Water Snakes (Raleigh, Durham, Rocky Mount: house, live in, vs.)

[autumngal]

We had a creek at our last house. And we would have to hike thru the woods to get there. But copperheads were a plenty, and we had sticks we would carry with us to part any brush. We never saw them actually in the water. Most times they would be sunning on the rocks or just beneath some undergrowth.
At our house we have now we have a private pond surrounded by woods. And have yet to see a copperhead at all on our property. We do have a rather large black snake, a great horned owl a pair of redtail hawks, a heron and a few stray cats that frequent the pond area so this might have something to do with it.
I hike alot and have found that copperheads really will not move if they are laying in some tall grass or brush. This also is true if they are laying in the road at night to get the warmth from the blacktop. They just curl up and hang there.

ug. Not a fan of snakes at all, but never had a problem with them. And I am quite the outdoorsy person. Just have to keep ya wits about ya and know they very well can be around in the type of environment you are describing.

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by lamishra

I am a native, have spent time in plenty of creeks and have seen plenty of snakes although I'm certainly not an expert on one. If *I* were going to be walking through a creek, I'd just make sure I was wearing appropriate clothes such as heavy duty, all weather hiking books, gloves if you think you'll need to move things like logs or branches, and maybe even a walking stick to prod around rocks and undergrowth as you go.
Don't let the idea of snakes keep you from doing things. Being prepared and educated is what will ultimately keep you safe.

Well, it doesn't stop me from hiking, etc. but with kids who run up in front, who don't own hiking boots (we're talking small kids here), it doesn't seem like walking through the creek is a good call. I can't really reconcile "don't let it stop you" with "wear hiking boots and be prepared.." I can for ME, but not with 3 year olds--they are not going to walk right behind me touching nothing and looking ahead, you know? Thanks for the info

[Esperanza27713]

By the way, just like people, snakes live in cookie cutter neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs as well. I guess, like cookie-cutter people, they don't mind living in family-friendly environments with nice houses (however homogenous!), and well-kept roads and common space. I've seen some great snakes in my neighborhood.

I understand your concern though. I have a three year old as well and he's more likely to try to pick up the snake than get away from it.

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

Well, it doesn't stop me from hiking, etc. but with kids who run up in front, who don't own hiking boots (we're talking small kids here), it doesn't seem like walking through the creek is a good call. I can't really reconcile "don't let it stop you" with "wear hiking boots and be prepared.." I can for ME, but not with 3 year olds--they are not going to walk right behind me touching nothing and looking ahead, you know? Thanks for the info

I'm with you. I can't imagine taking chances like that with kids around. makes me shudder just to think about it. Can you get a snake wrangler to get them out of their completely?
It's a shame not to be able to use the creek.

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

Well, it doesn't stop me from hiking, etc. but with kids who run up in front, who don't own hiking boots (we're talking small kids here), it doesn't seem like walking through the creek is a good call. I can't really reconcile "don't let it stop you" with "wear hiking boots and be prepared.." I can for ME, but not with 3 year olds--they are not going to walk right behind me touching nothing and looking ahead, you know? Thanks for the info

Sounds like you object to advice that was given.
What kind of parent allows a three year old to go to a creek by itself anyways?
Or not pay attention to what you kids touch or step around the kid. You might need to understand the mind set of a three year old then understand the mindset of a snake.
Here your answer and it is pretty simple

Dont allow them go play in the creek

if there not old enough to understand the risks and how to react in proactive and reactive manners to situations that they might encounter.

[lamishra]

I think, as with every other activity under the sun, if you stay educated you'll be fine. There are risks with every activity we involve our children in. A three year old is old enough to be taught safety in this situation. Taught NOT to run too far up ahead. Taught not to stick their hands in the underbrush. In fact, going ahead and exposing them to these places gives you the PERFECT opportunity to teach it.
I think you may be overestimating the threat of running into a venomous snake in a creek in the triangle. If we were talking about a swamp in SE NC, I might be more hesitant to down play the risk.

This time of year, ticks and the threat of Lyme's disease or RMSF are more of a concern to me when enjoying a nature walk than snakes.

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Sounds like you object to advice that was given.
What kind of parent allows a three year old to go to a creek by itself anyways?
Or not pay attention to what you kids touch or step around the kid. You might need to understand the mind set of a three year old then understand the mindset of a snake.
Here your answer and it is pretty simple

Dont allow them go play in the creek

if there not old enough to understand the risks and how to react in proactive and reactive manners to situations that they might encounter.

