Snakes in California (San Diego, Sacramento, Folsom: beaches, suburban, backyards)

[goatherder]

The only snake I have seen in the last year is a ringneck racer, it is about the size of a pencil, deep grass green on it's back with a dark orange belly with little black spots in the orange and an orange ring around it's neck. It is beautiful but kind of hard to spot.

[happ]

The mountain lion stories remind me of a horrible incident in the foothills of Orange Co where 2 women riding bikes were attacked. One escaped but the other woman was partially eaten by the time they found her.

Another less dangerous critter are tarantulas that live in the same place as snakes & mt. lions. Actually these giant spiders are rather harmless. But a girl friend of my sister got bit by a tarantula when she was partying at night. Too much beer/bud. The following morning she had a bruise-like bite mark & nearly fainted when the MD told her it was from a tarantula

[Joe_Ryder]

Originally Posted by happ

The mountain lion stories remind me of a horrible incident in the foothills of Orange Co where 2 women riding bikes were attacked. One escaped but the other woman was partially eaten by the time they found her.

Another less dangerous critter are tarantulas that live in the same place as snakes & mt. lions. Actually these giant spiders are rather harmless. But a girl friend of my sister got bit by a tarantula when she was partying at night. Too much beer/bud. The following morning she had a bruise-like bite mark & nearly fainted when the MD told her it was from a tarantula

Wait till you see a tarantula migration. Up here in the SF East Bay hills, they migrate twice a year. The first time I saw it was up on a mountain road at dusk. They were blanketing the road on their way down the mountain. At the time it freaked me out and I was hesitant to say anything for fear I'd be committed but it turns out it's a regular occurrence.

[cynwldkat]

Yep, it happens in the canyons near San Fernando Valley too. They migrate in the same place every time too. It's amazing to see.

[etcastle]

Out here in the Southern California we do indeed have several deadly snakes. We have the Southern Pacific and the Mojave Green. Snakes are a fact of life here especially in the Santa Clarita Valley. These days I rarely flinch at the site of a snake and in fact I make sure any snakes on trails are relocated to areas off trail.

I guess I just respect the creatures more than others.

Capt. Ed Castillo
Southern California EMS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EMS...So others may live!!

[cynwldkat]

Originally Posted by etcastle

Out here in the Southern California we do indeed have several deadly snakes. We have the Southern Pacific and the Mojave Green. Snakes are a fact of life here especially in the Santa Clarita Valley. These days I rarely flinch at the site of a snake and in fact I make sure any snakes on trails are relocated to areas off trail.

I guess I just respect the creatures more than others.

Capt. Ed Castillo
Southern California EMS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EMS...So others may live!!

I agree with you. Live and let live!!

[happ]

Of-course, you're not recommending relocating rattle snakes, right?

[cynwldkat]

I didn't say relocate..avoid them if in the woods but if they do come in your yard, I had children when I lived there, then my husband would kill them. With children or pets you can't take a chance. I would never intentionally hit any living creature on the road and the same holds true when out hiking. I'd even have probably relocated them myself if they were in my yard but hubbie said there was a possibility they would just come back and would not take a chance--I understood that!!

[happ]

I agree w/ you. Overwhelmingly, when human interacts w/ snake, it is the snake that flees, even rattlers. Let them be. As a kid I used to ride my bike over the San Juan grade into San Juan Batista & see lots of rattlers [also tarantulas] warming themselves in the morning sun. Always back away slowly.

On the other hand when dangerous reptiles or spiders [like scorpions/black widows - not tarantulas] come close or into the house one needs to take aggressive measures including killing the intruder.

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by happ

I agree w/ you. Overwhelmingly, when human interacts w/ snake, it is the snake that flees, even rattlers. Let them be. As a kid I used to ride my bike over the San Juan grade into San Juan Batista & see lots of rattlers [also tarantulas] warming themselves in the morning sun. Always back away slowly.

On the other hand when dangerous reptiles or spiders [like scorpions/black widows - not tarantulas] come close or into the house one needs to take aggressive measures including killing the intruder.

I wish the rattle snakes I came across would flee. I've never come across one who
didn't make it clear that if anyone was going to be fleeing it was going to be me. Even the one in my backyard that bit my golden retreiver took his time going off into the bushes.