Wednesday, April 27, 2011

PART DEAUX : SNAKES R- US II

PART DEAUX: SNAKES R US II

WARNING: SNAKE PICS!

The Eastern Water Snake up close and personal. My next door neighbor and her two small daughters were jumping over a small mud puddle in the middle of our dirt road driveway. The 2 girls jumped over and then the mother. They were just playing and it was the puddle in Shadow Shot Sunday that had shrunk considerably.

When the mother jumped over, the snake struck at her. It was just too much of a threat for it I guess. The squeals of laughter, the vibrations, and the movement. I shortly received a frantic phone call from the mother concerning this, and was asked to dispatch the culprit. I said I would- "Wink, Wink", take care of it.

The snake was making best use of her resources--(this is the mother of the one that was severely wounded the other day, that I had to euthanize!). Hunting frogs in a small puddle (where they happily congregate) instead of the entire pond, is pretty smart I'd say.

How to tell a Non-Venomous snake from a venomous one.
DO NOT USE THIS AS A BE ALL: END ALL SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE.

IF IN DOUBT, HAUL BUTT AND SHOUT! 
MY VERSION OF STOP, CRAP,  AND ROLL!

Brown Water Snake (Nerodia taxispilota):  A large (to 4 feet), chunky, brown, patterned snake with eyes almost on top of its' head.  These fish-eaters climb well, and are commonly seen basking on tree branches hanging above the Canoochee and Ogeechee Rivers.  Bites only if molested, swims underwater rapidly to escape.
Copright Barry Mansell 
http://www.stewart.army.mil/dpw/wildlife/nonvenomous_snakes.htm
http://www.trailquest.net/SNsnakes_us.html#faqS

How can I tell the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes?

There are only 4 species of poisonous snakes in North America; cottonmouth water moccasin, rattlesnake, copperhead and coral snake. Learn to identify these snakes from photos, and you can safely assume that all other snakes you see in North America are non-poisonous.



Are snakes really afraid of us?

Absolutely. They live in a world of eat or be eaten. They take one look at us and “think”, “I can’t eat this thing, but it’s big enough to eat me”. Consequently, they are very much afraid of us.




MY GAL: SSSSHISSY!!!

I'd say it's a CLOSE match with  the top pic yes?
 MAKING A GETAWAY--THIS IS THEIR NORMAL REACTION!

WELL ROUNDED PUPIL: GOT AN A IN PARCEL TONGUE--THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE POST OFFICE!!!!
HANDLE WITH CARE: THIS SIDE UP!
 ROUND PUPIL:
Nonvenomous snakes usually have a round pupil in the eye. Venomous snakes in the U.S. (except for the coral snake) have an elliptical pupil like a cat's eye. It looks like a small vertical slit in the middle of the eye. This can be difficult to determine without getting dangerously close, however.



POOR PIC OR "DOUBLE ROW" OR INTERLOCKING SCALES AT END OF TAIL
SEE THE DARK COLORS MERGING TOWARDS THE MIDDLE AT THE VERY END AS THEY WERE MORE ON THE OUTSIDE BEFORE?

If the end portion underneath the snake is going straight across, then it is venomous. If it starts to interlock, looking diamond shaped, then it is safe.
Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Identify-a-Venomous-Snake, Herrick, Jack et all, Internet, April 27, 2011

NOTICE THE STRAIGHT ACROSS SCALES ON THE BEAUTIFUL UNDERBELLY. THIS HOLDS TRUE FOR VENOMOUS AND NON-VENOMOUS SPECIES: IT'S AT THE VERY END PAST THE ANAL GLAND AND SEX ORGANS THAT THE EITHER STAY STRAIGHT OR CRISS CROSS.

THE ROUND PUPIL IS OBVIOUS--BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO GET THIS CLOSE! AND IN THE MOUTH THERE ARE SMALL TEETH. IN A VENOMOUS SNAKE THE FANGS ARE FOLDED BACK IN A MEMBRANE- SO JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE THEM DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE NOT THERE!



SO THERE YOU HAVE IT! SNAKE ED- 0.101



LOVE YOU ALL:
NEXT: HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT GETTING RIPPED OFF BY YOUR UTILITY COMPANY!!!!

NO SNAKE PICS I PROMISE!

JMc

13 comments:

  1. RK-- I love the replacement word for Stupid! Thanks!! lol!

    Hugs,

    John

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  2. I'm still laughing at your "Stop, Crap, and Roll" motto. This was really educational, though, my dear friend. Thanks.
    I love you, sweet John.
    xoRobyn

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  3. I'll tellya right now....right here....I would NOT even TRY to get close enough to ANY snake to see if the pupil is round OR like a cat's eye. I hate snakes...even photos of them. ROFL...thanks for the warning ahead of time to be sure, I would have died of heart failure with my fear.


    Here is my Thursday post if you care to view it:

    Heart of Stone [literally]

    Hope your day has been treating you well.

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  4. Obviously you don't keep up with politics or current events if you truly believe there are only 4 types of venomous snakes in North America,

    Love Ya any way bro

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  5. We only have 1 poisonous snake - the rattlesnake. I've never seen one though. Lots of garters, grass and water snakes. I'm not so bad with snakes if I happen across them politely. It's when they sneak up on me that they freak me out. I was sun bathing once - lying on my belly on the dock with my hands overhead and a gigantic water snake crawled across them. And then one day, I was showing my children some pretty wild flowers and a garter snake was RIGHT THERE!
    I'll have to find out what the bad snakes are in Belize. I'm sure to come across one before I know.

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  6. Great photos and yes, even water snakes will bite... Somewhere in my archives there are stories about me and snakes, including climbing and coming face-to-face with a Great Basin Rattlesnake...

    And I agree with Walking Man about the number of poisonous snakes in America

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  7. Interesting!! I don't think I realized there were only 4 venomous varieties in the US. I think we have them ALL in our area, too! I know I've seen my share of three of them. Not sure if I've seen a coral snake at our house.

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  8. Robyn-- I started carrying depends with me!!!

    LYMI!!!

    J




    Anni-- What an awesome pic you posted! As always thanks for the visit!

    John


    Mark--My bad--I thought they were Vermin--but Snakes is a much better metaphor!! LOL,

    BBB

    J



    Jeannie-- I Belize, that Belize may have a bunch..or at least a couple of BAD ACTORS! A little research would help you a lot!! Sea Snakes???

    J



    sage-- You and I would get in so much trouble (The adventurous kind) out in Nature together...we are too much alike. I have some awesome footage of a Lizard or Skink Battle, almost to the death that I caught today! Will post as It is really cool!


    J


    Kelly-- I played with a Coral Snake in Fl for 20 or 30mins as a kid without knowing what it was. A very docile fellow. But I would not do it now!

    J

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  9. John- What a great educational post! I think I'm more fascinated with folks who love snakes than the actual snakes... probably why I like you so much!
    We get lots of little black snakes around here. The cats love them. We try to get the snakes to safety when possible. Well- I get Jeff to.

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  10. PAMO--TYVM!! Snakes are oft misunderstood-but I also completely understand the immense fear that people have with them. My wife can barely even watch them on TV!

    Again--thanks--and Cats are great Snake hunters!!!

    John

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  11. You are indeed a wild man! Just because it isn't venomous, doesn't mean the bites don't hurt...
    great photos!

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  12. Thanks so much Pat!!!!! Means a lot coming from you my friend!

    J

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Incredibly smart relies: