Snakes

[mcb]

I've been reading through the threads and come across a few comments about snakes while detecting. My hubby also warns me. Anyway, I hate snakes! I've seen a few rattlers while hiking in a large park near us over the years. We were also climbing away from the trail and down near the creek, maybe that's why. Aside from reading about the snakes in our area and their habits id like any advice on how to avoid them. Also if I am to come in contact with one, what would you suggest? When I say come in contact I mean a situation where its right up on me.

I feel a little ridiculous with this post but I can't shake my fear.

 

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[Dasseldig]

Snakes get shot or chopped, period! Sorry.

 

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[dholland02]

Snakes get shot or chopped, period! Sorry.

The only good snake is a dead snake.

 

[pa plateau hiker]

GeekNJ, it looks like a garter snake. It is definitely a non poisonous snake. A non poisonous snake has divided scales behind the vent. A poisonous snake has solid scales behind the vent. The snake being eaten has divided scales.

 

[63bkpkr]

Honest to goodness snake testimony, Virginia

Good Morning mcb,
Your post is not dumb. I backpack in wilderness areas here in Northern California and have for many years. Rock/cliff climbing, along creeks/rivers, forests and I have encountered a couple of dozen rattlesnakes and I suspect many more I never saw. We humans are too large for them to eat and they know it so they do not attack us to eat us. They might strike at us if we get to close to them, notice I said might. I've had them crawl right through my camp during lunch being about 3' away from me. I've been hiking along a trail and noticed I was catching up to one that was moving parallel to the same trail and within less than 2' from me, it just was doing its own thing and paid no attention to me.

I've had others buzz at me as I came walking up on them, In the same situation I've had others run from me. Different actions from different snakes at different times in their lives. By different time I mean they are out looking for food, they've already eaten and have a Full belly, they have a brand new skin, they are shedding their skin but all of these times must be included in all of our chance meetings with these snakes. I've also had one stand up in the air as tall as it could and still Buzz at the group of us while we were crossing this large high water flood plain, that one was quickly dispatched. Just our poor understanding of snake behavior at that time, likely a female with young ones in the area.

One backpacking trip I finally realized I'm in their home ground, they are eating bugs, rodents, fish and just doing what they were intended for, just like me. After that realization I eased up on dispatching rattlesnakes. Since then I carry a 6' 6" long hiking stick and yes as I walk along it does pound the ground with I'm sure a good solid thump and hence gives off quite a vibration. The other cool part about the length of the stick is I can safely pick up a rattlesnake with it and put it off the path I'm walking without receiving harm to myself or giving any to the snake. You've heard this advise in response to your post before so I'm only adding my experience to the suggestion to let you know it does have value involving snakes AND it has value as it becomes a third leg to give the hiker/user added balance or stability at all times.

Concerning the size of snakes - Here in NorCal we have Mountain Rattlesnakes (where I backpack) and most of the time they are from 8" in length babies to ~ 2.5' long, most of the time. Oh, the babies have no rattles and when they bite, as the theory goes, when they bite they give up all their venom at once so a baby snake bite is not good. Back to size. However, two weeks ago while hiking in SoCal (southern California) I and several other hikers witnessed a 4' to 5' (we did not try to measure it) mountain rattlesnake crawling along next to the trail we were on, its rattles had broken off save for about the last three closest to its body. On another occasion, many years ago in NorCal I witnessed the last 2' of a mountain rattlesnake going under the cap rock of the den it lived in, reptile eliminations really smell and that is why I surmised it was the den as it really stank there. So, my estimate is that the snake attached to that 2' tail end with Lots or rattles on it was anywhere up to some 6' in length. In honesty I know large snakes exist as I've seen the two here in CA, though I also believe they are likely not that common.

Carry the long hiking staff, carry a high quality snake bite kit and know how to use it, stay alert but not worried and enjoy the outdoors as it is just so lovely snakes and all.........................63bkpkr

 

[WVPapaw]

Ha ha! I like that! I used to have a rubber snake on my sailboat. Reduced the bird poop cosiderably! TTC

We had a problem with birds getting in the garage. I hung a half dozen rubber snakes and even put an artificial owl in it to scare them away. None of this had any effect on the birds. They kept making nests and pooping on everything until we replaced the garage doors and chased the birds out.

 

[WVPapaw]

A bear bell is any small bell, usually attached to a hiking staff that makes noise as you walk. The idea is to avoid suddenly coming up on a bear and surprising it.
A small cowbell would work just fine.

This reminds me of an article in a hunting magazine written years ago. Title was Dinnerbell Bears. The short story is that gun shots at deer caused Big Bears to come running and looking for easy meals with scary results for the hunters. This might be good reason to use headphones and not to carry a bear bell when detecting...hahaha. Only joking of course. I would prefer not to surprise a bear and to have some bear repellant spray just in case.

 

[WVPapaw]

The trick is to let them know you are there before YOU discover THEM. Take along a walking stick that you tap along the path as you walk. There are probably ten snakes that see you for everyone that you see. Add a "bear bell" to the stick for the bruins. TTC

I was part of a rifle platoon on an air assault mission at Ft. Drum, NY. The Chinook landed and dropped the rear door and when we came off the chopper to our surprise we had been inserted in the middle of a swamp with water up to our knees. We ran as hard as we could for 200 meters to land. I swear that every time one of my feet splashed in the water, snakes were darting everywhere. There were 30 of us so I am sure the snakes were as scared of 30 stampeding grunts as some of us were of them as we ran to get out of the snake infested swamp. I was never considered a fast runner, but I was up front the whole way that day. I was the oldest man in the platoon and my squad had trouble keeping up with me.

 

[surf]

Texas woman sets snake on fire, snake sets her house on fire - NY Daily News

 

[WVPapaw]

GeekNJ, it looks like a garter snake. It is definitely a non poisonous snake. A non poisonous snake has divided scales behind the vent. A poisonous snake has solid scales behind the vent. The snake being eaten has divided scales.

The tail looks pretty blunt to me though. Markings are a lot like a copperhead......but they all look like copperheads to me. LOL hahaha

 

[smokeythecat]

Snakes, never had 'em, never will. They stay OUTSIDE.

 

[Jimmi]

I was part of a rifle platoon on an air assault mission at Ft. Drum, NY. The Chinook landed and dropped the rear door and when we came off the chopper to our surprise we had been inserted in the middle of a swamp with water up to our knees. We ran as hard as we could for 200 meters to land. I swear that every time one of my feet splashed in the water, snakes were darting everywhere. There were 30 of us so I am sure the snakes were as scared of 30 stampeding grunts as some of us were of them as we ran to get out of the snake infested swamp. I was never considered a fast runner, but I was up front the whole way that day. I was the oldest man in the platoon and my squad had trouble keeping up with me.

I wish I had a cool story like that. Somehow my stories always start with , "'I was on my way to the grocery store when....."

 

[FreeMindStuck]

No worries primetime. I do research a lot. I've even tried to handle a friends boa (I believe that's what it is) to become more comfortable and possibly get over my fear. This failed miserably though. The way it moved and felt oh dear Pete!

Desensitization is the correct way to overcome any phobia. But it takes more then one session. Try holding your friends snake twice a week for a year. That outta do it.

 

[WVPapaw]

I wish I had a cool story like that. Somehow my stories always start with , "'I was on my way to the grocery store when....."

Holly, you have great stories. Everyone likes reading them. I loved the one about the truck when you were out detecting and then had to work frantically to clean it up.

 

[Jimmi]

Holly, you have great stories. Everyone likes reading them. I loved the one about the truck when you were out detecting and then had to work frantically to clean it up.

Lol. Yeah , I got lots of those kinda stories, just not cool ones. Thanks

 

[WVPapaw]

I wish I had a cool story like that. Somehow my stories always start with , "'I was on my way to the grocery store when....."

The funniest part is that there was another guy in our platoon who was even more scared of snakes than me. I could hear him yelling and screaming the whole way. It is a good thing we weren't in real combat because the sound of army men running like horses stampeding in a swamp sure gave away our location, even though we weren't in one place long enough to be a target and were traveling as fast as speeding bullets. Hahaha

 

[tcornel]

When golfing at Walt Disney World in Florida we came upon a fellow going through the Palmettos with a pistol. He stopped for a break and had a sack with 4 or 5 snakes in it. His JOB was to go and kill the snakes next to the fairways that could endanger a golfer looking for a wayward shot.

He offered this advice if looking for a ball in the woods. Always carry a long metal club and wave it in front of you as you are searching. If you surprise a snake they will instinctively strike the moving club head and that should give you time to get out of his area. The snakes in his bag all were shot in the head. When I complimented him for his accuracy he said the snakes did most of the work. Just shoot close to his head and they will strike out at the incoming bullet!

