Snakes

[HarryT]

What's the EPF way of handling venomous snakes on the trail?

[bucketosudz]

Simple, Avoid them!! When happened upon, give them space. Afterall it is their turf we are treading on. With that being said, inevitably the more time we spend in the outdoors we will run across them. Unless your going to eat them, Leave them be. This has always been my take anyhow.

[Rallyroo]

I let the snake finish slithering across the road or trail. If the snake won't budge or is slow to move, I get out, pick up the snake with a long stick and place him safely onto the other side of the trail before he turns into roadkill.

So far, in all of my snake encounters, the snakes that I have helped appeared appreciative.

[HarryT]

If in a vehicle, I dodge them or wait them out. My question was about hiking.
Usually if I see a snake a good distance away from me I just make a little extra noise and it moves out of the path or I take a detour. Its the ones that are within striking distance that I'm concerned about. Snakes that are stretched out are no problem to scoop up with a walking stick but the coiled snakes (ready to strike) are another matter. Some snakes like the puff adder are so short and fat that they are almost impossible to pick up with a stick. Mambas are mean and can out run me. Cobras make me lose my nerve (and other bodily functions). I don't want to hurt a snake but I'm not real fond of getting close enough to pick them up with a four foot long walking stick. I don't want to move the snake only to have it bite someone else in the group.

[calamaridog]

What's the EPF way of handling venomous snakes on the trail?

I don't "handle" venomous snakes. So far I haven't been bitten:ylsmoke:

[Martyn]

I walk with a heavy foot in snake country, most of them want to get out of your way and move on. The Puff Adder you have to almost stand on to get bitten, the Mamba and Cobra will stand their ground at least and attack at worst.

My advise give them plenty of room, learn what they look like and where they live, constantly visually sweep the path in front of you and train your eye to spot any type of movement.

Remember not all of them live on the ground some of them live in trees. I’ve seen some wonderful Boomslang, Boa, and even Black Mambas cruising the branches. Water snakes, sea snakes, etc.

Handling and moving snakes with a stick is a sure way to get bitten unless you really know what you are doing. Move around them don't move them around you.

[tdesanto]

Move around them don't move them around you.

Sounds like solid advice to me.

[Aggie]

Down here in Texas I mostly come across Water Mocassins and in that case if I see one I start boogeying the other direction in a very short amount of time. If it is a blue racer, field snake or grass snake you can normally just shoo them on and they will go about their business. BUT If I sneak up on a Water Moccassin on accident and they strike at me, I know I would rather have a dead snake on my property than me trying to limp my way back to the truck to make it to a hospital in time. Just my opinion but nature be damned when my health is on the line with a venoumous snake.

[offroad_nomad]

Don't mess with venomous snakes. I nearly stepped on this nice Copperhead during a night field exercise last year. Myself and another instructor were moving fast along a trail and not paying too much attention to what was immediately in front of us.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/DC_Magoo/CH1.jpg

[Jonathan Hanson]

Beautiful copperhead!

It's important to remember that snakes cannot hear. They can sense vibrations through the ground, but shouting at them is futile.

Virtually all snakes (although I do sometimes wonder about black mambas) just want to stay out of your way. If you leave them alone they'll leave you alone.

I move them out of our yard now and then. Usually just a hundred yards or so, so they're still in territory they recognize. Translocating snakes long distances has been shown to be problematic for their survival.

http://www.midwaymemories.com/Yardsnake2.jpg

[James86004]

I picked up a rock once when I was a kid that had a little copperhead underneath. It took off in the direction opposite me as fast as it could.

Another time I was on the bridge over the branch on our farm in Tennessee, and looking down at the minnows. I realized they were all looking in the same direction - into the cavity the stream had carved out under the walnut tree. Suddenly they all disappeared, and a snake came darting out from under the tree. I ran home.

I have an irrational fear of snakes. When I see one, I jump, then am petrified. Even ones I see behind glass at the zoo. I can handle heights, bugs, and smells, but snakes bug me.

[weezerbot]

I have an irrational fear of snakes. When I see one, I jump, then am petrified. Even ones I see behind glass at the zoo. I can handle heights, bugs, and smells, but snakes bug me.

I'm with you on this one James. We had a bullsnake (I think...I didn't get close enough to ask him his name) slithering across our driveway last year and I about came out of my skin! I love living on the mountain preserve 90% of the year except when the creepy crawlies start coming out...I'm constantly paranoid about finding one in our garage or curled up on our doorstep! YICK!!

[BigAl]

I asked this same question on Expo a while back, my favorite response...

Best way to move a snake? With a shovel, half a snake at a time:elkgrin:

[LandCruiserPhil]

Best way to move a snake? With a shovel, half a snake at a time:elkgrin:

I hope this feeling is the minority - sad IMO

[tdesanto]

I hope this feeling is the minority - sad IMO

Agreed.

[Aggie]

I hope this feeling is the minority - sad IMO


Agreed.

Wow can you say thin skinned? It is an old joke, and if you have ever been around a farm, had chickens or any other animals that were problematic for snakes you would know where the joke came from.

Instead I see a bunch of city boys on this site thinking they are grizzled because they go camping for a week... :elkgrin:

[offroad_nomad]

It certainly was and it was one of the largest ones I've encountered. I wanted to place something near it for reference before taking the photo, but the snake was in a cranky mood. We both decided to admire it from a short distance.


Beautiful copperhead!

[tdesanto]

Wow can you say thin skinned? It is an old joke, and if you have ever been around a farm, had chickens or any other animals that were problematic for snakes you would know where the joke came from.

Instead I see a bunch of city boys on this site thinking they are grizzled because they go camping for a week... :elkgrin:

It sounded to me like the joke stemmed from an irrational fear of wildlife…so, who’s thin skinned?

Even though I may chuckle at the joke, I wanted to make sure not to perpetuate the idea that we don’t have a responsibility to the local wildlife when we travel.

I think there is a difference between taking measures to protect one’s cattle or livestock on one’s own ranch or farm, than to take measures when you’re on the trail or in a national park. In addition, there are probably more conservationist methods that are just as effective, even if you do want to curb the threat on your own land.

Not that you know me or whether I’m city boy or a country boy, to use your phrase, but when did the notion of protecting wildlife become a city boy’s notion?

[Jonathan Hanson]

Boys, boys!

I thought it was funny, and assumed it was just a joke. I certainly hope no one here would kill any snake without a good reason ("They're dangerous" doesn't count).

From a non-city boy.

[Aggie]

It sounded to me like the joke stemmed from an irrational fear of wildlife…so, who’s thin skinned?

Even though I may chuckle at the joke, I wanted to make sure not to perpetuate the idea that we don’t have a responsibility to the local wildlife when we travel.

I think there is a difference between taking measures to protect one’s cattle or livestock on one’s own ranch or farm, than to take measures when you’re on the trail or in a national park. In addition, there are probably more conservationist methods that are just as effective, even if you do want to curb the threat on your own land.

Not that you know me or whether I’m city boy or a country boy, to use your phrase, but when did the notion of protecting wildlife become a city boy’s notion?

And the City boy comment was me being sarcastic. Guess some around here don't take joking so well. :ylsmoke:

On our family Ranch we deal with a LOT of snakes, everything from Copperheads to Water Moccasins to Grass Snakes. It is VERY easy to wander into a snakes territory unaware of one of their presence. I try to book it the other direction when I run into one, but if he is willing to strike at me or my family members the shovel comes down. Just the way it is unfortunately. :(

[tdesanto]

Growing up in East TX, I have run into my fair share of water moccasins and copperheads. Luckily, I've always noticed them early enough to avoid getting too close, or they moved on before I had the chance to make that mistake.

The scarier encounters usually happened in or near the water.

[LS1matt]

grew up hunting all my life in TX & LA, spent lots of time with family on farms in LA....... I DONT DO SNAKES...... if i see one i go opposite way, if he is coiled and i get close (not knowing till last second).. dead snake ... I believe the fear is due to me being around 5 or 6 years old at my dad's friends ranch fishing by a pier and as i leaned down to play in the water... a water mocc. came swimming out under the pier just inches from me... i am now a grown MMM 22year old 6'1" 225lb man... and i still freak at the sight of even a grass snake.

Sorry but we all have our fears and if you say you dont fear anything.. i call BS..

I agree snakes get a bad rap and you should respect "their" home when out walking the bush.... but they still scare the sh!t out me...

[Layonnn]

The scarier encounters usually happened in or near the water.

seeing a 4ft water moccasin in the water 2ft from your face while swimming = very scaryyy

[BigAl]

Boys, boys!

I though it was funny, and assumed it was just a joke.

And you'd be right, it was just an amusing quote i heard when I asked the best way to pick up a snake in an previous Expo thread. We are in no danger of running out of soapboxes here.:) I'd still like to know the correct way to pick a snake up.

[Jonathan Hanson]

Well - If you need to move snakes regularly, I strongly suggest a pair of tongs such as the ones in the photo I posted. Safer for you and the snake.

If you just see a snake sunning itself on the trail now and then, and want to keep it from being run over or deliberately killed, any stick longer than four feet or so will suffice to scoot/flip it into the brush. Generally a nudge is all it takes to get it moving.

I can't imagine any circumstance where you'd actually need to handle a venomous snake, unless you really always wanted to hold a puff adder:

http://www.midwaymemories.com/Puffadder.jpg

(Trained professional, closed course)

[haven]

In USA, most snakebites start with mass quantities of beer. The snakes are not out there, waiting to bite you. Just leave them alone and you'll be fine.

Chip Haven

[jeepmedic46]

That is so true, Don't bother them and they won't bother you.:smiley_drive:

[BigAl]

In USA, most snakebites start with mass quantities of beer. The snakes are not out there, waiting to bite you. Just leave them alone and you'll be fine.

Chip Haven

Where do snakes get beer, something should be done:victory: Nothing to add to this thread, but I had a really neat snake experience last saturday. We were driving thru a wooded area and saw a Black Snake, my buddy called it a black "racer". We moved it along with a stick but it quickly coiled and did a rattle snake mimic with its tail. It was in dry grass/weeds so the sound was really authentic. Any way I never saw a black snake shake its tail like that before. For only 60-65F that thing could move. He was laying on a coal black road soaking up heat i guess.

[BigAl]

...(Trained professional, closed course)

Too funny:elkgrin:

[goodtimes]

I can't imagine any circumstance where you'd actually need to handle a venomous snake, unless you really always wanted to hold a puff adder:

http://www.midwaymemories.com/Puffadder.jpg



That explains a *lot*. :elkgrin:

Are you sure you're not related to Chuck? :sombrero:

[jim65wagon]

Where do snakes get beer, something should be done:victory: Nothing to add to this thread, but I had a really neat snake experience last saturday. We were driving thru a wooded area and saw a Black Snake, my buddy called it a black "racer". We moved it along with a stick but it quickly coiled and did a rattle snake mimic with its tail. It was in dry grass/weeds so the sound was really authentic. Any way I never saw a black snake shake its tail like that before. For only 60-65F that thing could move. He was laying on a coal black road soaking up heat i guess.

Did snakes with beer buy it legally or do they have to get someone over 21 to buy it for them? Too funny, you are Al!

I think the snake you saw was a Black Rat Snake, they are known to mimic rattlesnakes to great effect. I remember cleaning out my barn in PA not long after we purchased it and found one under a piece of tin. It took quite a long look in the dim light of the barn to realize it was relatively harmless....

[Jonathan Hanson]

Al, that was hilarious. I'll steal it the next time I do a presentation about rattlesnakes.

This is my South African friend Neels Bothma, with his pet black mamba:

http://www.midwaymemories.com/Neels1.jpg

If you've ever seen the old Mark O'Shea program where he goes to South Africa to look for mambas, and the fellow who's helping him gets bitten by a mamba and nearly dies, Neels is the fellow.

"But that was a wild one," he told me.

[Spikepretorius]

That's just crazy. I won't go anywhere near them. They can attack like something from the movies.

[Martyn]

Al, that was hilarious. I'll steal it the next time I do a presentation about rattlesnakes.

This is my South African friend Neels Bothma, with his pet black mamba:

http://www.midwaymemories.com/Neels1.jpg

If you've ever seen the old Mark O'Shea program where he goes to South Africa to look for mambas, and the fellow who's helping him gets bitten by a mamba and nearly dies, Neels is the fellow.

"But that was a wild one," he told me.

That picture makes me shiver.

Mambas can rear up 2/3rds of their total length so they end up looking you straight in the eye with their hood flared. It's defiantly an underwear changing experience.

In Natal, where the Black Mambas regularly grow to 3 meters, the local remedy for Mamba bites is to stick a short length of garden hose down the victims throat. This keeps the airway open as one of the effects of the poison is to constrict the muscles in the throat, resulting is asphyxiation.

It's then a race to get the victim to hospital.

[laxtoy]

In USA, most snakebites start with mass quantities of beer. The snakes are not out there, waiting to bite you. Just leave them alone and you'll be fine.

Chip Haven

that is true the majority of the time, the beer thing and the live and let live thing :D for years, a group of about twenty of us would go down to the deschutes river in oregon and float the river for about 3 days at a time. add hot temps and cool water with lotsa little rodents and you get a very snaky place. one of the last times we went we saw seven rattlesnakes in one day, and the encounters were close. we had them crawling in the raft when we were beached, we had them crawling through camp at dusk, we had them down by the river bank where we were all hanging out, and it started to get a little hairy. luckily, we knew to give them a wide berth, and ended up having to "fling" a few with an oar to get them out of camp.

[calamaridog]

Saw this Red Diamond Rattlesnake in Anza Borrego early springtime. Tks Tommyd for the identification (I thought it was a Mojave).

http://cdo2vg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pAvA0aJsd0EfyX1CvAcsBbzdt0bI-yfQXSYcxPv8uYanQPTgU0rY6eDMpeaMaoqum8vAUS46kuhVEBZ 2_Y4B0NDoHn3jTP9Cs/AB%20March%20(25).jpg

[1leg]

I have lived in Socal my whole life nearly 40years. I have traveled off-road and hiked many a trails.

I saw my first Socal rattlesnake about 3 weeks ago.

I just stopped, about 4-5 feet away, pulled out the camera and snap a few shots of him crossing the path.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2688/81/49/1436482297/n1436482297_30102047_6728005.jpg

[Cody1771]

most venomous snakes make sure that you know they are there, ie rattlers, cobras puffing up and hissing, most vipers will hiss as well. the big pythons and boas that you find in the amazon and such i think are more dangerous its really incredible how fast a 20ft retic can strike and from how far of a distance. but being in north america we dont really have to worry about these, exept once a week when i feed my boa :chef:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/cjherps/Dscf0487.jpg

And heres a few others i own:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/cjherps/IMG_1501.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/cjherps/Dscf0489.jpg

Personnaly i think the creepy crawlies and wildlife are the coolest parts of trekking into the unknowns. heres a few ive come across when i was in ausy land:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/cjherps/IMG_0890.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/cjherps/IMG_0673.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/cjherps/IMG_1064.jpg

is this to OT for the subject?

[calamaridog]

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2688/81/49/1436482297/n1436482297_30102047_6728005.jpg

I'm tempted to say it's a Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) versus the Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) due to the spacing of the rings. The white band on the Mojave tend to be wider than the black band whereas the Western Diamondback tends to have more evenly spaced rings.

The Western Diamondback also tend to grow larger and are often more aggressive than the other rattlesnakes we encounter around here.

Of course, I'm no expert (you could say that again). When I first saw mine, I thought it was a Western Diamondback until I looked at the photos more carefully (until Tommyd helped me).

Where did you see this one?

[SunMan]

[QUOTE=Martyn;381204]That picture makes me shiver.

QUOTE]

No kidding, I spent some time in Western Java and Green Mambas were everywhere and they blend into their surroundings VERY well. We slept in elevated huts and they would climb the trees and slither into the huts. Needles to say I made sure my mossie net was tucked in real tight at night!

[KG6BWS]

I'm tempted to say it's a Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) versus the Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) due to the spacing of the rings. The white band on the Mojave tend to be wider than the black band whereas the Western Diamondback tends to have more evenly spaced rings.

The Western Diamondback also tend to grow larger and are often more aggressive than the other rattlesnakes we encounter around here.

Of course, I'm no expert. When I first saw mine, I thought it was a Western Diamondback until I looked at the photos more carefully.

Where did you see this one?

looks a bit like the mojave green.

my method for dealing with rattlers varies. on the property, they die, no questions asked. everywhere else, i just walk around them and let em be.

[michaelgroves]

One thing to keep in mind about snakes, too, is that they should be really low on your list of things to worry about.

The annual death toll from snakebites in the USA is around 12(!). Bee sting fatalities are about ten times higher, as are fatal lightning strikes. More people die tripping over their shoelaces than of snakebite. Cardiovascular disease: close to 1 million per year...

[762X39]

One thing to keep in mind about snakes, too, is that they should be really low on your list of things to worry about.


I like snakes...
When I was 19 I wanted to get a Boa but my girlfriend nearly S*&t herself.So I have issues now:). I like to handle them and see them and leave them alone if thats what they want. We have snakes on our property up north and used to have the odd rattler but it seems the owls ate them.

[biglos454]

i live in texas and when i was young i was bitten by a diamond back rattle snake. it managed to find its way into the garage and got me while i was pulling laundry out of the dryer for my mom. im sure it rattled as they all do but i never heard it over the noises of the washing machine and dryer.i made it to the hospital in time but it almost cost me my life. i leave most snakes alone both at home and on the trails theyre actually good to have around for pest control. but if i find a venomous snake at the house its dead no questions asked.

[Corey]

Having lived in Western Washington most of my life, I do not encounter very many snakes, and I do not think we have any poisonous ones this side of the pass.

At work I often see many snakes on our nature walking paths, I think they are the regular gardner variety, and I have picked them up before, then set them back down.
Similar to this fellow.

http://k43.pbase.com/g6/39/611339/2/69171042.9D7M8i8n.jpg

But seeing the poisonous ones here gives me the creeps.
I had to Google the puff adder one, and this pic popped up from a site.
Caution, link to picture below shows what a puff adder can do to ones limbs.
http://www.savp.co.za/Venomous/slides/Puff%20Adder%20bite.html

Caution, link to picture below shows what a puff adder can do to ones limbs.
http://www.savp.co.za/Venomous/slides/Puff%20Adder%20bite.jpg

[tommyd]

Saw this Mojave Rattler in Anza Borrego early springtime.

http://cdo2vg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pAvA0aJsd0EfyX1CvAcsBbzdt0bI-yfQXSYcxPv8uYanQPTgU0rY6eDMpeaMaoqum8vAUS46kuhVEBZ 2_Y4B0NDoHn3jTP9Cs/AB%20March%20(25).jpg

That's a Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber), not a Mojave. Mojave Rattlesnakes don't make it into Anza Borrego.

[tommyd]

I'm tempted to say it's a Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) versus the Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox) due to the spacing of the rings. The white band on the Mojave tend to be wider than the black band whereas the Western Diamondback tends to have more evenly spaced rings.

The Western Diamondback also tend to grow larger and are often more aggressive than the other rattlesnakes we encounter around here.

Of course, I'm no expert. When I first saw mine, I thought it was a Western Diamondback until I looked at the photos more carefully.

Where did you see this one?

This is also a Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber). Common in southern California. Attached is a map of the distribution of the Mojave.

See http://www.californiaherps.com/ for more info about the snakes in your area.

[tommyd]

[QUOTE=Corey;402668]Having lived in Western Washington most of my life, I do not encounter very many snakes, and I do not think we have any poisonous ones this side of the pass.

At work I often see many snakes on our nature walking paths, I think they are the regular gardner variety, and I have picked them up before, then set them back down.
Similar to this fellow.

http://k43.pbase.com/g6/39/611339/2/69171042.9D7M8i8n.jpg

Nice photo. I believe that's a Wandering Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans).

Here's a website with some info on reptiles and amphibians in your area:

http://www.californiaherps.com/northwest.html

Cheers.

[Corey]

Not everyone wants to see photos like that. Given that this is a family oriented site, next time post a link instead of embedding the photo...
You are absolutely correct, what was I thinking?
I will edit my post above, and I suggest you do the same.

[tommyd]

You are absolutely correct, what was I thinking?
I will edit my post above, and I suggest you do the same.

Done.

[tommyd]

[QUOTE=Martyn;381204]That picture makes me shiver.

QUOTE]

No kidding, I spent some time in Western Java and Green Mambas were everywhere and they blend into their surroundings VERY well. We slept in elevated huts and they would climb the trees and slither into the huts. Needles to say I made sure my mossie net was tucked in real tight at night!

Neat! But, at the risk of sounding like a know-it-all, mambas don't live in Indonesia. I suspect the snakes you saw were Asian Vine Snakes or tree snakes of the genus Dendrelaphis. Both are pretty common in Java.

