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Confessions of a Snake Killer
Old-Colts
Member Posts: 22,697 ✭✭✭
After reading the recent postings of snake threads I decided I needed to confess. I went out to get the mail a few weeks ago and looked down our little County Road and saw a 3 foot long snake crossing the road near a small runoff. I walked down to investigate and sure enough there was a Cottonmouth Water Moccasin look-a-like and/or wannabe! Intuitively, based on many up close and personal encounters with real Cottonmouth's, I knew this was just a Brown Water Snake, but a little uncertainty plus my youthful years of snake and turtle killing took over. I went back to the house for a weapon; 16 gauge Model 12 [:p] nope, overkill; 38-40 Colt Single Action [:p] fun, but overkill; K-22 S&W [8D] fun, but still unneeded; so I got my trusty trenching shovel. So, armed with my weapon of choice I went back, tracked the snake down, and dispatched it. Then the remorse set in; knowing I had wantonly killed a non venomous snake that would have done more good if left alone.[:(]
Perhaps I overreacted, but in my defense I saw a real Cottonmouth down there last year, add to that about a week before while using my high-wheel trimmer in that area I did smell a Cottonmouth (might sound strange, but southern hunters and fishermen will know what I mean), and to further complicate matters two young girls were riding their ATV's up and down that road about 15 minutes earlier. So, I erred on the side of caution![^]
Well, I actually felt bad about killing a snake that is potentially beneficial to our ecosystem around here. This was compounded by the fact that I still have recurring feelings of remorse for single handedly forever changing the ecosystem in a Sun-Ray Oil Field in Southwest Arkansas back when I was about 18 (44 years ago). You rarely ever see a turtle there anymore![:0][}:)]
I just felt that I needed to confess publically for my actions and since I didn't eat said snake I'm sure I'll incur the additional wrath of some, but at least my wife doesn't feel any disdain for me (she really really really hates any snake and is glad there is one less around here)![B)]
There; I feel somewhat better now![:)]
I was originally going to title this "The Viagra Thread" or "I must be getting soft in my old age".
Perhaps I overreacted, but in my defense I saw a real Cottonmouth down there last year, add to that about a week before while using my high-wheel trimmer in that area I did smell a Cottonmouth (might sound strange, but southern hunters and fishermen will know what I mean), and to further complicate matters two young girls were riding their ATV's up and down that road about 15 minutes earlier. So, I erred on the side of caution![^]
Well, I actually felt bad about killing a snake that is potentially beneficial to our ecosystem around here. This was compounded by the fact that I still have recurring feelings of remorse for single handedly forever changing the ecosystem in a Sun-Ray Oil Field in Southwest Arkansas back when I was about 18 (44 years ago). You rarely ever see a turtle there anymore![:0][}:)]
I just felt that I needed to confess publically for my actions and since I didn't eat said snake I'm sure I'll incur the additional wrath of some, but at least my wife doesn't feel any disdain for me (she really really really hates any snake and is glad there is one less around here)![B)]
There; I feel somewhat better now![:)]
I was originally going to title this "The Viagra Thread" or "I must be getting soft in my old age".
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Comments
This is about one of the meanest SOBs I have ever come across. Super aggressive and I leave them alone as best I can but they sometimes force you to defend yourself.
Harmless ones that is.[8D]
Around here, the brown water snake is almost completely one shade of brown. If you look closely, (and I don't, unless he's dead) the have the patern of a copperhead. Also, brown water snakes around here are the most timid snakes of all. Most times, they'll haul * soon as they see you. Guess the don't want to hang around til you figure out they're not a copperhead.
That said, a venomous snake near the house can be a threat and dispatching it is not an unreasonable thing for the average person to do.
I do not subscribe to the notion that everything on my property exists for my benefit or entertainment, and would not kill watersnakes at my pond or anywhere else. I have had wild copperheads crawl across my boot with no harm to either of us.
One day sitting on a bluff over looking the Current River, I became aware of a rather large copperhead coiled about two feet below and two feet to the right of me. I watched a mosquito land on its head and bite it. I conclude we have more in common than it might seem at first glance. And that it is nice to have hands to swat with.
I usually encounter the small Texas Brown Snakes when I'm out mowing and the Rough Green Snakes when I'm out roaming around our property, especially down near the creek. I enjoy watching them and avoid hurting them!
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
I'm actually surprised that I haven't encountered a live Copperhead while walking through the wooded areas of our property; we do have them in this area. Our neighbor across the road has killed several on his property, but so far we haven't encountered a live one. My wife walks our little County Road every morning and early last fall she returned from a walk and told me she saw a dead snake on the road and wanted me to look at it. Well, it was a young Copperhead, about 18 inches long.
I usually encounter the small Texas Brown Snakes when I'm out mowing and the Rough Green Snakes when I'm out roaming around our property, especially down near the creek. I enjoy watching them and avoid hurting them!
