Snakes

DennisArrow · Jul 7, 2003

While mowing the other day got a real shock.......yes, while mowing my 5 acre pasture have come across the usual critters......I saw a movement in the grass (3-4 foot high pasture grass and weeds) moving in front of me. Wondering what in the world, I looked closely and didnt see anything till I saw movement going up a small tree as I went past. Stopped the tractor and watch a 5 foot king snake climb the tree and go up into the branches right to eye height as I sat on the tractor........all of this in about 10 seconds.....This tree was scheduled to be mown down on the next pass. Needless to say I went around for a bit; but it just stayed there.
When I decided to go ahead and make the pass on the tree.....as the front of the tractor began to bend over the tree the snake dropped to the ground and went FAST in front of me over to a "permanent" tree and the brush around it.......
The point of all of this is.......what IF I hadnt noticed it and I just mowed over it......or if I had brushed against it as I drove by and "knocked" it onto me as it sought sanctuary in the cab itself..........lolol......this ol boy wouldve really been puckered.......anyway......sure great about the thoughts as one "works"........Dennis

markie61 · Jul 7, 2003

We don't have king snakes here in Virginia - I assume they are VENOMOUS? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Mark

RichZ · Jul 7, 2003

King snakes are not venomous, but they do get real big. They're fantastic rodent eaters, and are harmless and actually very beneficial, but if you see one when you're not expecting it, it IS real shocking.

markie61 · Jul 7, 2003

Gotcha! I got a sort-of "thing" about snakes /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif....

When I first started dating my wife, this "city boy" used to go out to her grandma's farm and help with chores. The barn was built by her 5'5" grandfather in the 1930's, so he built the loft a little low for my 6'3" frame. I knew blacksnakes (non-venomous) were around, because I saw the skins everywhere. One day, we were under the loft throwing hay to the cows through a hole in floor, when out of the corner of my eye just within range of my peripheral vision, I saw a blacksnake in the rafters hanging by my left ear. I screamed like a little girl (actually a VERY little girl) and ran outside to the safety of the outdoors and bright sunshine. I looked back inside when I heard laughter from within. Out of the gloom came my amused girlfriend carrying the old bicycle innertube that had been stuffed up between the beams.

Sometimes, it surprises me that she married me..... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Mark

19th_VA · Jul 7, 2003

King snakes are also known to eat venomous snakes. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DennisArrow · Jul 7, 2003

I agree with the kings eating rodents and other snakes......lololol......but when finding one up in a branch right next to your face as you are fightin branches when mowing......I imagine that it would cause certain anatomical regions to eat your shorts.......Dennis

Golfgar4 · Jul 7, 2003

( Sometimes, it surprises me that she married me..... )

Oh I don't know Mark. She probably figured..."Now here's a guy who's going to be giving me a lot of chuckles!" /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rbarker · Jul 7, 2003

( Sometimes, it surprises me that she married me..... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

)

Are you kidding! Most women I know would love to have a story like that to hang over their husband's head! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

monkeybreath · Jul 7, 2003

King snakes are very welcome around these parts. The conventional wisdom is that they will kill young rattle snakes. I have seen a few king snakes here, but not that many. I have seen and had to kill probably 20 rattle snakes - had young daughters around and did not want to take any chances. The other snakes - including gopher snakes which look a bit like the rattlers (except for head shape and or course no rattles) I just catch and move out further away from the house to keep CFO happy. I skinned the first rattler I killed - 5" 1" - but put a pretty good strain on the marriage when I used CFO's scissors and knife from kitchen. Mounted it. Could not bring my self to try the meat. A lot of interesting snake stories.

Phred · Jul 23, 2003

Very true. Also they are not very aggresive in my experince.

I stepped over one a few months ago until my buddy pointed it out. He was a small one by comparison. It was while walking through some tall brush and my foot was probably within a few inches off his business end. No problem. He is still out there hopefully eating mice.

Just glad he was not an agressive posinous snake!

Fred