[Ursidae69]

Good call on the red diamond rattlesnake tommyd, welcome to the site too.

Here is a picture of a red diamond I found in Baja in 2004. They are a cool as heck.

http://www.chucksweb.net/Albumatic/Baja2004/L_DSC03484.jpg

Here is a good site for Arizona members that want to know more about their local herpetofauna: http://www.reptilesofaz.org/

[tommyd]

Good call on the red diamond rattlesnake tommyd, welcome to the site too.

Thanks. Here's another ruber I came across in San Diego Co. that was in the process of swallowing a cottontail. I tried to watch from a distance, but unfortunately, my presence disturbed the snake and it regurgitated the rabbit. Beautiful snake. Never rattled once.

PS - how do you embed images rather than having them show up in the Attached Images window?

[Layonnn]

PS - how do you embed images rather than having them show up in the Attached Images window?

you have to host the pictures at another website such as photobucket.com
then link them

[tommyd]

you have to host the pictures at another website such as photobucket.com
then link them

thanks.

[michaelgroves]

PS - how do you embed images rather than having them show up in the Attached Images window?

Embedding directly seems to work sometimes and not others. I find if I preview the post before submitting, it works properly when the post is submitted (although at preview time, it just shows where the attachments will be).

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

click

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vawTnCSAjgU

[tag187]

Good to hear most hear are not of fan of killing just because its a "harmful snake". As most of you know there are plenty of people out there like that. I am an avid hunter and expeditions are my job but I have never found a real need to kill a snake (most can be relocated). Once as a young man hunting in the swamps of south Texas I was bitten by a water moccasin. I was a ways out and had quite the move to the nearest ranger station. The experience taught me the hard way about being aware of one of natures most proficient hunters. Now many years and plenty of encounters later I live by this phrase "It is best to be aware, stay aware, and leave the wildlife alone!":ylsmoke:

[calamaridog]

That's a Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber), not a Mojave. Mojave Rattlesnakes don't make it into Anza Borrego.

Tks for the identification and welcome to expo:)

[Ursidae69]

Thanks. Here's another ruber I came across in San Diego Co. that was in the process of swallowing a cottontail. I tried to watch from a distance, but unfortunately, my presence disturbed the snake and it regurgitated the rabbit. Beautiful snake. Never rattled once.

PS - how do you embed images rather than having them show up in the Attached Images window?

Nice photos tommyd. By the way, you can attach an image with the attachment manager like you did, then open it and copy the URL and then use that url to host the image.

This is your 3rd attachment from your post:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=29127&d=1243827492

[Currie]

This little (about 16") Sand Viper wandered into our camp in Sinai one
evening. Skye, our dog noticed it first, as we were playing cards.
After oiking it into a tupperware box, I took him about 100yds away, and
released him into a bush beside a date palm.
On return, I backtracked the way he had come - under our tarp, and
through between Janice's flip-flopped feet...!!!! :Wow1:
Right about then, she :yikes: :drool:decided it was time she was zipped up
in the tent..... :elkgrin:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/Cairodel/Wildlife/SNAKETOO.jpg


Another smaller Sand Viper....


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/Cairodel/Sinai/DSC00094.jpg

Egyptian yellow-lined scorpion... deadly..!!!



http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/Cairodel/Wildlife/Egypt.jpg


Camel Spider... body length of about 4" leg span about 8"....
Nasty bite, but not venomous.


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/Cairodel/Ras%20Mohamed/Copy3ofRasMohamed015.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/Cairodel/Ras%20Mohamed/Copy3ofRasMohamed017.jpg


And our first-ever chameleon....


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/Cairodel/Sinai/IMG_1217.jpg

[michaelgroves]

Camel Spider... body length of about 4" leg span about 8"....
Nasty bite, but not venomous.



Not actually a spider, either! Although, despite appearing to have 10 legs, it is still in fact an arachnid (in this case a solifuge). The front pair are pedipalps, akin to the antennae on insects.

In South Africa they are called Red Romans. I believe solifuges are the world's fastest-running invertebrates. They can certainly run incredibly fast - we've had them scuttling around our campsites in various parts of the world. They tend to run around in big circles around the campfire, catching any crawling insects that are being attracted towards the light. They make a lot of noise with their mandibles, especially when they catch a grasshopper!