Sure you do,.......you "snake killer!"[8D]
Couldn't tell you the last time I killed a snake. I usually just let them be.
farm home, big barn plus several out building, and a pod attracts snakes, my sons where between 4 and 9 when we moved there, and of course both of them had it in their minds they could pick up, and identify any, and every snake, of course dad knows nothing and the crocodile hunter knows what is better for them, after all they SAW him do it
quote:Originally posted by Old-Colts
I enjoy watching them and avoid hurting them!Sure you do,.......you "snake killer!"[8D]In my youth snakes were great targets, now I'm reformed, it's true, believe me![^][;)]
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
I know that rattlers in Georgia smell like Cucumbers. I'm glad I don't know what a Cotton mouth smells like, but this begs the question; WHAT DO THEY SMELL LIKE?
I have never heard anyone say a rattler smells like a cucumber before, and they certainly do not to me (though I don't have a great nose), but I have often heard it said that copperheads smell like cucumber. Some say cottonmouths do. I am familiar with the musk of all three, and presume that is what others smell better than I do. To me it does not smell like cucumber, just snake musk.
After reading the recent postings of snake threads I decided I needed to confess. I went out to get the mail a few weeks ago and looked down our little County Road and saw a 3 foot long snake crossing the road near a small runoff. I walked down to investigate and sure enough there was a Cottonmouth Water Moccasin look-a-like and/or wannabe! Intuitively, based on many up close and personal encounters with real Cottonmouth's, I knew this was just a Brown Water Snake, but a little uncertainty plus my youthful years of snake and turtle killing took over. I went back to the house for a weapon; 16 gauge Model 12 [:p] nope, overkill; 38-40 Colt Single Action [:p] fun, but overkill; K-22 S&W [8D] fun, but still unneeded; so I got my trusty trenching shovel. So, armed with my weapon of choice I went back, tracked the snake down, and dispatched it. Then the remorse set in; knowing I had wantonly killed a non venomous snake that would have done more good if left alone.[:(]
Perhaps I overreacted, but in my defense I saw a real Cottonmouth down there last year, add to that about a week before while using my high-wheel trimmer in that area I did smell a Cottonmouth (might sound strange, but southern hunters and fishermen will know what I mean), and to further complicate matters two young girls were riding their ATV's up and down that road about 15 minutes earlier. So, I erred on the side of caution![^]
Well, I actually felt bad about killing a snake that is potentially beneficial to our ecosystem around here. This was compounded by the fact that I still have recurring feelings of remorse for single handedly forever changing the ecosystem in a Sun-Ray Oil Field in Southwest Arkansas back when I was about 18 (44 years ago). You rarely ever see a turtle there anymore![:0][}:)]
I just felt that I needed to confess publically for my actions and since I didn't eat said snake I'm sure I'll incur the additional wrath of some, but at least my wife doesn't feel any disdain for me (she really really really hates any snake and is glad there is one less around here)![B)]
There; I feel somewhat better now![:)]
I was originally going to title this "The Viagra Thread" or "I must be getting soft in my old age".
now this story is funny..thks OLDCOLTS..needed that..lol..oh boy..[still laughing]..Loko [:D]
He Dog, Actually it was a den of rattlers that smelled like cucs. I was told it's bait to lure in the food source (field mice, rabbits, etc) I'm not from Geo, but it made sence to me. Was is a den of Copperheads instead?
You were there, I was not, as far as I know you are 100% correct, and I merely stated I had not heard that before, but have heard that about copperheads. I can't smell that, but I know other folks have better sniffers than I do. I don't have a sensitive nose even since I quit smoking (which is often a blessing!). I would wager that it is not a "bait" for prey species, since 1. rodents are not notorious for eating cucs, and 2. cucumbers are native to India, and while they have been in cultivation in Asia for 3000 years or so, they have only been in the US about 200 years tops. That is not enough time for snakes to evolve the scent to attract rodents, who certainly could have learned to like them in a generation or less. All snakes have a pair of musk glands in their tails and the musk is exuded adjacent to the cloacal opening. It seems to function to tell other snakes that the bearer is male or female, which species, and may indicate sexual readiness (OK, not the males, they are always ready). I guess you would be better off getting someone with a better nose than mine to give them the sniff test for you.[^]
quote:Originally posted by iceracerx
I know that rattlers in Georgia smell like Cucumbers. I'm glad I don't know what a Cotton mouth smells like, but this begs the question; WHAT DO THEY SMELL LIKE?I am familiar with the musk of all three, and presume that is what others smell better than I do. To me it does not smell like cucumber, just snake musk.It is a very pronounced musky smell, much stronger than any other smells. Any time I was walking around water or marshy areas and smelled that smell, I'd stop immediately and look around until I found the snake.
I've taken some very long strides over a log when I didn't notice the Cottonmouth on the other side until it was almost too late!!!!!!
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
ohhh old colts and all this time i looked up to you and now this [:0][B)][V][}:)][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]tazzer, that hurts me, a fellow Texan, to the core. I'm not sure I'll be able to overcome this feeling of disillusionment! [:0][:D]
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!