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Old 04-04-2008, 09:52 AM
 
Location: Phoenix metro
20,004 posts, read 77,138,155 times
Reputation: 10370

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Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady View Post
I do have to say that when I met a copperhead on a path one day in the beaver ruins when I was little, we both jumped and turned and ran in opposite directions down the path.

Cottonmouths (aka water moccasins, depending on where you are, and in East Texas, cottonmouth water moccasin), now, they're another matter. If you enter their territory, they're nowhere near as likely to run and will defend that territory. Based on personal experience, both long ago and recent. There's nothing quite like watching a cottonmouth swimming aggressively towards the canoe you happen to be in on "its" lake. Or seeing one (as I did recently) just a couple of feet from your own foot (it faded into the mud around the horse watering tank it was next to during the recent drought - it gave me a warning and looked at me as if to say, "Put 'em up!" I made a judicious retreat).
I once again have to ask if you know the difference between a non-venomous watersnake (Nerodia spp) and a cottonmouth. Cottonmouths are not defensive whatsoever. Know what they do when they get bothered? They coil up, open their mouth and sit there, absolutely still, not moving a single muscle. Theyre about as defensive as a stick.
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Old 04-04-2008, 09:55 AM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,204,065 times
Reputation: 24737
So, how do you define "messing with", Steve-o?

And what KIND of snakes have you stepped on and not been bitten, and how high and fast can you jump? And why the heck do you keep stepping on snakes if you love them so much?

And, yes, Steve-o, I do know the difference between a cottonmouth and a non-venomous watersnake - have since about the age of 5. I refer you to my description of my backyard full of jars of snakes when I was a child growing up on 800 acres, including an 80 acre lake, in the country in East Texas, specifically collected so that I COULD learn the difference and wouldn't pick up the wrong kind. Plus about 50-odd years of experience with them and the occasional researching about them since then. Plus my friends at the Nature Center and all of their information (yes, they do have a snake program so that kids can learn about snakes and that they're not all bad and what I learned, which ones you should keep a respectful difference from). You're not the only one who has a clue about snakes, after all.

Again, I'll take my personal experience with the critters over what you have to tell me. It seems wiser, and, actually, more respectful to the snakes that I encounter to take them at their own word and not yours.
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Old 04-04-2008, 10:25 AM
 
Location: Hutto, Tx
9,249 posts, read 26,599,337 times
Reputation: 2851
I agree with THL about the moccasins. I've also been taught about them and they are not docile. They don't tend to run, at least in my experience. My great grandfather and grandfather lived on a lake that tended to have quite a few water moccasins so I learned of all the snakes in that area, that those were the worst to have an encounter with and what type of vegetation to stay away from so that I could reduce my chances of running into a nest.
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Old 04-04-2008, 10:33 AM
 
Location: Where I live.
9,191 posts, read 21,791,311 times
Reputation: 4933
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve-o View Post
Just reaffirming my statements....

YouTube - Herping with Dylan: Copperhead
Actually....? That IS messing with snakes...and it would have served him right to have gotten bitten! Grab me by the tail, I'd try to bite a plug out of you, LOL!!
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Old 04-04-2008, 11:26 AM
 
Location: Jackson, MI
28 posts, read 90,869 times
Reputation: 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by lonestar2007 View Post
I just can't help it, call me stupid, ignorant, whatever you please, I'm going to kill snakes that come onto my property. I keep plenty of mouse traps, rat posion, etc. on hand for those nasty rodents. You can keep and protect all the snakes that are on your property.
You say there's an evil around snakes. Do you get that from the creation story? Or just ophidiophobia?

In my opinion, there's something slightly evil (if not evil, then at least heartless and cold) about a person who will indescriminately kill a harmless animal.

Just because it isn't cute and cuddly doesn't mean it should be on Nature's Most Wanted- Shoot to Kill list.

