Water Snakes

[SomethingFishy]

Trust Me! Copperheads LOVE to slither IN creeks! I live at the foot of a mountain and our creek is prime real estate for serpents. Though most of the snakes(too many species to list)avoid confrontation, a few my husband and I encountered have been very curious. And Copperheads are so hard to spot. Don't let the snakes spoil your adventures, just keep your eyes open. By researching species native to NC, I have become much more comfortable dealing with our coinhabitants. Remember, you are alot bigger, they wont eat you!

[RDSLOTS]

Originally Posted by laysayfair

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".

I don't think it happens often enough to warrant being afraid to go places -- you or your pets. In the ten years we lived on a lake, our little dog was bitten by a cottonmouth down at the water's edge, but the event preceded a hurricane down on the coast, and you know, my husband and I are the ones who should've paid for that one -- not the poor little guy. We should never have let him that close to the water, especially with a storm brewing like that. Ever notice how panicky animals get? Looking back, I'm sure the cottonmouth was probably trying to get some place safe.

I've lived in NC most all of my life, and during that time, I've encountered (2) Eastern rattlers, out in the sun on a road -- one dirt, one asphalt; (1) cottonmouth water moccasin -- while in a John boat on the lake, and it was hanging in a tree (you learn to avoid going under the trees if you can help it); perhaps (3) copperheads, not counting a whole nest of very young ones I unearthed in the mulch in one of the beds close to the house.

I have come across plenty of harmless ones, however -- cute little garter snakes in the yard, Blake snakes (wonderful rodent-eaters), and other really strikingly marked ones. All harmless, although until I learned how to tell the heads apart, I was afraid of most, and had assumed the pretty striped one was venomous, too.

Don't let a fear of things outdoors keep you in. Too much beauty and wonder across the state to miss out on because you may fear a snake, or insects. If you head down to Wilmington, be especially mindful of the man-eating plants -- the Venus flytrap grows large enough to consume small animals and children.

[kelly237]

Now my kids are teens and want to catch a huge water moccasin they saw at a near by creek. (at least they think it is one )
I think they just enjoy my reaction when they tell me this stuff!!!!

[gastric]

Paddled down the Neuse last weekend and my daughter and I saw a snake swimming in the river. So not only will they traverse creeks but big rivers too. Enjoy.

[PDXmom]

Recently I saw a dead water moccasin on a Scott King Road, near a very low wet area.

As a kid (in SE NC) I recall seeing various types of snakes swimming in the water. I found on a ncsu website a link that says all snakes can swim, but their striking distant is limited in water since they don't have anything to push off of. That explains why I as a kid I remember them swimming away from us.

FrogandTodd, I know you already said that you won't be in the creek, so this info is just an FYI for others. BTW, this links talks about getting snakes out of a canoe too. Knowledge I hope I never need to use, but good to have.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests...atersnakes.htm

[lamishra]

I was also about to say that most snakes can swim, so don't assume that if a snake swimming it is necessarily venomous.

[tarheel7777]

Originally Posted by PDXmom

FrogandTodd, I know you already said that you won't be in the creek, so this info is just an FYI for others. BTW, this links talks about getting snakes out of a canoe too. Knowledge I hope I never need to use, but good to have.

Avoiding Water Snakes

That is a great website, with some good information on it. I grew up in southeastern NC in the "country," and snakes were just a part of life just like anything else. My parents made sure that we knew what to do if we got too close to a snake, but most of the time snakes will leave you alone. They eat a lot of bugs and rodents, which bother me a lot more than they do. In fact, the one winter we didn't see any mice was the same year that a snake came up out of our crawlspace when it started to get warm!

[cary native]

As another native that has spent much of my life in the outdoors working, playing, and hunting, I have never had a problem with snakes. I have seen them, some closer than others, but never a problem.
I agree with the others that say to remember that snakes (and most other wildlife) are as scared of you as you are of it. Snakes sense vibrations, that's how they hunt, and how they escape danger too. Usually they will go the other way when they "hear" you coming. If you pay as much attention to your surroundings in the woods as you do on the street(or in your home) in regards to you children you should not have a problem.

[Native NC]

Interesting thread, I had just posted about a snake in another thread on chiggers, ticks, fleas.

I always thought snakes were as afraid of us as we can be of them, but I have a snake now that is disproving that. Thankfully we think it's non poisonous.

One thing I have noticed is there are no squirrels in this new development but had an abundance in every other NC location we have lived. I am wondering why now......?

[lamishra]

Originally Posted by Native NC

Interesting thread, I had just posted about a snake in another thread on chiggers, ticks, fleas.

I always thought snakes were as afraid of us as we can be of them, but I have a snake now that is disproving that. Thankfully we think it's non poisonous.

One thing I have noticed is there are no squirrels in this new development but had an abundance in every other NC location we have lived. I am wondering why now......?

I'd definitey rather have a few helpful (non poisonous) snakes around rather than pesky, worthless squirrels!