A copperhead spared... (house, deed, living)

[marialidia]

Nearing my house in my car, I saw a copperhead in the road. Maybe 18 inches? and right in the middle. This city girl wasn't sure if the thing to do was to turn around and run over it, but as I was almost home I called my husband so he could advise me and do the deed if necessary. He joined me in the car, but when we returned (a few hundred yards from the house) there was no snake.


So I am not asking for ethical advice (yes, they were here before us but I don't care) but practical.


1. If a car runs over a snake it dies, right? (I grew up in NYC and know nothing).
2. Does snake venom get all over your tires and yuck them up? (I can hear you laughing).
3. I thought he was sunning, not crossing the road. How'd he move so fast? (Maybe four minutes?)

[m378]

I don't understand why you would make such an effort to kill the snake.

[marialidia]

Originally Posted by m378

I don't understand why you would make such an effort to kill the snake.

It was right where we walk our dog, and the grandchild, and where many other people do the same. So it seemed one less venemous snake is a good thing, especially if it is in a frequented place. On the other hand, seeing how fast it moved away, it's probably all moot.

[m378]

Originally Posted by marialidia

It is right where we walk our dog, and the grandchild, and where many other people do the same. So it seemed one less venemous snake is a good thing, especially if it is in a frequented place. On the other hand, seeing how fast it moved away, it's probably all moot.

Yeah they're everywhere, you just don't see them normally. They eat other annoying things like mice so they're not bad to have around.

[farebluenc]

Just leave the snake alone.

[NM posts]

Are you sure it was a copperhead? There are some harmless snakes that are frequently mistaken for copperheads.

They move very quickly, especially when they've been in the sun. No need to run them over, though I know people do all the time - they are very common where I live as well.

[brickandiron]

Originally Posted by farebluenc

Just leave the snake alone.

+1

There are many more you don’t see. No need to kill the one you do see. Always assume they are there when walking dogs, etc.

[NYC2RDU]

Originally Posted by HatchChile

1. Yes. When a metal object that's exponentially heavier runs over something small and made of living tissue, that said living organism dies. Because, duh. A follow up question, are you just dumb or you guys didn't study biology in your Footloose village?

2. No. But, I really hope it actually melts your tires and costs you money. Serves you right.

3. Precisely, he probably was just getting its daily vitamin D. But, no, you and your husband had to come back and try to kill it. Where did you get that nature police certificate, Karen?

Someone probably needs a social media time out to cool off. So much hostility for something so relatively benign.

[NYC2RDU]

Originally Posted by marialidia

Nearing my house in my car, I saw a copperhead in the road. Maybe 18 inches? and right in the middle. This city girl wasn't sure if the thing to do was to turn around and run over it, but as I was almost home I called my husband so he could advise me and do the deed if necessary. He joined me in the car, but when we returned (a few hundred yards from the house) there was no snake.


So I am not asking for ethical advice (yes, they were here before us but I don't care) but practical.


1. If a car runs over a snake it dies, right? (I grew up in NYC and know nothing).
2. Does snake venom get all over your tires and yuck them up? (I can hear you laughing).
3. I thought he was sunning, not crossing the road. How'd he move so fast? (Maybe four minutes?)

You really should invest 15-30 minutes to Google snakes, copperheads in particular.

While it's likely that a snake would die if run over by a car, it's not necessarily automatic and could result in a living creature suffering with a mortal wound, no matter the creature that's never a good thing.

Snakes release venom when their natural instincts lead to their doing so. Even if your tire crushed their head and the gland that secretes the venom, there's not enough to result in a noticeable amount being left behind on the tire (assuming the wheel spins a few hundred more times before being stopped). And even if there was, you're not at risk unless you somehow scrape it off and inject or ingest it.

Snakes can move really fast, particularly when threatened.

But here's the most important take away from this thread, leave the snakes alone. Unless you have one menacing your living space (maybe in your garage or hanging around doorways), it's not going to stay there very long as it's out of position. They're usually excellent at staying in their lane and given a chance, will return to it expeditiously. Killing one copperhead does nothing to reduce your chances of being bitten by one, only that one in particular. They live all around us and do a great job of regulating a whole bunch of other, more concerning vermin that will actually try to get into your house. Develop smart habits to avoid unnecessary encounters and always consider fleeing (slowly, I might add) ahead of murder.

[poppydog]

We just saw a young copperhead in our backyard. It is the season. My husband just shooed it along with a long pole and it slithered away back into the underbrush. We're not of a mind to kill things just for the sake of killing them. Just watch where you walk.