming a rabbit.

I found one about that size a couple weeks ago, had 12 rattles. On my property, I let the non poisonous go and eliminate the poisonous b/c we have a lot of dogs, horses and a few cats.
Actually, I'm more afraid of the catfish in my 3 acre pond. Here's why. About a week ago the wife and I were feeding them and I went to check under my flatboat to see if any snakes were living under it. Low and behold, there was a 3ft yellow belly plain watersnake. He proceeded to get in the boat and under the seat. I decided to smoke him out. Long story short, I got him out and put him (alive) by the pond's edge. He slithered into the water where he remained for about 2 minutes until the catfish ate him--alive. I will think twice before I swim in there again. If I had not witnessed it, I would never have believed it.

 

[NSBound]

I found this HUGE snake in my back yard recently. I uploaded some video onto Youtube - link here : YouTube - The largest dead snake ever found, over 50 feet.

 

[patrick_g]

He slithered into the water where he remained for about 2 minutes until the catfish ate him--alive. I will think twice before I swim in there again. If I had not witnessed it, I would never have believed it.

I have 12 ponds. One of the smaller ones has something BIG in it. I was watching a mated pair of ducks (not sure what kind but about 3/4 the size of mallards) dive to the bottom and bring up plant stuff to eat as only a few kinds of ducks can eat underwater. So anyway on one of the dives I saw a large black shape pursue one of the ducks. The duck swam away really fast underwater and the duck and its pursuer went out of sight in the glare/reflection on the water. The duck did not surface. No feathers came to the top. Had there been a struggle I would have expected some of the feathers to float up (they are hollow and float just fine.) I can only think of one plausible explanation. the big thing ate the duck whole! So it could be a large catfish or a monster of a big mouth bass or what? I'm betting catfish. The general shape of the predator eliminates alligator although there are gators in Oklahoma (mostly S E corner.)

Whatever it was it could definitely eat a large snake.

Pat

 

[NSBound]

........The duck did not surface. No feathers came to the top.
Pat

Pat, on many occasions in Northern Ontario I have seen a school of ducklings being herded by their mother, and suddenly a wake would appear heading for them, and one of them would just disappear from the surface. We were pretty sure they were northern pike, or maybe muskie, grabbing the ducks. I don't think they live down your way, do they - I think they're cold water lovers. It even made me think twice about dangling my fingers over the side of the boat!!

 

[FN in MT]

Interesting thread....Not an hour ago I hit a rattler with the 60" MMM on the B2620 and sent him in two pieces out onto the road. I was cutting the ROW along my front field. IMHO the BEST rattler IS a dead one.

I've had the pleasure to visit South Africa and Namibia a couple of times my last visit in 2000. While out in the bush we saw several black mambas as the first really warm spring weather had arrived. They are territorial , aggresive and there is no antidote if bitten. I carried a 9mm Browning Highpower where ever we went and after seeing a few 7 footer...wished I'd brought over my Rem 870 riot gun.

Saw an article in a RSA hunting publication about a guy who was collecting black mambas and placing them in a canvas bag. Somehow he brushed a fang that was through the bag with his thumb. The dozen oor so photos showed his thumb turn black and swell too several times normal. The Doctors cut the thumb off....... then the arm........ then he DIED. I was VERY glad I saw the article the day before we were LEAVING!! I would not have had as much fun in the bush.

FN in MT

 

[wushaw]

I killed this rattler about three years ago in the front yard, the snake was charming a rabbit.

Nice Canebrake. They get rather large in diameter and their coloring is very glossy.

 

[studor]

No poisonous snakes in my ponds, but a couple of good sized snappers - they will do in ducklings and anything else they can grab and pull under. Occasionally the lawnmower gets a Northern black water snake-- seems they hide in the grass and then raise up when the deck is on top of them -- bad move from a species survival standpoint

 

[herd]

Great thread, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the postings. Got a question, what kind of snake, I know it's non-poisoinous, that has a long black streak down its top and then green on each side. I have seen several of these in the past two week as I clear up some of my land. These guys are usually 3 to 4 foot in lenght, small head, glad to get away from you