Okay, after the delicious food post yesterday, we go to something creepy...if snakes freak you out, CLICK HERE to see an adorable kitten posting from a couple of years ago, LOL!
After all these rains, "J" from 2nd Family warned us Friday that things were very "snake-y" out there. I said "snake-y"? What do you mean...?
So she sent this...
This happened...I was far from the house and not able to go get a weapon as it would have been gone by the time I got back. Of course I was sitting on a 700 pound mower that could be used as a weapon but A) I wasn't sure if it was a dangerous snake and B) if it was, I wasn't sure what the outcome of rolling over it might be.
Flying venomous snake?
Snakenado?
Um, HELL no!
After all these rains, "J" from 2nd Family warned us Friday that things were very "snake-y" out there. I said "snake-y"? What do you mean...?
So she sent this...
Friday morning they found this in their chicken coop! It had eaten one egg, and thankfully none of their chickens...
Then there was this second picture she sent to describe "snake-y"...
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| Dog bitten by snake |
This is their dog Blue. He was bitten in the face by a water moccasin...they took him to the vet and he got a shot and they said to give him Benadryl for the swelling. He's much better now, but that sure is a sad (and puffy) face!
AND SO...
(click on the embedded video below):
This happened...I was far from the house and not able to go get a weapon as it would have been gone by the time I got back. Of course I was sitting on a 700 pound mower that could be used as a weapon but A) I wasn't sure if it was a dangerous snake and B) if it was, I wasn't sure what the outcome of rolling over it might be.
Flying venomous snake?
Snakenado?
Um, HELL no!
We (and 2nd Family) thought it might be a rat snake...another friend asked someone who knows snakes and they said it looked like a cottonmouth.
Yikes!
Rat snake - not at all dangerous and eats rats and mice on the farm (and this one looks like it had a 'recent' meal).
Cottonmouth - dangerous and poisonous snake that I shouldn't have let go.
Cottonmouth - dangerous and poisonous snake that I shouldn't have let go.
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| Snake in the Grass |
This was taken with my iPhone camera, zoomed in, I was not close enough to be in danger. I am certain it did not like the roar of the mower. I will admit, it's definitely a way to get the blood pumping!
Yes, now we understand the word "snake-y".
Yes, now we understand the word "snake-y".
Thoughts?
Anyone have a snake encounter lately?
Anyone have a snake encounter lately?
The shape of a pit viper's head is different and easily identifiable. Since snake's color seem to vary area it area, I'm not sure. Does look like a viper family to me.
ReplyDeleteOur state's game and fish department have books for identification. You might request a pamphlet. I'm sure the snake will wait while you look it up...teasing.
I have a "Snakes of SE Texas" guide but I'll be darn if there is no snake in there that looks like this.
DeleteI see black snakes and garden snakes here in the city of Ft.Lauderdale all the time. But, I'm sure in my lifetime I'll see a python from the Everglades migrate in to my backyard as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm heard about those pythons in the Glades...yikes! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteOh H_ _ _ NO.
ReplyDeleteThankfully we have no snakes here except maybe a tiny garden snake that I have seen once.
Darn lucky I wasn't there and seen that snake or that critter would had been slithering in something else besides the grass.
Have a great day and enjoyable week
Poor Blue. He looks so miserable. Sure hope he's doin much better.
DeleteI bet he'll think twice next time about getting too close
LOL! I fully understand! And yep Blue is much better and pretty much back to normal. Thanks!! Oh and this is the THIRD time he's gotten bit in his life! Go figure. I guess he hasn't learned.
DeleteYikes! I actually don't mind snakes, but we don't generally encounter large (i.e. fat) or poisonous snakes around here. If we did, I may feel differently!
ReplyDeleteYep, in person they are quite a bit different, even from a distance, ha.
DeleteNope don't like snakes at all! Could never live where they are no way no how!
ReplyDeleteAre you sure? LOL!!!!
DeleteI came across a snake today, we only have one poisonous one in the UK and that is an Adder, todays snake was just a harmless grass snake.
ReplyDeleteOnly one? Wow, there are dozens of poisonous ones in the states. One would be nice, and easy to point out and identify, ha.
DeleteCottonmouth's stink and they aren't as long as the "farmer's friend" King snake. They are fatter and aggressive unlike the copperhead and rattlesnake. Our dogs used to get bitten too, usually on the face and neck. Snakes don't scare me but I wouldn't try to pick one up unless I had too. That has only happened twice.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that. I learned something new! I'll admit, I am intimidated by them... :-)
DeleteI respect snakes but am not terrified. Once there were a dozen people outdoors when a snake was at least 60 feet away. All the women except me ran to the porch, screaming like the snake was gaining on them. I just stood there. Now, close to me, I would jump straight up just to get away.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a water moccasin (cottonmouth) to me.
The last time I saw a snake, I was losing eggs. It was in the basement window, sunning. Later, I found the skin in the basement and lost no more eggs.
Thanks for the ID. Yeah, I don't think I would scream or run, unless I encountered this one, that close, while OFF the mower, ha. And I have found some snake skins in and around the house.
DeleteI am not a fan of snakes, but wouldn't kill them unless they were threatening someone. (Indeed it is illegal here).
ReplyDeleteI totally understand. Interesting that it's illegal!. Thanks!!!
DeleteJump on chair, cover eyes and scream!
ReplyDeleteTotally terrified.
Ha, natural reaction of many, no worries there!
Deletenow I like snakes; I have a lil garter snake in the woodpile in my garage. and I like the way they move their bodies.
ReplyDeletebut the poison ones? OH HELL NO!
They ARE fascinating to watch....and seeing one go UP (a wall, tree, etc) is amazing. Something oddly hypnotic about the serpentine movement, huH?
DeletePoor Blue - he looks so hurt and sad. Hope he feels better soon.
ReplyDeleteAs for snakes, as long as they mind their own business and leave me alone, I’ll return the favor - live and let live. Even poisonous ones eat mice and rats.
He is MUCH better now they tell me. You bring up a valid point, even the poisonous ones have to EAT, ha.
DeleteI have found two rat snakes so far this year. I don't mind those except I always wonder what they are eating in my yard. My son killed a cottonmouth two houses down for me. Those terrify me with little kids around. Good luck getting rid of your snakes. Catherine in south MS
ReplyDeleteGood son!! He's taking care of his Mom! With little kids you HAVE to err on the side of caution. Thanks!!
DeletePure shudder material for me. Here in New Zealand there are no snakes, and it is illegal to bring any in. We have one native poisonous spider, the Katipo, which lives in sand dunes. A few Australian red-back spiders have slipped in and their white tailed spider is well settled here. The white tail delivers a nasty bite however it isn't lethal.
ReplyDeleteI hope Blue soon feels better, Michelle in Wellington, NZ.
I hope Bl
Ha, I understand. I will have to look those up. I'm always fascinated about other creatures in other countries! Thanks for sharing that...and STAY SAFE!
DeleteKatipos are one of our (sadly too many) rare and protected species, and they tend to live up in the northern part of NZ where it is warmest. Wellington is a further south and there are no sand dunes near me. Any white tails I come across are "dispatched". My main danger is from kitty-cat Megs who is peering at me from behind the laptop, lol!
DeleteSending care to you both, and to Hobart and Melbourne, Michelle.
You can't always use shape of snakes head to identify a venomous snake. Water snakes (non-venomous) but have a triangular shaped head vs moccasin (venomous). Eye shape in this case is different: water snakes have round pupils while moccasins have elliptical..most venomous snakes have elliptical except coral snakes. Also snakes are venomous ie they inject venom..there might be some poisonous snakes but you'd have to eat them (actually there aren't)..poison is secreted by skin..like poison dart frogs. I'd get a good book on identifying snakes in Texas just in case.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this info. I can use all the help I can get. I do have a really nice pamphlet that shows snakes of SE Texas. But of course nothing that looks like this one, ha. Again, thanks for the info!!!
DeleteWell, I'm scared of big snakes, little snakes, and sticks that look like snakes! That mouth sure looks like a cottonmouth, but I don't go around looking in too many snakes mouths. We have way too many snakes in my neck of the woods, poisonous and non-poisonous. They get on my porch and in my containers on the patio. I tiptoe all summer and when I'm out in the yard working I pray I don't see one. I have seen a few black racers lately. One eased on through the patio and the other two were around the marsh. I almost got bit by a Copperhead on two separate occasions in the past. I'm looking forward to the dead of winter, yet I have seen them out in the middle of winter sunning!
ReplyDeleteSorry Blue had to get bit. Maybe he will learn to stay away from them.
Isn't that a song? Big snakes, little snakes....cottonmouth? Yep, I kinda think that might have been it now, looking back. Which scares me. That thing was BIG. Thanks for the information. This is Blue's 3rd bite (in his life) so I don't think he's learning, ha.
DeleteHell to the no!!! Dude that is so a cottonmouth (aka water moccasin) snake! They have known habitat in the Eastern part of Texas.
ReplyDeleteWhen antagonized or threatened they will open their mouth exposing their fangs and pale, white mouth. Like all pit vipers, the cottonmouth snake has two heat sensing pits located between the eyes and the nostrils. These pits allow the snake to pinpoint live prey and to strike without the need of a visual. This hunting adaptation is particularly useful after dark when most animals’ bodies are warmer than the air around them. They can AND will attack under water. How to differentiate between them and other water snakes? The cottonmouth's entire body will be on top of the water, whereas, other water snakes only their head will be visible.
And not to freak you out more but that may not have been a snake after a recent meal. They may have been a pregnant female. Cottonmouths give live births with 10-20 snake babies (about 10 inches in length). August to September is prime birthing season.
Wear sturdy boots and you really need to keep a weapon on you! I think it is time to add a gun rack to the zen machine, lol
And I hope poor blue will be ok! He looks pathetic :(
DeleteO.M.G. You really know how to make a person feel safe, NOT! HA!!!! Yep, that info sounds about right. Pregnant though? OH HELL TO THE NO on THAT! While I just hate the thought of killing a female snake with babies, I'm not sure we need 10-20 new poisonous/venomous snakes on the farm...sigh...
DeleteOh and Blue is much better. That picture was TOTALLY pathetic and sad. Poor guy.
DeleteMost definitely a cottonmouth! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteREALLY? Crap. Next time I'll just roll over it with the mower.
Delete