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copper heads

cercer Member Posts: 826 ✭✭✭✭
edited May 2017 in General Discussion
I talked to a gamewardon today and he said there has been a big jump in the number of copperhead bites this year here in Al. he said it probally due to the mild winter we had

Comments

  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 60,245 ******
    edited November -1
    no likey,no snakey,,,
  • wiplashwiplash Member Posts: 7,145 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Funny how that works. .22s are back in production again![;)]
    There is no such thing as Liberal Men, only Liberal Women with Penises.'
  • toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If ya live down hear you keep watch for them and cotton mouths and cane brakes and the little pygmy rattlers over in Gulf Shores and Pensacola. Not too worried about the corals. They are easy to see and unless you are barefoot not an issue.

    Rarely have I killed a snake on purpose. Spiders on the other hand....
  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,623 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I killed a small Copperhead in our backyard last week. Our neighbors had 2 dogs killed by Copperheads in the past 2 years. My wife stepped off the front porch one afternoon last fall and started high stepping it because there was one lying just to the right of the bottom step. She didn't see the humor in it when I started laughing. [}:)] [:)]

    If you live in the South you got to expect it, they're every where.
  • 84Bravo184Bravo1 Member Posts: 10,461 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by toad67
    Well make sure you stay away from copper head road....[:D][;)]

    https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=copper+head+road&view=detail&mid=C05CDED17E5D555BE41AC05CDED17E5D555BE41A&FORM=VIRE



    As I've posted before. I live about 8 miles from Copperhead road.

    Used to date a girl who lived on it, back in High school. Have relatives that live on it.

    No, not the Girl I dated. [:D]
  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have killed 3 in my yard this spring. All were smallish maybe 12-16". I have a puppy and I have to really keep my eye out for them.
    RLTW

  • wpageabcwpageabc Member Posts: 8,760 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Snakes alive... Snakes give me the willies.
    "What is truth?'
  • riflemikeriflemike Member Posts: 10,599
    edited November -1
    these guys are a passionate about wildlife.....3 or 4 were in Iraq... the one in the middle is my BIL....studied herpetology..they really try to educate folks on snakes,,,,,,but there are always girly men

    stan lake (the one in the middle is my BIL, a little insane) has written books for kids to educate them..he speaks at churches and schools to help folks understand wildlife and that they have a place in the system

    all the tats on his arm are wildlife tats...his wife is just as passionate





    https://www.facebook.com/CatchingCreation/videos/1088192004599209/


    17862828_1262542407175064_7962752096495874349_n.jpg
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A mild winter is unlikely to have a great effect on populations. More likely optimum spring weather has more of them out and about and being seen.


    Capt. is correct, bites from coral snakes are almost vanishingly rare. They burrow and they are out and about at night, so they are not frequently encountered, and generally seek to escape rather than bite, unless grabbed.

    Personally I would not go barefoot in the Southeast (of course I am not 10 either [:(]), nor in the desert where there is much that is spiny in addition to the venomous things.
  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,234 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by riflemike
    ,,,,,,but there are always girly men
    AH comments like that sure as hell won't win anybody over to your side either.
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,502 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Fear of snakes seems to be almost a genetic trait. Fortunately, some of us don't have that gene and appreciate snakes. I never kill one unless it is a direct an immediate threat - and is poisonous, of course. I consider all non-poisonous ones friends.
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    went to the lake home this weekend for a graduation and noticed dog in back yard moving around and looking at something..was a 16-18" copperhead and it moved real quick once i got it spotted in leaves...it went over the bank as fish food
  • GrasshopperGrasshopper Member Posts: 17,042 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry boys, they have coppers and some rattlers around here and if I see one, that's all I need.
    Coppers are not that plentiful until about 50 miles more south of me but they are aggressive here. Wife treated an 8 y/o girl who got bit just walking by a little grass bush. Transferred to St. Louis and is ok.
  • iceracerxiceracerx Member Posts: 8,860 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mrmike08075
    I suppose we are lucky in this regard.

    We don't seem to have venomous snakes and spiders in abundance in southern new Jersey (I am at - adjacent to the confluence of the Delaware river and the rancoacas creek)...

    We do get garter snake and the occasional milk or rather snake in the yard or at the gun club...

    As far as the yard goes the ferret (Mr peepers) is like riki tiki tavi reborn - he kills them if given the chance (I have only witnessed this once)...

    We do worry about muskrats and raccoons and foxs...

    The small "cats of prey" (bobcat - lynx - etc) while rare are here and I do worry about the dog interacting with one (I suspect that they avoid people and dogs and seem to be active at night)...

    We did have a bear in downtown Delran NJ a few years ago but that's an anomaly...

    I don't envy your killer snake and spider and scorpion encounters.

    But I do enjoy reading about them.

    Mike


    I'm with Mike on this one. Sort of like reading about the Man-Eaters of Kumaon (Jim Corbett), I'd rather read about 'them' than see one in the wild.

    Perhaps it's because I've experienced territorial Copperheads in Trials sections in oHIo that just got 'a bit more miffed' when they came back after being moved. Or the Rattlesnakes that got stirred up along side the trail in Arkansas during an ISDT reunion ride that struck at the bikes.
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    The ones in AL don't concern me in the least. It's the ones in Washington that I worry about.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    much bigger snakes in DC....toxic and constrictors
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Fear of snakes seems to be almost a genetic trait. Fortunately, some of us don't have that gene and appreciate snakes. I never kill one unless it is a direct an immediate threat - and is poisonous, of course. I consider all non-poisonous ones friends.



    It is actually a learned fear Rocky, as you say it can be such a powerful fear it almost seems in born. Being a learned fear it can be unlearned. I have worked with several psychologists over the years to help people get past the fear. The results can be pretty emotional for all, and it does not happen over night.


    Mr. P, At last something we agree on! Washington Vipers.
  • godalejrgodalejr Member Posts: 2,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mrmike08075
    I suppose we are lucky in this regard.

    We don't seem to have venomous snakes and spiders in abundance in southern new Jersey (I am at - adjacent to the confluence of the Delaware river and the rancoacas creek)...

    We do get garter snake and the occasional milk or rather snake in the yard or at the gun club...

    As far as the yard goes the ferret (Mr peepers) is like riki tiki tavi reborn - he kills them if given the chance (I have only witnessed this once)... about the same in ne ohio

    We do worry about muskrats and raccoons and foxs...

    The small "cats of prey" (bobcat - lynx - etc) while rare are here and I do worry about the dog interacting with one (I suspect that they avoid people and dogs and seem to be active at night)...

    We did have a bear in downtown Delran NJ a few years ago but that's an anomaly...

    I don't envy your killer snake and spider and scorpion encounters.

    But I do enjoy reading about them.

    Mike
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,693 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    IMG_0233_zps078ca3cc.jpg

    I caught this rascal under the lid of my propane tank.
  • pricklypearpricklypear Member Posts: 362 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Non venomous snakes good, venomous snakes dead.
  • riflemikeriflemike Member Posts: 10,599
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by pricklypear
    Non venomous snakes good, venomous snakes dead.


    most, AND I MEAN MOST people, cant tell the difference

    can you????
  • pricklypearpricklypear Member Posts: 362 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by riflemike
    quote:Originally posted by pricklypear
    Non venomous snakes good, venomous snakes dead.


    most, AND I MEAN MOST people, cant tell the difference

    can you????


    You betcha. Gopher snakes, bull snakes, racers, king snakes and garter snakes are all welcome on our place. We don't have copper heads or moccasins out here but I can still recognize them in a heart beat. The buzzers though get left for the buzzards, no apologies.
  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 26,286 ******
    edited November -1
    "A man that would step aside for a snake might as well walk."
    Capt. Woodrow F. Call
  • eastbankeastbank Member Posts: 4,052 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i only kill coppers and rattlers when they are where the children go at camp on on the ridge behind my house. some people are afraid of rats,bats,spiders and snakes, but bee,s kill more people than all those. mr myopic.
  • nutfinnnutfinn Member Posts: 12,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Non-venomous = slither as they please

    Venomous = gets relocated

    I don't kill any of them [:)]
  • 35 Whelen35 Whelen Member Posts: 14,307 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by riflemike
    quote:Originally posted by pricklypear
    Non venomous snakes good, venomous snakes dead.


    most, AND I MEAN MOST people, cant tell the difference

    can you????



    Absolutely, I can.

    Do I still have to live with the title "girly man", Captain Planet?[:X]
    An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.
  • riflemikeriflemike Member Posts: 10,599
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nutfinn
    Non-venomous = slither as they please

    Venomous = gets relocated

    I don't kill any of them [:)]

    [^][^][^][^][^][^][^][^][^][^]
  • pricklypearpricklypear Member Posts: 362 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 35 Whelen
    quote:Originally posted by riflemike
    quote:Originally posted by pricklypear
    Non venomous snakes good, venomous snakes dead.


    most, AND I MEAN MOST people, cant tell the difference

    can you????



    Absolutely, I can.

