posted on May 7, 2006 10:18:01 PM new
My son and his wife's uncle went fishing earlier this week at a resorvoier east of us in the Sierras. He happened to notice this hitchiker on the back of the boat and managed to snap a picture before evicting him back into the lake.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on May 8, 2006 12:18:48 AM new
Wow! If I saw a snake that big on our boat, someone would have had to rescue me out of the water after I fainted!
posted on May 8, 2006 12:47:19 AM new
Awwwwwww, cute little guy. You can send him and any of his friends my way. Alway's have room for more snakes. Man's best low maintenance friend.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
posted on May 8, 2006 04:59:43 AM new
I agree, Mike. What a great looking snake! I have no idea why people are so afraid of snakes! Now, spiders. . .that's a whole new ballgame. Yikes!
posted on May 8, 2006 11:21:06 AM new
Snakes in general I have no issue with - Rattlesnakes (along with other poisonous breeds) are a different matter.
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People put their hand on the bible, and swear to uphold the constitution. They do not put their hand on the constitution, and swear to uphold the bible.
posted on May 8, 2006 01:01:19 PM new
Just something to think about. For every female rattle snake you kill it can take up to 7 years for it to reproduce just that one snake. They usually only have 2 egg's when they reproduce, it takes 5-7 years to get to the age that they do mate and the poor little critters only have a 40% chance of survival even when they are born. Think about that the next time you wear your rattle snake hat band or belt.
They won't bother you if you don't bother them. And they do make good pets. Timber rattle snakes are almost extinct in my area and I breed them. I have been lucky enough to be able to release back into the wild on average 5-6 snakes that are 2 years of age every year for the last 6 years. Hoping for a bumper crop this year. Have 2 more females that are old enough to breed this year. Keeping all my fingers and toes crossed.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
posted on May 8, 2006 01:20:06 PM new
Mikes4X4, I grew up in rural south and west Texas and I have a problem with your "They won't bother you if you don't bother them." My father, who was an oil field worker once stepped on a 6 foot rattler in the dark and my mother transplanting flowers found one curled up in her hand when she turned them over to look at the roots. Now in neither case did they intent to "bother them" but the snake could have made that assumption and it might have been a problem. We also had a Pekingese who did intend to "bother" any snake he met. Glad to say he never got bitten. My family was lucky but we had several neighbors who were not.
I am into "live and let live" with the rat snakes and other harmless varieties that live around us in Maryland but I am not ready to look at rattle snakes as cute and cuddly!
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“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on May 8, 2006 02:48:19 PM new
Mike...My son actually ran over this snake with the boat (yes, they DO swim) and was afraid he met his demise in the prop. Somehow he managed to flip himself up onto the back of the boat. He must have been there for some time before they found him. Since they had no safe way to decapitate him, they gently used a pole to ease him back into the water. No problem though, since the lake isn't that far from Parklane, he can go up there this weekend and retrieve him and get his belt or hatband One of the biggest problems with these things is that they frequent popular camping areas and boating areas. When they are still, they resemble sticks of wood. People out gathering branches and sticks for a campfire can easily grab one and get bitten. Also, at night when it starts cooling down suddenly, they tend to seek warmth under the hood of cars. It's not at all unusual to hear of someone in town finding one curled up in the corner of their garage. It happened a few years ago to my next door neighbor. Always check under the hood of your car before returning from the low or mid mountains. You never know what may be trying to come home with you.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on May 8, 2006 03:14:08 PM new
photosensitive - Carefull what you do with a snake in Maryland. ALL native snakes in Maryland are protected by the Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act. This means that native snakes cannot be killed, possessed, bred, or sold without first acquiring the proper permit from the Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, Maryland requires a Captive Reptile and Amphibian Permit for the possession, breeding, and sale of native reptiles and amphibians in the state. Remember, snakes are a part of our natural world and should be left there unharmed. They are fascinating creatures worthy of our respect and admiration. Please enjoy and help protect Maryland’s snakes and their habitats!
If you are in Maryland (neighbor, I'm in PA) the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is on the states Endangered Species list, holds a global ranking of G4, state ranking of S3 and harming one carries quite stiff monetary fines and possible prison terms. Don't forget, their not in your backyard. Your in theirs.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
posted on May 8, 2006 03:37:21 PM new Mike Thanks for the lesson & I think your wonderful for what your doing. I'm grateful there are people like you.
I live in PA too near the DE border.
Cheryl Spiders, now your talking about an insect that makes it possible for you & all of us to exist.
Here's the facts. Spiders, worldwide, eat trillions of insects a day. If every spider on Earth were to die tomorrow in about six weeks insects would destroy or consume everything growing & green on the planet.
In a few months the entire population on Earth would starve to death.
Nature is a delicate balance, every living thing is necessary for Earth to survive except humans who serve no purpose at all. We just destroy.
It's time we respected & stop killing what makes it possible for us to be here.
posted on May 8, 2006 04:11:27 PM new
Mikes4X4, You are preaching to the choir! We catch the mice that get into our house in a "Have a Heart" trap and release them in the woods. I would never kill a snake I was just saying that I don't have a warm spot for rattle snakes or water moccasins because of my childhood conditioning.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on May 8, 2006 04:18:20 PM new
photosensitive - Sorry, mistook your intentions. I to catch field mice in a have a hart trap, but not for releasing. That's what the snakes get to eat. That way they get accustomed to eating the critters they will eat in the wild.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
posted on May 8, 2006 04:51:58 PM new
Mike, That's why I can never have a pet that eats live food.
Couldn't do what I know & understand has to be done.
sparkz, I keep going back to look at that snake. He's beautiful & that's a good picture.
posted on May 8, 2006 05:28:41 PM new
My husband's family compound (once 100 acres in the mountains here, now down to 6 acres, the rest sold off) has been in continuous use, first by a lumber company, since the 1870s. We have all the usual animals and snakes, including rattlers.
Since people have been recording their visits, about 1910, mostly in the summers but some living in the canyon year around, NO ONE has ever been bitten by a rattlesnake--NO ONE. Our family has been in that canyon since 1925.
There have been about 35 homes in our canyon for the last 50 years, with multiple visits for weeks on end, weekends, etc., small children, lots of people--all hiking, enjoying the outdoors. NO BITES from rattlers. Every home has a snake-bite kit for emergencies. Not one has been used.
We've seen the rattlers--about 5 or 6 a year, here and there, but as the literature tells us, they're very wimpy creatures who'd much rather get away from us, when they feel that they can, than attack. That said, it's NOT smart to approach one within 5 feet, or to step on one, as I nearly did one day.
The tradition, until about 15 years ago, was to kill every rattler anyone could. That has stopped now, as the residents have come to see that we need them ecologically.
We brought a cat up to the cabin about 40 years ago; she chased a rattler down a hole and was bitten. She survived.
All children are taught from the time they can walk to "watch for snakes," and they do--peering under rock ledges before climbing, watching where they're going.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein