Encounters With Bugs. Snakes, Cougars, Bears etc. (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: house, amphitheatre)

[Bugsbunny7]

those road runners sound like they eat what ever they can

[DrinkMagaritas]

I thought I would post a little update/ cautionary tale...

We hike daily in the trails in the Sandia's. Today we had our first encounter with a rattlesnake.

The 2 young kids were walking ahead of us adults. We rounded a hill and the kids jogged down the other side. I was next in line and when I got to the sunny patch I looked down and saw a young diamondback... He was just sunbathing and never made a move to strike but it was a sobering and scary reminder just how careful to be while hiking!! Both children had no idea what they stomped pass, and both where mere inches from stepping right on his back. We were about a 10-20minute hike/run back to the trail head and if god forbid one of the little kids got bite we would have been in big trouble, we had no phone on us.

Some tips I would say for hiking esp with family..

1. An adult should always lead...
2. Always be on the lookout. that snake blended quite well into the trail.
3. BRING a phone (on silent), It only takes one unlucky incedent but it could be a matter of life and death.
4. Wear proper gear, The super breatheable shoes we were wearing could be pierced quite easily, unlike the thicker and safe hiking shoes.
5. First Aid kit... So rattlesnake encounter might be a very rare occasion but a fall/run in with a cactus is a definate possability each hike!

These are just some very basic things we had let slip by us on our casual family "easy" hiking (and seen other families not think of eather while hiking the same trails), but today could have ended in a horrendous disaster because of them.

[Bugsbunny7]

Originally Posted by DrinkMagaritas

I thought I would post a little update/ cautionary tale...

We hike daily in the trails in the Sandia's. Today we had our first encounter with a rattlesnake.

The 2 young kids were walking ahead of us adults. We rounded a hill and the kids jogged down the other side. I was next in line and when I got to the sunny patch I looked down and saw a young diamondback... He was just sunbathing and never made a move to strike but it was a sobering and scary reminder just how careful to be while hiking!! Both children had no idea what they stomped pass, and both where mere inches from stepping right on his back. We were about a 10-20minute hike/run back to the trail head and if god forbid one of the little kids got bite we would have been in big trouble, we had no phone on us.

Some tips I would say for hiking esp with family..

1. An adult should always lead...
2. Always be on the lookout. that snake blended quite well into the trail.
3. BRING a phone (on silent), It only takes one unlucky incedent but it could be a matter of life and death.
4. Wear proper gear, The super breatheable shoes we were wearing could be pierced quite easily, unlike the thicker and safe hiking shoes.
5. First Aid kit... So rattlesnake encounter might be a very rare occasion but a fall/run in with a cactus is a definate possability each hike!

These are just some very basic things we had let slip by us on our casual family "easy" hiking (and seen other families not think of eather while hiking the same trails), but today could have ended in a horrendous disaster because of them.

also a walking stick.

[berncohomes]

I've had my fair share of dealing with snakes recently. All around my house too.

A couple of months ago I was coming out of my front door. It was early evening and as I was stepping out, barefoot and in shorts I notice a long dark thin thing next to the step. My weight had already been shifted too far forward and I could not stop and I just had the "oh crap" feeling as my mind processed what the shape was as I was moving over it, luckily it was pretty docile and didn't take offense to me. Animal control came and took it away.

Depending on where you live you will see certain creatures, we are on the edge of the city and there is nothing behind us. We often see Coyotes and snakes, ever year around this time we see tarantulas and my wife saw a bobcat last winter. Nothing to be scared of as long as you use caution and a little common sense.

[lobo]

Here's my rattlesnake story:

When I was around 11 or 12 years old, I went to a lake (forget which one but it was an hour south of Albuquerque.) with my friend, her sisters, and their dad. Shortly after arriving, we spotted a rattlesnake near the car. My friend's dad stupidly picked it up just behind the snake's mouth, but the snake still had enough room to turn and bite him on the finger. He was a large man of 6'4" and must have weighted at least 270 pounds. He immediately dropped the snake (which slithered away). He then started to suck the venom from his finger and spit it out. He started to swagger and then leaned against the car right before he passed out. My friend and I ran to the nearest campsite and summoned some people for help who found a park ranger to call an ambulance. The nearest hospital was in Albuquerque, an hour away. I don't even remember how we got home. That was way before cell phones were around.

