Posted by Kent Staubus on April 23, 2007 at 6:32 PM
Below is a link to some classic snake-phobia. The thought of a bunch of adult men getting this hysterical is just ridiculous, I think. Note my responses on the 1st and 3rd page.
Posted by Darrin Doss on April 23, 2007 at 9:01 PM
I'll take a snake over a tick or mosquito any day!!! I always tell folks that are afraid of snake to take a non-venomous snake in one hand and a squirrel in the other and see with does the most damage!!!! That usually gets them thinking!
Posted by Kent Staubus on April 24, 2007 at 10:11 AM
It is a cool image of the snake. I personally like snakes. On May 19 I hope to join a group led by a pro naturalists to hike to an area with a lot of Rattler dens. This time of the year they are beginning to become active and often Sun themselves Sun the rocks outside their dens. I hope to get some good images. If I do I will post.
In any case, getting back on topic - snakes get a bad rap form the movies and the public that is not educated about the true role snakes play i our ecosystem. The public is convinced a 3 foot rattler can strike and kill a person 6 feet away! They also think that snakes love biting humans. The opposite of course is true. Snakes try to avoid us.
Anyway thanks for starting this thread and sharing the image.
Posted by Kent Staubus on April 25, 2007 at 11:55 PM
Ed--
I posted the link to show an example of how I try to counter the hysteria. I think a lot of snake-phobia just isn't well thought out. I try to get people to put things into perspective, and give support to the more reasonable guys that were just keeping quiet. Believe it or not, I often do have some success with small groups like that one. I think they cringe a little when I compare them to 9 yr. old girls. They know there's truth in it too.
This is a snake I came across in my front yard (Colorado foothills at 7,000'). Can anyone identify it?
Snakes are rare around my house. In 23 years, I've seen only 4 rattlesnakes (two alive, one killed and partially eaten by my dog, and one stomped flat by my horse. Other than that the only ones I've seen are garter snakes and bull snakes. This little fellow seemed aggressive even though I think it's young. The head is about half the size of a quarter.
Posted by Darrin Doss on April 26, 2007 at 9:30 PM
I am an east coaster but with is posture and color it looks to be one of the hog-nose's. His first defence is to puff up and spread it head, that's how it got it's east coast nick-name: Puff adder. Next it will hiss loudly, and if that doesn't work they will roll over and play dead. They are rear fanged and hardly if ever bite, mostly toad eaters.
Posted by Darrin Doss on April 26, 2007 at 9:45 PM
Here is my pet that we have had for several years. It is an eastern hognose in the black phase. You can see where they get their name from!
Posted by Tom Webster on April 26, 2007 at 10:46 PM
The only good snake is a deep fried snake! Tastes just like chicken! Woops! Did I post this in the wrong forum.
Posted by Kent Mearig on April 28, 2007 at 3:11 AM
Tom, I don't laugh at my computer very often, but you just got me. Deep fried snake...yeah...that was a good one .
Ol Tom just might not be kidding. Down South, Rednecks et stuff, yup that includes buzz worms. Av yu et yt?
Posted by Tom Webster on April 30, 2007 at 4:11 PM
I, myself, have never killed a snake. I have, however, eaten deep fried rattlesnake at some community function of some sort in Wickenburg, Arizona. This was back in the 1970s and, I have to admit, the rattlesnake tasted pretty good. It did taste somewhat like chicken.
Discussion
12 replieshttp://forum.averyoutdoors.com/showthread.php?t=28116
Kent in SD
From your POV, is he now a "good Custer?"
Kent in SD
In any case, getting back on topic - snakes get a bad rap form the movies and the public that is not educated about the true role snakes play i our ecosystem. The public is convinced a 3 foot rattler can strike and kill a person 6 feet away! They also think that snakes love biting humans. The opposite of course is true. Snakes try to avoid us.
Anyway thanks for starting this thread and sharing the image.
I posted the link to show an example of how I try to counter the hysteria. I think a lot of snake-phobia just isn't well thought out. I try to get people to put things into perspective, and give support to the more reasonable guys that were just keeping quiet. Believe it or not, I often do have some success with small groups like that one. I think they cringe a little when I compare them to 9 yr. old girls. They know there's truth in it too.
Kent in SD
Snakes are rare around my house. In 23 years, I've seen only 4 rattlesnakes (two alive, one killed and partially eaten by my dog, and one stomped flat by my horse. Other than that the only ones I've seen are garter snakes and bull snakes. This little fellow seemed aggressive even though I think it's young. The head is about half the size of a quarter.