    Do I still have to live with the title "girly man", Captain Planet?[:X]


    Hmmm, passionate about wildlife he says. Well I spend hundreds of hours staying out in the back country and sleeping on the ground to work on wildlife habitat enhancement, and I still kill rattle snakes.

    Girly men unite![:D]
  • lksmith03lksmith03 Member Posts: 1,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by riflemike
    these guys are a passionate about wildlife.....3 or 4 were in Iraq... the one in the middle is my BIL....studied herpetology..they really try to educate folks on snakes,,,,,,but there are always girly men

    stan lake (the one in the middle is my BIL, a little insane) has written books for kids to educate them..he speaks at churches and schools to help folks understand wildlife and that they have a place in the system

    all the tats on his arm are wildlife tats...his wife is just as passionate





    https://www.facebook.com/CatchingCreation/videos/1088192004599209/


    17862828_1262542407175064_7962752096495874349_n.jpg



    With all the ones I have around my house along with a few cats and foxes, you'r think I wouldn't have rodents at my place but my "new mower" (10 years old when I got it but had less than 100hrs on it and the guy kept it in the garage, washed and waxed it after each use) had all the wires chewed up over the winter, so did my geo tracker, and have evidence of them in my camper. No mice pack rats caught 3 this week in the tracker.
    THe snakes aren't doing what they supposed to so they are terminated with extreme prejudice. Our winter only lasted 2 days this year pretty much had the windows down or AC on rest of the year. Speckled King snakes are left alone and black snakes that don't startle me are left alone.
  • lksmith03lksmith03 Member Posts: 1,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Grasshopper
    Sorry boys, they have coppers and some rattlers around here and if I see one, that's all I need.
    Coppers are not that plentiful until about 50 miles more south of me but they are aggressive here. Wife treated an 8 y/o girl who got bit just walking by a little grass bush. Transferred to St. Louis and is ok.

    Around here we have mostly moccasins, some coppers but only seen 2 or 3 rattlers in the last 10 years.

    The copperheads are pretty shy and docile, nearly grabbed one last year, yelled cussed, jumped about 10ft straight up but he was slithering away post haste when I saw him. Moccasins are a whole nother story, they'd just as soon bite you as look at you, have had them come after me.
    The last moccasin that startled me got eight 230gr Hornady XTP from a 1911 before I realized what happened.

    Funny story, was checking my hog trap in house shoes and shorts walked by a mud hole to the trap was looking for snakes. got to the trap and had 3 in it, was on the phone with my neighbor (since I didn't feel like cleaning them all by myself that night) when I walked back by the hole less than 5 mins later it came from the leaves towards the hole and me. I immediatly exclaimed "CRAP" (spelled with a S), By the time the word "CRAP" came out, I had already drawn the gun, emptied the gun and the snake was in 9 pieces. Got great expansion though, all the bullets measured .80"-1.1" after.
  • pricklypearpricklypear Member Posts: 362 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nutfinn
    Non-venomous = slither as they please

    Venomous = gets relocated

    I don't kill any of them [:)]


    That seems like you're taking a real risk. I read one time that most men that are bitten by venomous snakes were bitten because they were attempting to catch them. [:0]
  • interstatepawnllcinterstatepawnllc Member Posts: 9,390
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    IMG_0233_zps078ca3cc.jpg

    I caught this rascal under the lid of my propane tank.


    You have some big stones there Allen.
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by pricklypear
    quote:Originally posted by nutfinn
    Non-venomous = slither as they please

    Venomous = gets relocated

    I don't kill any of them [:)]


    That seems like you're taking a real risk. I read one time that most men that are bitten by venomous snakes were bitten because they were attempting to catch them. [:0]


    There is a very strong correlation between alcohol intake and snakebite as well. Beyond that, the little actual data we have suggests relocated animals tend not to survive well.
  • gesshotsgesshots Member Posts: 15,678 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've terminated three Copperheads in the last two years.

    > S.E. Virginia
    It's being willing. I found out early that most men, regardless of cause or need, aren't willing. They blink an eye or draw a breath before they pull the trigger. I won't. ~ J.B. Books
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    venomous snakes have zero right on my property, i am at the top of the food chain and plan on keeping it that way, its not fear ether, it is common sense not to allow something that could kill me or mine for just being there and doing our daily routine


    the snakes here will never be used for medical advances anyway, they will not be missed by anyone
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    tried 4 of these chinee made snake repellors around the lake house and only saw one small copperhead while digging next to fence and leaves...solar powered and give off a buzz ever so often, supposed to put vibrations in the ground snakes don't like...haven't set them out this year yet...cannot evaluate their success or failure
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