these snakes are scaring me!!!!!! (Center: moving, homeless, backyard)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

It is a serious deal (though not generally fatal) if someone is bitten by a venomous snake

Its rarely ever fatal. Less than 1% of snakebite victims die. And 99% of snakebite victims are drunk and messing with the snake. Its their own fault if they get bit.

[TexasHorseLady]

And 99% of snakebite victims are drunk and messing with the snake.

Cite, please, for this percentage?

I assure you that neither my dog nor my horse were drunk at the time they were bit. Though it's possible the dog was sniffing the snake. Two horses that I know of that were bit by the same snake on the nose were most likely grazing in tall grass. (One was more seriously affected than the other, because the second bite, of course, had less venom.) My filly was bit on the leg, probably walking through the grass.

[tstone]

So when is Whacking Day?



I feel the need to beat something to death and not be looked upon as a social outcast.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

And 99% of snakebite victims are drunk and messing with the snake.

Cite, please, for this percentage?

I apologize, let me reword that. 95% of snake bites occur to those who are messing with the snake, and most of those 95% are intoxicated. Sorry about that... Shoulda reworded that.

In any case, snakes are very forgiving animals. Theyre kind enough to warn you that theyre about to attack, and even then will retreat rather than confront. Lets see what happens to someone who messes with a lion or a pitbull or a gator or a baboon like that. With most animals its bite first and ask questions later, no so with snakes. With snakes you get the tell-tale defensive posture, followed by some rattling (if applicable), and finally, if being pestered persitently, a bite.

[TexasHorseLady]

Well, that's still your opinion. As long as you acknowledge that you're not basing it on factual information, that's fine.

Unless you define "messing with" as "in the vicinity of", of course.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

HUH? Copperheads are NOT aggressive. In fact, theyre heralded as one of the easiest snakes (venomous) to keep in captivity because how docile they can be.
http://www.napleszoo.com/Visitor_Inf...-top-photo.jpg

Just reaffirming my statements....

YouTube - Herping with Dylan: Copperhead

[love roses]

Even watching that video, I'll never be convinced to play with snakes

[Canine*Castle]

"Messing" with a snake can also be defined as accidentally not seeing it and stepping on it. One can be sure you'll be bitten if this happens.

[TexasHorseLady]

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).

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

"Messing" with a snake can also be defined as accidentally not seeing it and stepping on it. One can be sure you'll be bitten if this happens.

Ive stepped on several and not been bitten once. *knock on wood*