Snakes in TN (home, pitbulls, vs)

[2mares]

Have you ever been chased by a black racer. LOL. Not saying they will attack or bite but they will scare the crap out of ya. Provocation nees to be defined. Im thinking in a snakes mind provocation could be just a touch or stepping to close. I saw on a documentary pit vipers may "accidently" bite humans mistaking them for prey detected by their heat sencing abilities. Ive always been told during, someone help me out, I think they call it dog days that snake will strike at anything that moves. Now that is probably horse hocky, I have heard it from all the old timers here.
Iv only known one person hospitalized for copperhead bite. He was older and hunting gensing way out in the woods and was bit on the finger. It got real black and nasty for awhile but he was ok.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by 2mares

Have you ever been chased by a black racer. LOL. Not saying they will attack or bite but they will scare the crap out of ya. Provocation nees to be defined. Im thinking in a snakes mind provocation could be just a touch or stepping to close. I saw on a documentary pit vipers may "accidently" bite humans mistaking them for prey detected by their heat sencing abilities. Ive always been told during, someone help me out, I think they call it dog days that snake will strike at anything that moves. Now that is probably horse hocky, I have heard it from all the old timers here.
Iv only known one person hospitalized for copperhead bite. He was older and hunting gensing way out in the woods and was bit on the finger. It got real black and nasty for awhile but he was ok.

Racers are known to give short, rapid bursts at a perceived threat. They might even bite sometimes as well, funny little devils they are! And I dont think a rattler would "accidentally" bite a human. Their heat sensing pits show the heat signature of their prey very accurately. I dont think a rattler would bite something as large as a human, there's no way they could consume it, defeating the purpose. And if someone got bit by a rattler at night (when the pits are used), its probably because they were too close to the snake and the snake felt threatened.

[bbkaren]

Just like most of the "big snake eating a human" myths are debunked.

A snake generally knows what it can and cannot consume.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by bbkaren

Just like most of the "big snake eating a human" myths are debunked.

A snake generally knows what it can and cannot consume.

A python or anaconda (full grown) would have no problem consuming an average adult man. Ive seen them consume small hippos before.

[2mares]

I dont think a rattler would "accidentally" bite a human.

Thats just what was said on some documentary I watched about western rattlers and snake bites. The only one Ive ever encountered let me know not to tread on it! I went the other direction. Quick.
I have been in the middle of a racer courtship, well I suspose thats what was going on. I was doing quail call acounts and could not move for 10 min. when 3 came slithering into the field, raising up about knee high, chasing each other and intertwinging. They went right across my feet a few times. Not the best experience for me, but I suffered thu it.LOL

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by 2mares

Thats just what was said on some documentary I watched about western rattlers and snake bites. The only one Ive ever encountered let me know not to tread on it! I went the other direction. Quick.
I have been in the middle of a racer courtship, well I suspose thats what was going on. I was doing quail call acounts and could not move for 10 min. when 3 came slithering into the field, raising up about knee high, chasing each other and intertwinging. They went right across my feet a few times. Not the best experience for me, but I suffered thu it.LOL

How cool! Sounds more like the males were fighting over who would court the female. Its basically a wrestling match, no biting whatsoever takes place. I would LOVE to witness that, very cool! Thanks for sharing your story.

[2mares]

I didnt think so at the time. I was sweating bullets, but did manage to finish the counts. That was a summer I spent in Misissippi when I was a student. There are lots of creepy crawlies there. I admire your appriciation of snakes. Ive known only 2 people that share your enthuasim. I prefer critters with fur.

[bbkaren]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

A python or anaconda (full grown) would have no problem consuming an average adult man. Ive seen them consume small hippos before.

Okay, but haven't all the claims of them eating humans been debunked? I've seen one set of pictures in all the searches I've done on the net, and I'm not convinced that they're real.

But even so, if it happened once would we really consider it to be something that "happens", or maybe something that happens once in a great while.

I know they kill humans at times (often unintentionally) but actually eating an entire human I'm having trouble finding reliable sources.

Man-Eating Snakes I

Here's one site that had some statistics, but everything else I found wasn't very helpful.

Just curious...

[mrradio]

I stand by my original statement, that is, that an overly-casual attitude towards snakes can lead to serious consequences. The issue is not with people who are familiar with snakes (although serious problems arise even there occasionally) but to view snakes in the same category as birds, rabbits, etc. is foolish.

Snakes are stealthy and can be difficult or impossible to see and despite precautions we may come in contact with them. Most are essentially harmless; some are venomous enough to seriously threaten us. People who are familiar with mushrooms hunt and eat them but mis-identification leads sometimes to tragedy. So, too, it is with snakes; I don't fear snakes but I respect them and leave them alone. Those who wish to interact with them are free to do so. I won't.

[2mares]

didnt you watch the movie anaconda? LOL.