Honestly...
*sigh*
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Old 04-04-2008, 12:05 PM
 
Location: Phoenix metro
20,004 posts, read 77,138,155 times
Reputation: 10370
Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady View Post
So, how do you define "messing with", Steve-o?

And what KIND of snakes have you stepped on and not been bitten, and how high and fast can you jump? And why the heck do you keep stepping on snakes if you love them so much?

And, yes, Steve-o, I do know the difference between a cottonmouth and a non-venomous watersnake - have since about the age of 5. I refer you to my description of my backyard full of jars of snakes when I was a child growing up on 800 acres, including an 80 acre lake, in the country in East Texas, specifically collected so that I COULD learn the difference and wouldn't pick up the wrong kind. Plus about 50-odd years of experience with them and the occasional researching about them since then. Plus my friends at the Nature Center and all of their information (yes, they do have a snake program so that kids can learn about snakes and that they're not all bad and what I learned, which ones you should keep a respectful difference from). You're not the only one who has a clue about snakes, after all.

Again, I'll take my personal experience with the critters over what you have to tell me. It seems wiser, and, actually, more respectful to the snakes that I encounter to take them at their own word and not yours.
Well, were you close enough to the cottonmouth to see its pupils? Differentiating a snake in the water (thats going through the locomotive serpentine motion) that looks remarkably similar to another snake is quite hard to do. At a distance, a banded watersnake would look very similar to some species of cottonmouth. Its only when you get real close can you tell, thats why I asked. Ill take your word for it, but its still tricky to those with a trained eye!

As far as stepping on snakes, it happens. I dont purposefully do it, and to assume such things is ludicrous. Ive stepped on garters, brown snakes, a racer and a rough earth snake while herping outdoors. Not only did they not bite me, or even attempt to, but two of them actually laid perfectly still hoping I wouldnt see them. The rough earthsnake took off in the other direction immediately after I stepped on it, and the garter did the same. The racer, in untypical racer fasion, sat there for a moment or two. It was only when I tried to hook him that he bolted.
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Old 04-04-2008, 12:10 PM
 
Location: Phoenix metro
20,004 posts, read 77,138,155 times
Reputation: 10370
Quote:
Originally Posted by PolyphonicSpr33 View Post
You say there's an evil around snakes. Do you get that from the creation story? Or just ophidiophobia?

In my opinion, there's something slightly evil (if not evil, then at least heartless and cold) about a person who will indescriminately kill a harmless animal.

Just because it isn't cute and cuddly doesn't mean it should be on Nature's Most Wanted- Shoot to Kill list.

Honestly...
*sigh*
Can I get an "AMEN"?!?!
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Old 04-04-2008, 05:25 PM
 
Location: Hutto, Tx
9,249 posts, read 26,599,337 times
Reputation: 2851
"indescriminately" being the operative word, I can agree with that too. Although, I wouldn't call someone evil for doing that. Maybe ignorant. Evil could be applied to potential serial killers who harm animals first though.
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Old 04-04-2008, 06:05 PM
 
Location: Jackson, MI
28 posts, read 90,869 times
Reputation: 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by love roses View Post
"indescriminately" being the operative word, I can agree with that too. Although, I wouldn't call someone evil for doing that. Maybe ignorant. Evil could be applied to potential serial killers who harm animals first though.
Note the qualifier of "if not evil, then heartless and cold."
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Old 04-04-2008, 06:58 PM
 
3,309 posts, read 5,737,812 times
Reputation: 5042
WOW! I would have never thought this much passion could be generated through a discussion on snakes. As I stated earlier I don't set out to kill anything, be it cute and cuddley or otherwise. I am not the great white hunter here, armed to the gills, out to wipe out entire species.

Now I'm thinking that it is a pity we can't all band together and channel some of this energy into solving many of the problems facing our country today. Who knows, with this much zeal and passion, we might be able to end hunger, homelessness, child abuse, the list goes on. Sigh.
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