He was in the hospital for 6 weeks, had to have a finger amputated, had his arm cut open from his finger all the way to his chest, and ended up with a partially paralyzed hand.

Moral of the story: Never pick up a rattle snake, or any kind of snake if you don't know what type of snake it is.

[Bugsbunny7]

keep those stories coming

[ALorNM?]

Originally Posted by berncohomes

A couple of months ago I was coming out of my front door. It was early evening and as I was stepping out, barefoot and in shorts I notice a long dark thin thing next to the step.

My grandpa says "I'm only scared of three kinds of snakes; live snakes, dead snakes, and sticks that look like snakes"

[Northanna_2001]

From everything I've read and experienced, my observation is that they don't want to attack you. Rattlesnakes are known as the 'gentlemen' of snakes. They aren't aggressive. But I think it's the same thing as when I lived in Alaska and had moose all over the neighborhoods, I just gave them a wide berth and didn't mess with them. I wonder how often when I've been out hiking that I probably walked over (when they might have been under a log) or around one of those snakes and never knew it. I think the big thing that helps alot of people is to get ahold of their fear; which will help you when you encounter any wild animal. Give it a wide berth and go on your way.
Re: bobcat. We were in Sierra Vista AZ coming out of our hotel room when we started looking at this strange looking cat (ears were very "lynx-like"). It clearly wasn't a cat as to its size and coloring. Later we realized that in the hotel parking lot, we had been looking at a bobcat and hadn't realized it. A cool experience.

[Northanna_2001]

Originally Posted by lobo

Here's my rattlesnake story:

When I was around 11 or 12 years old, I went to a lake (forget which one but it was an hour south of Albuquerque.) with my friend, her sisters, and their dad. Shortly after arriving, we spotted a rattlesnake near the car. My friend's dad stupidly picked it up just behind the snake's mouth, but the snake still had enough room to turn and bite him on the finger. He was a large man of 6'4" and must have weighted at least 270 pounds. He immediately dropped the snake (which slithered away). He then started to suck the venom from his finger and spit it out. He started to swagger and then leaned against the car right before he passed out. My friend and I ran to the nearest campsite and summoned some people for help who found a park ranger to call an ambulance. The nearest hospital was in Albuquerque, an hour away. I don't even remember how we got home. That was way before cell phones were around.

He was in the hospital for 6 weeks, had to have a finger amputated, had his arm cut open from his finger all the way to his chest, and ended up with a partially paralyzed hand.

Moral of the story: Never pick up a rattle snake, or any kind of snake if you don't know what type of snake it is.

I agree --- that was really dumb. I knew of a restaurant owner in Sierra Vista AZ who picked up a baby rattler and was messing around with it and of course, he got bit. Well, he blew it off and went about his day and then dropped day several hours later. The baby rattlers don't know how to control how much venom to eject. The larger ones do. Anytime anyone tries to play smart and pick up one, they are going to be in for it.

The reason snakes are around to get rid of rats and the kind of mice that cause the deadly hanta virus.

Does anyone have problems with them out in Rio Rancho?

[T.O. Resident]

Today When my teenage daughter and I came home, I saw movement on the ground when I let up the garage. I could tell it was a snake, but didn't want to say anything to my daughter, so I made up a reason for her to go through the front door.

I walked closer to the snake to see if it was poisonous, and saw that it was a rattle snake. And since it was half in and half out of the garage and not moving anymore, I got a broom and tried to push it the rest of the way out so that I could close the garage... Unfortunately, it didn't appreciate me pushing it and it became aggressive (sat up and started rattling it's tail) then came ALL of the way into the garage and went underneath a shelf...

I ended up having to call the fire department to get it out. The guys were so amazingly nice and were surprised I didn't freak out and lose sight of the snake once it started moving (they said most women scream and run into the house and have no idea where the snake went . Although they are more than willing to come out and get snakes, they will not look for them, so I had to keep an eye on it and tell them where it was hiding.

It took them a maximum of three minutes to get rid of it! So life is pretty much back to normal and my daughter never even knew the snake was out there until the firemen were there to get it (she is TERRIFIED of snakes!). She got angry with me for not telling her in time for her to get pictures of the firemen with the snake for Facebook!!! LOL!!!