Snakes in California

[shinka]

I lived in the foothills of the Sacramento Valley, and the only poisonous snake we saw there is the western diamondback rattler. They really aren't all that bad, either. Most people don't die from their bites, unless they're very young or very old. When I was a kid, I stepped on a young one (only a couple feet long). Lucky for me, I stepped right below his head. Boy was he pissed! Shook his single rattle and hissed as I stood there (still on his neck) absolutely terrified.

Another time hiking further up the mountains, our big, dopey yellow lab ran right over the top of a monster one (6 feet and as thick as my arm) that was sunning himself on the path. Didn't even rattle. He just lifted his head and flicked his tongue after Missy, who kept barreling down the trail. He finally got annoyed with me (I was screaming "NO!" and waving my arms at the dog, who had decided to come running back and see what was taking us so long) and slithered off under a bush.

They're really alright if you just leave them alone.

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by shinka

I lived in the foothills of the Sacramento Valley, and the only poisonous snake we saw there is the western diamondback rattler. They really aren't all that bad, either. Most people don't die from their bites, unless they're very young or very old. When I was a kid, I stepped on a young one (only a couple feet long). Lucky for me, I stepped right below his head. Boy was he pissed! Shook his single rattle and hissed as I stood there (still on his neck) absolutely terrified.

Another time hiking further up the mountains, our big, dopey yellow lab ran right over the top of a monster one (6 feet and as thick as my arm) that was sunning himself on the path. Didn't even rattle. He just lifted his head and flicked his tongue after Missy, who kept barreling down the trail. He finally got annoyed with me (I was screaming "NO!" and waving my arms at the dog, who had decided to come running back and see what was taking us so long) and slithered off under a bush.

They're really alright if you just leave them alone.

Of course, you can only leave them alone if you see them in time...LOL