Here's another pic of one in a campsite in Agadez, Niger:

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[Spikepretorius]

In South Africa they are called Red Romans
Also called Baardskeerder. Direct translation = beard shaver/sheers. Because of those mandible things that they have

[achampagne]

I hate snakes, I stepped on one trail running last weekend and it completely freaked me out.

[Spikepretorius]

Regarding that guy with the pet Black Mamba, here's a blurb about him
http://www.lowvelder.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=36:community&id=130:man-and-mamba-its-a-weird-fang

[Lichen]

A coiled snake does not mean that it is ready to strike. It can just as easily mean that it is sleeping. I think that they have to uncoil to strike?

[Cody1771]

no a snake stikes from coiled or semi coiled position. it cant strike stretched out for obvious reasons. no snake will "fake" sleeping to get a strike on a humon. they give all sorts of notice unless you go and step on him while hes sleeping :P thats why you should always wear your hiking boots and long pants when hiking in an area with poisoneous snakes.

[Ric]

Snakes are cool :victory:

[whatcharterboat]

While we certainly may have more deadly / venomous species than anywhere else, OZ isn't known for big constrictors. Ahh....... that's what I used to think anyway!!!

http://wheel.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/roosnake.JPG

[FreeManDan]

In North America there is a rhyme to help you remember if a snake is deadly or not, its “shovel on the head, snake is dead”:costumed-smiley-007

[Cody1771]

In North America there is a rhyme to help you remember if a snake is deadly or not, its “shovel on the head, snake is dead”:costumed-smiley-007

yeahhh..... right.... if you dont understand it, kill it?

[Ursidae69]

In North America there is a rhyme to help you remember if a snake is deadly or not, its “shovel on the head, snake is dead”:costumed-smiley-007

That's pretty lame. :rolleyes:

[tommyd]

While we certainly may have more deadly / venomous species than anywhere else, OZ isn't known for big constrictors. Ahh....... that's what I used to think anyway!!!

http://wheel.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/roosnake.JPG

Big Olive python! Great photo.

[Scoob]

I dont know why, but I'm terrified of snakes. I always have been. I've never had a bad expierience with one, and have never even touched one, so I have no idea what it is about them that creeps me out so much. I'm told that it's pretty amusing to watch me run like hell in the opposite direction when I see a snake. Luckily up here in the north we dont have many venomous ones, atleast I dont think we do.

[Layonnn]

I dont know why, but I'm terrified of snakes. I always have been. I've never had a bad expierience with one, and have never even touched one, so I have no idea what it is about them that creeps me out so much. I'm told that it's pretty amusing to watch me run like hell in the opposite direction when I see a snake. Luckily up here in the north we dont have many venomous ones, atleast I dont think we do.

Just so you know, about 99% of the snakes in the world, are thinking the exact same thing, well, the desire to get away from you part. I have heard black mambas will just outright attack you.
Only, if they think they are camouflaged, they will sit still, if they know they have been spotted most will "slither like hell" away from you. haha.

Snakes near me on land when my dog isn't with me, im okay with. Snakes in the water when im in the water, me very scared of getting bit in the face.


Anyone ever heard the rumor that snakes can't bite under water cause they will drown? Is this true for some snakes? I know it's definitely not true for all. When i was in my teens, we would keep the fish we caught in a basket that sat under water. We pulled it up one time to put another bream in there and saw a medium sized water snake with a fish in it's belly, and it was now stuck in the cage haha.

[modelbuilder]

Saw this little guy in Death Valley on the way to Barker Ranch...

And for the North American thing...I don't like snakes. There scare the living daylights out of me. I don't want to see them anymore then they want to see me. I respect the hell out of them though. Deadly, dangerous, and when you run across one on the trail it's because you are in their territory.

Red to Yellow Kill a Fellow. Red to Black Venom Lack.

Any way here is Bubba from Death Valley...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4sEIajwstjQ/Sck7361hHnI/AAAAAAAADGE/2HvgS1IRwUA/s512/Pics%20010.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4sEIajwstjQ/Sck77gIvJII/AAAAAAAADGM/_1pAM23dTe0/s512/Pics%20011.jpg

[jeepmedic46]

Not a big fan of snakes myself. Thank you for the rhyme couldn't remember how to tell if it was poisonous or not.:coffee: