Water Snakes (Wilmington, King: real estate, live, eat)

[RDSLOTS]

The risk of cottonmouth water moccasins is not particularly high here in the Triangle area. You are more likely to encounter one closer to the coast, and especially in swampy areas.

We lived on a large pond/small lake for well over ten years, and in all of that time, I think a cottonmouth presented an actual problem twice. They like to hang in the trees out over the water, and one dropped into the John boat with my husband. On another occasion, we saw one swimming across the lake -- it was very easy to spot.

Copperheads are a little more of a risk, but even still, it's not like you will encounter one on an every day, or once a week, once a month basis. I would be more more careful around my home, where they like to nest in the mulch. I have had small copperheads crawl onto the patio to warm themselves in the sun, and almost stepped on one less than a foot long in my hallway one morning. (Never have figured that out!)

I don't think the little ones are at any more risk of being bitten by a snake on a trek through the woods, than most any other things they'll encounter in a normal childhood. I grew up playing outdoors all of a summer's day here in NC, and we used to wade knee-deep in the creeks, catching turtles and minnows.

And like I said, in the ten years we lived on the lake, no problem with snakes -- but twice, had alligators to deal with. You wanna talk 'scary'?

[SunnyKayak]

Your kids will more likely to encounter wasps, ticks , mosquitoes and horse flies before they encounter a snake

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Your kids will more likely to encounter wasps, ticks , mosquitoes and horse flies before they encounter a snake

Isn't the key word "poisonous" snake? Like in possible death?

[cncracer]

Snakes and people are funny. I think a snake presents much less danger than a person would. I have spent much of my free time in the triangle walking in the parks or at the lakes with my dog. We have seen several red bellied water snakes, a king snake, and two snakes swimming in LakeJordan. I recognize they have as much fear of me as I should of them. The issue you need to remember is they do a lot of good. With out them you would have rats and other vermin coming in you yard spreading bacteria to your children rather than the occasional adrenalin jolt.

[RDSLOTS]

Originally Posted by laysayfair

Isn't the key word "poisonous" snake? Like in possible death?

Most poisons have antidotes now. The likelihood of being bitten by one is not that common, and if you live in an area with poisonous snakes, surely you'll take the time to do just a little research on how to recognize a poisonous vs. nonpoisonous snake. There aren't even that many poisonous snakes in NC -- the copperhead, the coral, the Eastern rattler, the cottonmouth water moccasin.

Once you know how to recognize the difference -- largely in the shape of the head -- in the unlikely event you are ever bitten, hopefully you know the first course of treatment. Put an ice pack on the bite to slow down circulation (better yet put the limb in cold water if you can), and get to a hospital or emergency treatment center asap. Tourniquets used to be recommended but many don't know how to apply one properly, and sometimes, a tourniquet can do as much or more damage.

[cncracer]

Originally Posted by laysayfair

Isn't the key word "poisonous" snake? Like in possible death?

In the last three years with all my walking in the woods here in the triangle, I have not seen one poisonous snake. I did get a tick bite which kicked my butt. North Caroling is the #1 State for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I will take a snake bite any day over going through that again.

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by cncracer

Snakes and people are funny. I think a snake presents much less danger than a person would. I have spent much of my free time in the triangle walking in the parks or at the lakes with my dog. We have seen several red bellied water snakes, a king snake, and two snakes swimming in LakeJordan. I recognize they have as much fear of me as I should of them. The issue you need to remember is they do a lot of good. With out them you would have rats and other vermin coming in you yard spreading bacteria to your children rather than the occasional adrenalin jolt.

When the rattlesnake in my backyard that I didn't see but luckily stepped over, bit my golden retriever (who didn't see him either but unluckily trod on him) he gave him more than an "adrenalin jolt". He gave him "rattlesnake venom".



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[kelly237]

I grew up playing in the creeks near my house in Durham,backpacked all over the mountain area, camped all my life, and my kids played in the creek near our Raleigh house. Almost all the snakes I have seen have been near our house.
I think snakes are good at getting out of the way when they hear people.
I have wondered about snakes in the rocks of creeks like you said but I think they are
usually on the banks or sunning above the water, and leave when they hear people.

[J_Lurk]

I grew up in the middle of the woods in northern Wake County, and like Lamishra suggested a while back my parents used the experience as a teaching opportunity and taught us to always walk with a stick and to stomp the ground, make a lot of noise and move slowly going through the woods. I never saw a copperhead as a child; we did have a lot of black snakes. We did a lot of damming the creek and never saw a snake.

However, I saw my first copperhead last year walking the Black Creek Greenway. If you aren't familiar with it, it is a wide paved greenway. I realized the copperhead was there just after my (at the time) 2 and 3 year old had run past it. I can't express how frightening that was!

I'd wait until your kids are old enough to be trusted not to run ahead, and until they can be trusted to learn to walk carefully. Once they can be trusted, I wouldn't worry too much about underwater snakes.

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by J_Lurk

I grew up in the middle of the woods in northern Wake County, and like Lamishra suggested a while back my parents used the experience as a teaching opportunity and taught us to always walk with a stick and to stomp the ground, make a lot of noise and move slowly going through the woods. I never saw a copperhead as a child; we did have a lot of black snakes. We did a lot of damming the creek and never saw a snake.

However, I saw my first copperhead last year walking the Black Creek Greenway. If you aren't familiar with it, it is a wide paved greenway. I realized the copperhead was there just after my (at the time) 2 and 3 year old had run past it. I can't express how frightening that was!

I'd wait until your kids are old enough to be trusted not to run ahead, and until they can be trusted to learn to walk carefully. Once they can be trusted, I wouldn't worry too much about underwater snakes.

Good real world advice! Rep point coming!