If I ever came upon a coiled snake I would immediately swing the coil near it so it would strike the coil and give me a chance to get out of Dodge!

On a different golf trip I got the chance to check out the theory. My buddies shot ended up in a large fairway bunker (again at Disney). About 25 feet in front of him was a 4 foot rattler sunning himself on the lip of the trap. I told him to just go hit his ball the snake would not bother him. He refused and wanted to drop another ball in the fairway (without penalty of course). I informed him that the rules of golf do not permit that without loss of the hole. Eventually I offered to get the snake out of the trap so he could hit his ball. I took my 15' ball retriever and waived it at the snake and it coiled and struck the end of it 3 different times before it finally slithered out of the trap. Then I told my friend to hit his ball. He was so shook that he took a 9 on the hole (he was a 5 handicap for 18). Up one!

 

[WVPapaw]

When golfing at Walt Disney World in Florida we came upon a fellow going through the Palmettos with a pistol. He stopped for a break and had a sack with 4 or 5 snakes in it. His JOB was to go and kill the snakes next to the fairways that could endanger a golfer looking for a wayward shot.

He offered this advice if looking for a ball in the woods. Always carry a long metal club and wave it in front of you as you are searching. If you surprise a snake they will instinctively strike the moving club head and that should give you time to get out of his area. The snakes in his bag all were shot in the head. When I complimented him for his accuracy he said the snakes did most of the work. Just shoot close to his head and they will strike out at the incoming bullet!

If I ever came upon a coiled snake I would immediately swing the coil near it so it would strike the coil and give me a chance to get out of Dodge!

On a different golf trip I got the chance to check out the theory. My buddies shot ended up in a large fairway bunker (again at Disney). About 25 feet in front of him was a 4 foot rattler sunning himself on the lip of the trap. I told him to just go hit his ball the snake would not bother him. He refused and wanted to drop another ball in the fairway (without penalty of course). I informed him that the rules of golf do not permit that without loss of the hole. Eventually I offered to get the snake out of the trap so he could hit his ball. I took my 15' ball retriever and waived it at the snake and it coiled and struck the end of it 3 different times before it finally slithered out of the trap. Then I told my friend to hit his ball. He was so shook that he took a 9 on the hole (he was a 5 handicap for 18). Up one!

Sounds like good advice. Now I know why I am not interested in golf. I would have to go in the brush all the time looking for the ball.

 

[MinnesotaStateUniversity]

The only good snake is a dead snake.

Right. I feel the same way about dogs. I kill every one I come across.

What? They're both animals.




Douche.

 

[mercury1]

I'm huge into animals , all animals. I hated that snakes made me cringe some. No animal makes me cringe.. So it made me feel bad. Anyhow " Arthur", I named him that for some reason , was a 5-6 ft rat snake that moved into our wood pile last fall. I pestered this poor guy gawking at him , sitting near him, poking at him with my finger... Lol.. To get over my fear.
I was still creeped out , but you know what made me realize snakes arnt to be feared? This is gonna sound silly, but his face. I swear I saw expression on that snakey face . It seemed to say " uuhhggggg not you again, leave me alone creeper" . It was actually endearing . He really tolerated alot from me.. Never once made any aggressive moves. When he'd have enough of me , he'd go under the pile.
Sadly I found him injured, not far from the road , no outward signs , but I could tell he wasn't quite right , he couldn't hardly move im not sure what happened to him . But he was getting cold , I wrapped him up on a heating pad in a box , on tbe driveway , but he died
My advice.... Try to think of them as an animal , not a " snake". They can't help they creep us out. And they really want Nothing to do with us. We scare them as much as we fear them.
Here is my Arthur

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=793383"/>
Tell me that face don't say " Dear Lord, not you again!" Lol

Hey Holly, that's a pretty cool snake. Sorry he got injured/died. I used to bring snakes home all the time as a kid and I always enjoy seeing them.

 

[Jimmi]

Hey Holly, that's a pretty cool snake. Sorry he got injured/died. I used to bring snakes home all the time as a kid and I always enjoy seeing them.

I'm still creepy about them . I tried really hard to get over it. Cuddling him in heating pad and all.. Lol. Least I proved to myself I'll do what I got to do to help any animal . That matters to me