Ok, not sure what you're talking about. This is now my THIRD TIME on this thread saying that I will not let them go in the creek!! You must have misread my response(s). I am saying that, based on what has been said about the apparent abundance of snakes in the area, that I will NOT be letting them go in the creek. Geez, the whole reason I asked is because I DID NOT KNOW if there were cottonmouths (or other snakes) IN the creek. I am not from North Carolina! I spent many many days and weeks playing in a creek near my house growing up in NJ when I was a kid. There are snakes there too, but probably not as many (and not cottonmouths) and I'm probably just more cautious (b/c I'm paranoid about snakes) than my parents were. Now that I know about the creek-snake situation here, from these responses, ....I will not be taking them there.

The part you quoted me on says that I can control the environment enough for ME to walk through the creek, but not for THEM, so I would not let them go in the creek. This was stating that I WON"T let them go in. And fyi, I do understand the mindset of a 3-yo....which is EXACTLY why I was asking the question! If I were talking about 10 year old kids here, this would be a non-issue b/c they would understand how to take precautions with snakes.

It all boils down to my original question, which was just trying to find out how likely snake encounters are IN the creek, and if they are in small creeks. Like I said--I am not from NC! In the creeks in New England this was a non-issue so I'm just trying to learn about what it's like here.

Really don't understand why you are insulting me, insinuating I am being irresponsible. If I were going to be irresponsible, I would just sit on the bank and let them head right on in. Instead, I came to this forum to find out whether I am being paranoid due to my fear of snakes, or if the threat is real enough to have the kids avoid the creek.

Of course if there were no snakes (or extremely unusual) then they still would not be going alone--where on earth did you get the impression I would let them go alone? I have said all along they are with me, but with me does not mean being carried by me...they will step in slightly different places and run up ahead, etc.

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by lamishra

I think you may be overestimating the threat of running into a venomous snake in a creek in the triangle. If we were talking about a swamp in SE NC, I might be more hesitant to down play the risk.
.

That is definitely my concern. I am really scared of snakes and to have 3 small nieces/nephews (not just one) with me...I can teach them not to run ahead, and not to put their hands on the banks but I cannot check every rock they are going to step on...just not possible w/3 little kids w/me as we'd all take slightly different paths.

I thought maybe I was being paranoid. After all, I just read that James Taylor spend most of his childhood playing in a creek by himself in Chapel Hill. And the people who lived here before us raised their kids here and they said their kids would head over to the creek all day every day during teh summer....but then someone mentioned to me that the risk of copperheads and cottonmouths was quite high and they would def. not let kids in the creek at all....so my extra cautious side (and snake paranoia side) took over.....I just may wait a few years or only take them one at a time so I can be within arms reach and make sure they stay right by me...

[seohkna]

I've been here about 3 years now. We have a creek behind our back yard that we occassionally hike to. I haven't seen any cottonmouths or poisonous snakes at all yet though I've seen tons of non venemous ones!
I take my 2,5 and 10 year olds and haven't had a problem, they are more worried about the spiders and I am worried about the ticks! I got 2 ticks yesterday just playing in the yard
I was at Harris Lake not long ago and people were saying not to go near the water because they had seen water moccassins swimming around.
As far as I'm concerned the woods here are beautiful but they are a hostile environment!

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

Ok, not sure what you're talking about. This is now my THIRD TIME on this thread saying that I will not let them go in the creek!! You must have misread my response(s). I am saying that, based on what has been said about the apparent abundance of snakes in the area, that I will NOT be letting them go in the creek. Geez, the whole reason I asked is because I DID NOT KNOW if there were cottonmouths (or other snakes) IN the creek. I am not from North Carolina! I spent many many days and weeks playing in a creek near my house growing up in NJ when I was a kid. There are snakes there too, but probably not as many (and not cottonmouths) and I'm probably just more cautious (b/c I'm paranoid about snakes) than my parents were. Now that I know about the creek-snake situation here, from these responses, ....I will not be taking them there.

The part you quoted me on says that I can control the environment enough for ME to walk through the creek, but not for THEM, so I would not let them go in the creek. This was stating that I WON"T let them go in. And fyi, I do understand the mindset of a 3-yo....which is EXACTLY why I was asking the question! If I were talking about 10 year old kids here, this would be a non-issue b/c they would understand how to take precautions with snakes.

It all boils down to my original question, which was just trying to find out how likely snake encounters are IN the creek, and if they are in small creeks. Like I said--I am not from NC! In the creeks in New England this was a non-issue so I'm just trying to learn about what it's like here.

Really don't understand why you are insulting me, insinuating I am being irresponsible. If I were going to be irresponsible, I would just sit on the bank and let them head right on in. Instead, I came to this forum to find out whether I am being paranoid due to my fear of snakes, or if the threat is real enough to have the kids avoid the creek.

Of course if there were no snakes (or extremely unusual) then they still would not be going alone--where on earth did you get the impression I would let them go alone? I have said all along they are with me, but with me does not mean being carried by me...they will step in slightly different places and run up ahead, etc.

I'm with you. They must not have read the entire thread. It's very tiresome to be insulted for just the thing you're trying to prevent against. Good-luck!