Moved a broken piece of pine 1x12, and there it was - full grown, too.
Look what I found last weekend
Holy COW - that's a big one! We had these when I was growing up on the Illinois prairie, but I don't remember them being this big.
What kind is it?
You can keep it....'eyes' don't like spiders and snakes...wonder why he didn't get that other onery critter that was grubbin' your plants....hmmmmn....
"eyes"
This message was edited Apr 14, 2009 3:59 PM
Is it poisonous??? The only good snake is a dead snake in my book. They just give me the willies. . . ..
When I was a kid I'd catch grass snakes and slip them down the back of Moms shirt...
I'm glad I'm not your momma. LOL
If I was your Momma, and you did that ....boy, I would probably be in the next county, and you wouldn't be having no supper!!
"eyes"
It looks like a copper head to me.
It is a Southern Copperhead.
Yes....and very poisonous!!
Oops, that's not what we had in Illinois - I thought it was a rattlesnake.
They startle me but what pretty markings they have and excellent camo. How long was he Bubba?
Eeeekkkk!!!
My Boston Terrier killed a 3' foot copperhead in our backyard last Friday. I don't like running up on them but, living in the country on 5 acres, they do keep the 'riff raff' (aka rats & mice) to a minimum. In fact, I've only seen one mouse in 5 years and that was out back behind the shed.
My husband is a believer in live and let live. He carried a 4' coral snake in a sack down to the creek last year and let it go. I found it in my garden! However, I didn't freak out... it really was a beautiful snake.
And do NOT misunderstand me in any way... they freak me smooth out. But I was also taught a healthy respect for them. They do serve their purpose.
a) the copperhead is not the most poisonous snake here (try the rattlesnake or the cottonmouth), and b) the coral snake's diet is mostly reptile (lizards, frogs, smaller snakes) - not us, not even dogs.
just a little FYI ;-)
Those Bostons are great pest controllers (when they're not being pests themselves)!!
Stephanie, former Boston owner
What a beautiful snake! We raise rattlesnakes around here and relocate whenever possible. PLEASE, get your dogs rattlesnake vaccinated. It can help some with other venomous snake bites as well. Kathy
Kathy do you have dogs? Have you gotten them the vaccine? My sister lives on a farm and lost a dog to a snake bite several years back. She now has a young weimeranier and wants to get the vaccine for her. I'm glad you mentioned this and recommend it.
Copperhead and yes I know those are poisonous; we had a friend who went for his water hose and there was a coral snake coiled up in it. Bite him on the palm. He ended up in the hospital. My DH keeps trying to get me to move out in the country somewhere, but I tell him "NO." The first time I found a rattlesnake or coral snake in a flower bed would be the end of my gardening. I can handle a garter or those little brown garden snakes here and there in my flower beds, but nothing poisonous. YIKES!!! Glad you didn't get bit Bubba.
This one was probably at least 2' long.
As a hunter friend of mine says, "Any self respecting snake would be lying out sunning itself, not hiding under a board, But copperheads are notorious about this. Watch out when picking up anything off the gound that could give them cover."
Read an article about them with some interesting facts:
Most snakes will have some warning signal - shaking the tail or open mouth (with or without hissing).
Copperheads tend to strike out at the suspected threat first.
They rarely inject venom, but the bite will be painful and probably become infected.
Their toxin is rarely fatal to humans - but will require medical attention.
He is a beauty, Bubba. Did you relocate him/her to a more desirable location?
Carla
Did not disturb this one since it was in a location we did not need to be working near.
That wasn't true of the previous one we found - it was exactly where we would be working.
Here is that one's portrait.
This message was edited Apr 15, 2009 12:21 PM
beautiful!
My fiance was bit by a copperhead in Baltimore last yr. The hosp was 2 min away. They told him the snake delivered enough venom in its bite to kill him. They gave him the first antivenom before waiting to place the IV in his arm. He had around 5 rounds of anti venom before he was clear of it.
He weighs 145 lbs and is 6'1" I was very worried as I was on the phone with him when it bit. He thought he was safe as it was not a rattle snake. I said what color and he told me. I said is it a copperhead and explained their head it triangular and he said I got to go. Lucky the manager rushed him in. He had his belt around his leg. I saw the bite later. It got him in the knee. He is very lucky. :o) so am I.
I was not sure when they come out of hibernation here. Now I guess I know they are. I killed a teenager last yr.
A few of my dog have been bitten by copper heads .. It didn't kill them just got a really fat jaw. But they have killed a few of my baby goats ....
DH says A good snake is a dead snake ...I played with garden snakes when I was a kid .. But not anymore ... I found a dead baby snake on the porch today ...
The dogs do keep them down .. But they think I need to see it what they did .
I think with snake vemon as with spiders...it all depends on the person's chemistry as to whether or not a single bite can be fatal....I'm not taking no chances....snakes....beheaded....spiders....smashed.....don't want on PETA parties on me...but, that is how I am!
"eyes"
what about cute little mice and rats?
my sentiments exactly eyes!!!!
I try to keep as many rat snakes around as possible. I hope that there won't be enough prey for the poisonous snakes too. We have been here 15 years so far so good. "Eyes
I have to as where is Toadsuck? It sounds terrible.
Toadsuck is the former name of Collinsville, TX...and no, it's not terrible....unless you don't like small, hick towns.....rats and mice there are traps for....and not any less humane than being swallowed alive and digested....I would think....JMHO.
You are right about the only good snake is a dead one. I caught water xnakes in PA growing up. They were along the same family as grass snakes only lived under the rocks around and in the water. But poison no way. I did have a really pretty ribbon snake in my yard (well in a rain water bucket) last yr. I think he was after the buffet of tadpoles or just cooling himself. I left him alone.
But there is a drainage creek behind my neighbors across the street and they have water moccasins, rattlers and coperheads. I saw 2 copperheads last year one was murdered and buried by me and the other I am glad got away. It was after dark and it was in the road it was about 3 1/2 ft. I went and got the shovel and it was gone. hehe a few weeks later I must have thought I was wonder woman. A 3 1/2 ft copperhead against me and a 4 ft shovel. Wonder woman NOT a woman that did not think it out YES. I am sure I would have lost. maybe not die but been really sick.
The one that struck Brian must have been really startled to deliver so much venom. He did not see it and I bet the snake did not see him till he was too close and he scared it. They usually don't deliver much venom with a bite. But I think I read there are more deaths from copperheads a yr than any other poison snake.
I will kill them all unless I know they are non poison. I was told if you have non poison snakes they usually keep poison ones away.
Eyes, Off the subject but why did the name of your town get changed? Who thought of that name? I don't have any problem with small hick towns I live in one myself.
I know the rattlesnake vaccine works, i worked for a vet for 7 years until i broke my leg last year. i know it has saved countless puppies. It is a two series of vaccination, one and then one again a month later, then every 6 mos in Texas as we really do see snakes year round. up north can do the series, then the booster about a month before the last freeze. Needs that booster ideally one month before a bite. On the initial series, getting it even a week before a bite is better than none, but a month after the second booster is the best protected time, and after that a month after the booster to keep the titers up. PLEASE PLEASE get the vaccine! All dogs can die from a bite. i have seen big dogs die, bit by the wrong snake in the wrong area. I lost a 155 lb mastiff to a rattlesnake bite on her back. a terrible thing to go thru. Even if the venom does not kill your dog, it is a good idea to have them seen as the infection is terrible, lots of swelling and dead tissue. Just cant convince the snakes to sterilize their fangs before injecting and we all know how clean their food is....
For the ALL snake haters, the venomous ones LOVE IT when you kill their competition. More food for them and many snakes will eat rattlesnakes and copperheads. So, really, think before you kill a snake that competes with the venomous ones. Kathy
Thank you! I just copied this post and sent it to my sister.
http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/Toadsuck-Texas.htm
A little of the local history...
"eyes"
Wow, Thank you. Very interesting. Back to the subject of snakes. That's why I let the rat snakes live, unless they are in my chicken coop. I hope there isn't enough food to support any other snakes.
Lisa
I have even had bull snakes take eggs, right out from under my girls. Even so, I keep them because year before last there was a baby rattlesnake in a nest box around the eggs. I imagine he was taking advantage of the heat after they layed their eggs. He was about a foot long. Gotta be careful at my house. Kathy
When I was a child in Alabama, my father and I raised 3 rat snakes from eggs. I also had a corn snake and king snake. Funny how when your young that's "neat". You couldn't pay me now a days.
I've lived in west texas for almost 5 years and haven't seen snake one. Oh except when my son brought in a texas blind snake ( more like a worm ). I want to see a real rattler, not a picture of one or one that's in a zoo. Of course that's easy to say now...
ejennings
Go To one of the roundups ... you will see all you can stand & up close too
I've about them a time or two. A rattlesnake round up? I'd love to go to one! How would I find out where and when?
http://www.rattlesnakeroundup.net/main/modules/content/index.php?id=6
Darn it is over. Oh well probably a good thing with my luck. ;o)