It Was A Very, Very Bad Snake
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That sure looked like a water moccasin to me. Seconds later, the phone rang.
Wife: Did you get the picture.
Me: Uh, yeah. I think that's a water moccasin. I'm on my way home.
Whatever it was, it was big and needed to DIE, so I blasted out of work and got home in record time. By then, the snake had disappeared, and the only place it could have disappeared to was under a big concrete back step.
I quickly rounded up various implements of destruction, including my crazy Vietnam veteran neighbor, and went to work to pry up that concrete block. Sure enough, the very, very bad snake slithered out the other side and made a break for the nearby deck. "There it goes!" my wife hollered. I leaped over there and, with a shovel, went William Wallace on his ass.
The snake's head and body were soon parted.
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Rambo from next door was certain that it was a water moccasin, and so was I.
However, subsequent Internet research clouded that identification, and now I'm thinking this thing might have been a yellow-bellied water snake. I've seen dozens of pictures of water moccasins and yellow-bellied water snakes. I've seen water moccasin pictures that looked EXACTLY like our snake, but I've seen the same for yellow-bellied water snakes.
Our snake, which measured about 4 feet long, was an old-timer and most likely had been living under that concrete block for some time. We suspect the dog, which alerted my wife to the snake's presence Monday, had known about this fella for some time. The dog often burrowed under the deck and engaged in a barking frenzy. We thought it might have been frogs that got the dog riled up, but deep down, I suspected it was either a snake, possum, rat or raccoon.
Moccasins are kind of like the brown-recluse spider of the snake world. A lot of other snakes look like them, but you just have to go ahead and assume the worst.
Regardless, I'm glad that sucker is gone. I draped his still-wriggling body over the top of a backyard bush as a present for the critters we do like: the owls, hawks and other predatory birds that assist us in the never-end war on very, very bad things.
posted by Brian Pearson at 10:42 AM
77 Comments:
Howdy, Pinewood neighbor!
That is a very, very bad snake. Eek! But somehow, it looks smaller in the last two pictures. My dog killed one of those snakes once, but we couldn't decide if it was a mocassin or just a big rat snake. (The "snakes of Texas" book was remarkably unhelpful.) It was, of course, at least three times as big as your snake! :-)
Howdy!
Following exhaustive research and scanning dozens of conflicting Internet pictures, I'm just going to have to call it a moccasin.
It's mouth was lilly white, and my crazy neighbor used to hunt these things for money. He said he was 100 percent sure it was a moccasin, so I'll just go with that.
hey guys most people would think this is a water moccasin, but once you have seen the real thing it is very easy to tell the difference. remember that snakes help to keep the rodent population down that could otherwise cause the real problems. i will bet my life on this being a watersnake, i own a water moccasin.
I hate to break it too you. But you incorrectly identified that snake. It was a yellow bellied water snake. You can tell because the shape of the head is not that of a pit viper, which is triangular (large venom glands gives them swollen cheeks)
Additionally, if you look at your own photos of the head, you will notice a distinct lack of the thing that gives pit vipers their name. Heat sensitive pits between the eye and nostril.
Water snakes, like other colubrids are often very good viper mimics. But if you so much as looked at a field guide, you would have been able to tell it was a water snake.
All snakes serve vital roles in their ecosystems. They have been on this planet millions of years longer than us, and have lived in the area your yard is in long before the first asian nomads crossed the Bering Land Bridge and became native americans. So dont kill every snake that looks venomous, take some time to familiarize yourself with snakes that live in your area and how to identify them, local populations often have color patterns specific to the area that can be identified. But more importantly, fear of snakes is learned. I understand a desire to protect your child from possible envenomation, but knowledge works better than fear, and having his father tell him at a young age that all snakes are bad will breed that fear. To say nothing of seeing him remove the head of a harmless water snake.
I hate to break it too you. But you incorrectly identified that snake. It was a yellow bellied water snake. You can tell because the shape of the head is not that of a pit viper, which is triangular (large venom glands gives them swollen cheeks)
Additionally, if you look at your own photos of the head, you will notice a distinct lack of the thing that gives pit vipers their name. Heat sensitive pits between the eye and nostril.
Water snakes, like other colubrids are often very good viper mimics. But if you so much as looked at a field guide, you would have been able to tell it was a water snake.
All snakes serve vital roles in their ecosystems. They have been on this planet millions of years longer than us, and have lived in the area your yard is in long before the first asian nomads crossed the Bering Land Bridge and became native americans. So dont kill every snake that looks venomous, take some time to familiarize yourself with snakes that live in your area and how to identify them, local populations often have color patterns specific to the area that can be identified. But more importantly, fear of snakes is learned. I understand a desire to protect your child from possible envenomation, but knowledge works better than fear, and having his father tell him at a young age that all snakes are bad will breed that fear. To say nothing of seeing him remove the head of a harmless water snake.
I hate to break it too you. But you incorrectly identified that snake. It was a yellow bellied water snake. You can tell because the shape of the head is not that of a pit viper, which is triangular (large venom glands gives them swollen cheeks)
Additionally, if you look at your own photos of the head, you will notice a distinct lack of the thing that gives pit vipers their name. Heat sensitive pits between the eye and nostril.
Water snakes, like other colubrids are often very good viper mimics. But if you so much as looked at a field guide, you would have been able to tell it was a water snake.
All snakes serve vital roles in their ecosystems. They have been on this planet millions of years longer than us, and have lived in the area your yard is in long before the first asian nomads crossed the Bering Land Bridge and became native americans. So dont kill every snake that looks venomous, take some time to familiarize yourself with snakes that live in your area and how to identify them, local populations often have color patterns specific to the area that can be identified. But more importantly, fear of snakes is learned. I understand a desire to protect your child from possible envenomation, but knowledge works better than fear, and having his father tell him at a young age that all snakes are bad will breed that fear. To say nothing of seeing him remove the head of a harmless water snake.
That snake had as much right to its life as any other being, and you are a selfish fool to kill it with an absolute disregard for its natural role. Shame on you. The least you could have done was to do a bit of research on its breed and alternate solutions before resorting to such barbarism. How dare you!?
No such thing as a 'bad snake', just an ignorant person. Why did you feel the need to kill it?
Why did you not look up and call a wildlife re-locater?
It desrves to die only because its venomous? Thats stupidity and cruelty!
I want you to know also that contrary to your apparent idea,
decapitation IS NOT and instant painless death for a reptile.
Infact its about as cruel as it gets!
You see due to a much lower metabolism in reptiles, a reptile brain requires much less oxygen than a mammal brain, consequently
the head of a decapitated snake actually remains alive, in agony for anything up to half an hour afterward before expiring!
Your photo shows a mutilated but live and suffering snake on that shovel.
Educate yourself and stop living/acting out of ignorance and fear. There is no excuse for what you did!
I'm really sorry you felt the need to kill this harmless snake. You even seemed to take pleasure in it. Was it pride? Were you victorious over the vicious water serpent? What a mighty warrior you are!
It would be petty of me to wish your home overrun with rodents for this, and so I hope that doesn't come to pass. If it does happen, though, you may rest easy knowing justice was served. You certainly have it coming.
Disgusting the way these animals are villified. Be ashamed.
Shut up you freakin' tree huggers. I was researching this exact same situation tonight because I had the exact same snake on my back porch tonight. Thank you sir for posting the chopped off head picture on the shovel. Looks exactly like mine did. I did the exact same thing you did - protected my family.
Now - back to the nature lovin' tree huggers....perhaps you're all gay, lesbian, or refuse to have children like so many of you goobers so selifishly do but out here in the country in TX we have this thing called family....you know, wife (and a girl by the way), children, dogs, cats, etc. When we see a 3-4 ft. snake hanging out on the back porch we don't grab an issue of VW weekly and hit the net to find out what it is before we protect our children, pets, and property. I agree that chopping the head off with a shovel isn't the most humane way to kill the thing but I didn't want to shoot towards my house - brick/foundation damage, you know? So to all of you dread-locked, bead wearin', latte sippin', America hating freaks out there, leave the true blooded American alone. He was reacting by instinct. Something you don't have the mental capacity to do. Please feel free to move to the West Bank, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Iraq should you feel the need to be surrounded by people of your "patriotism". Michael Moore is willing to buy your ticket I heard.
Snake killer - you and I both NOW KNOW that these things are harmless. I'm sure you'll do the same thing I will next time....catch it, share it with the kids so they can learn about it and how to recognize it, and then let it go. Thanks again for the picture. I know you feel bad as I do. Instinct is NOT wrong. We know better next time....
"Of course, I try to convince him that ALL snakes, at least for now, are bad. I've been fearing the appearance of The Big One in our yard."
Oh, of course. What else would they be? You're ridiculous.
Savageintx, you sound pretty tough yourself. Maybe the next time he sees a snake he should call you up, you can come over and hold hands and THEN kill it. Of course, then you might have arguments over who the real alpha male is, so maybe it's a bad idea. I'd understand the "family" argument if it was a lion or a bear, but a harmless snake? I don't kill every bee I see in my yard because it "might" sting my children.
Oh, ok, he didn't KNOW and thought it was a poisonous snake. Hmmm, sounds like that's EXACTLY what all of those other posters were saying before big savage man in texas insulted them all. Knowledge is more useful than fear. Fear is what makes stupid people act stupidly.
Yup, you're such a hero. Killed a snake. Evil critters. Of course, people do a whole lot more damage and are a whole lot more dangerous. Even if that'd been an actual venomous snake, it would be much better to just let it live its life. It's so funny that people move out into the country, and then kill the stuff that was there. Don't like it, don't live there!
OK, so he killed a snake in an effort to keep his family protected from potentially poisonous bites. What's the big deal? It's ONE measly snake! Not the end of the world. How do you think he would have felt HAD it been a moccasin and one of his kids got bit and sick or even died?
I had a copperhead (suspected, since we never saw it) bite my dog and endanger her life, not to mention a $300 vet bill. I would absolutely have killed it if it were on my property and I don't think I have to feel ashamed of that.
I also found, within a month's time two Coral snakes- you know, the most potently venomous snakes in the US- and called several places who might want to "conserve" them and no one seemed to care.
I think he did the right thing. If it had been a moccasin, he would have been protecting his family. Can we not kill rats and mice either? A single mouse could likely pose much less danger than a life-threatening water moccasin, so I wonder if it's against the code or ignorant to kill a mouse as well?
I understand different people have different feelings about animals, but there's no need to slam him because his actions and opinions don't coincide with yours. Several implied ignorance while being guilty of intolerance. Oftentimes, ignorance can be overcome....
By the way, just last night, I killed a yellow-bellied water snake (or was it a moccasin?) on my back porch when my almost 5 year old girl nearly stepped on it and it was not readily identified. In addition, while trying to "shoo" it from the porch, it charged and struck at me. Yes, I hope it was a moccasin isince they are in the area. More importantly, I thought of my family first. I don't think I;m going to wipe out the snake population or negatively tilt the scales of the ecology with this one.
You should not teach your kids in those terms: very, very bad, or very good. Life is not black and white like that, especially with living things. There is no such thing as a bad snake. They all serve a purpose.
If you really feel like the snakes in your area are a problem, why not buy a king snake or two. On top of teaching your kids to respect nature, the king snake would eat other snakes that you don't want around the kids.
Or, how about this: instead of killing the snake, relocate it. Snakes are not difficult to handle. I have had 14 year old kids bring me copperheads that they caught, bare-handed, to relocate for them.
It isn't a matter of one measly snake. It's about respecting life. And by your actions, you are telling your kids that killing things they don't like it fine, matter o' fact, it's great. Show some responsibility. You aren't the only one on this planet.
Poor thing. If you had even looked in a friggin' book you would have known that was no water moccasin. Water moccasins are unmistakable with big fat triangular heads and short fat bodies. There's no way you could've mistaken that largely helpful watersnake for a moccasin. Maybe you should move to the city, slicker. p.s Don't look at the internet unless it's a true herp site and not from some random blogger who just wants to tell a big fish story.
As others said you foolishly killed a harmless watersnake. Just a little research would tell you how to identify correctly. (Headshape, pitts, ect.) The most telling one from your picture is the ROUND pupil. Water moccasins have SLIT pupils, like a cat.
Everyone else here has already said in better words than I how stupid it was to kill this snake and why, so as much as I'd like to reiterate, I'll refrain.
Shut up u tree hugers if u had a snake in ur back porch what whould u do pick it up and and take iy out 2 dinner? or take it back out there no ur gonna run like a little baby or ur going to kill it dont lie .... and he was just protecting his family like a good USA man would do like that man said go move 2 iraq or iran and u might even see obama up there visiting his family !!
Shut up u tree hugers if u had a snake in ur back porch what whould u do pick it up and and take iy out 2 dinner? or take it back out there no ur gonna run like a little baby or ur going to kill it dont lie .... and he was just protecting his family like a good USA man would do like that man said go move 2 iraq or iran and u might even see obama up there visiting his family !!
Shame on you for killing that snake. I cannot believe that you are proud to have done that. And teaching your children that all snakes are bad is unbelievable!
The snake in the picture is without a doubt a water snake. Send it to the herpetology dept at any university to see for yourself. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the
varieties of snakes in your area. All species are important and some are even protected by the law. Killing snakes only gives a false sense of security which puts you at even greater risk. Being educated and cautious the only way to stay safe.
The snake in the picture is without a doubt a water snake. Send it to the herpetology dept at any university to see for yourself. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the
varieties of snakes in your area. All species are important and some are even protected by the law. Killing snakes only gives a false sense of security which puts you at even greater risk. Being educated and cautious the only way to stay safe.
I am a Huge Animal advocate but until you live in the country , and must protect your Animals and family, You have no clue what your saying. This man protected his Family, If a Child was harmed by a snake that was venemouse and he said that he had seen a snake but did nothing , You would be jumping all over that also. EDUCATE yourselves about life in the Country before you Spaek. Guns and Protecting Your livestock and family are our way of life . GET USED TOO IT!!!
I thank God that my family had the decent sense to teach me respect for animals, not hatred. Children aren't stupid -- you can teach them to stay away from animals that might be dangerous without following that with a shovel-decapitation. I've lived in the country, I've stumbled across rattlesnakes in fields, and - surprise, surprise - lived to tell the tale. My parents had warned me about them, and I turned and walked the other way. The snake was relocated, not slaughtered. Not its fault for existing.
I hope you take a little of each comment into consideration, Mr. Pearson. I understand how terrifying it must've been to imagine a venemous snake living on your property, but perhaps with some research and thought, next time could be turned into something positive for your family. Teach your kids not to approach the snakes, and show them that you can respect wildlife without putting yourself in danger by calling someone to relocate the animal.
And as for SavageinTX and Republic of Texas, come on. Lacing your replies with insults, derogatory slang and holier than thou language isn't going to get you anywhere, and it only makes your point less convincing. Stop 'arguing' like three year olds and grow up. If your point of view has facts and a mature opinion behind it, it shouldn't need all the trash talk to make it seem justified.
I'd have to agree that it's not a water moccasin. As all pit vipers have an arrow-shaped head, and this does not, I'm forced to conclude that it's not even venomous. That would mean that it's probably a very large watersnake. I once caught a cottonmouth on my friend's property near Kansas City when I lived there, and this looks nothing like that snake.
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I deal with Snakes here in So Cal. Well not the venomous ones, But I do love snakes with a deep passion. However, I was reading some of this comments people left on here saying things like "you are a selfish fool to kill it with an absolute disregard for its natural role." and I just wanted to say. Put yourself in his shoes. If you are dealing with something that you do not know much about. I'm pretty sure it's natural role would be the last thing on your mind. especially when you have a young child. I would have to say Protecting his family was on his mind. I'm not saying killing the snake was the right thing to do, but name calling before you even know the person isn't good either.
I've lived in Texas for years and seen many water moccasins, your probably not gonna believe me but I've had six different instances of them crawling over my bare feet to get to the water while I walked around the pond. I even stepped on one once, I take this to mean that they are not to aggressive. Not to mention they do some good by eating rodents that could actually cause you some financial damage. Obviously they can be dangerous but it was probably just hiding under your deck for the day, I suggest you leave them be from now on, they've spared me, you should spare them.
I and my family live in the woods down in coastal Texas. We have 2 weenie dogs that do a great job of protecting all of us from these snakes if they come to close to the house or pond. I asked "cheetos" and "crackers" what kind of snake this is and they both agreed that it IS a yellow bellied water snake. Seems they have both killed quite a few EXACTLY like it. Should I teach my weenie dogs which snakes to kill and which ones to leave alone? Or should I just KILL the weenie dogs for being so stupid and cruel? Just wondering. :)
Some very intelligent people commenting on this page. First off the snake is a harmless water snake, for numerous reasons, mainly there is a circle eye and not a "cat eye" This snake could and would harm NO ONE. If a child went after this snake to pick it up it would go away before anyone could touch it. I'm frustrated a snake was killed for no reason, but I understand Mr. Pearson's concern at the time to protect his family. As far as his neighbors concern that it is def a cottonmouth, well he is def an idiot.
I'm pretty sure it was a brown water snake, based on the pupil shape, but it's hard to know what shape a potentially hazardous snake's pupil is when you're trying to corner it - for removal or murder - and they do look incredibly alike. But the kicker is, that brown water snakes still have a nasty temper, even if they don't have the venom to match. They will try to bite if you mess with them. A snake bite, even without poison, is not a pleasant experience for your kids. We live in the country and regularly remove water snakes from our water garden (and transplant to the creek down the road - but we always wear gloves because they always try to bite) but I find no fault in killing one that's a hazard to your children.
Those people saying "you tree-hugger" this and that can shove it. You misinterpret the compassion of a living creature for ignorance and being unpatriotic. Come on, the Native American's respected all life under the great sun, and to destroy it is destroying God. Water snakes are not evil, nor are any other snake. If you mess with it, of course it will attack. You threaten me, you'd better believe I'd attack you. And besides, only ignorant fools are so unwise as to call themselves patriotic, and still live in the state of Texas. How dare you? We stole that part of the country from the people of Mexico. We claimed the rest of America from Mexico after we defeated them. And them act patriotic about it. Not to mention we stole this entire country from the native peoples, and left them the worst parts of it as reservations. Patriotism is dead; tyranny and totalitarianism is brewing within the so called "patriots" of the USA.
Also, not everyone who values a living life is a homosexual, mentally-handicapped fool like most of the slower folks in the south like to believe. Believe me, I'm none of those things, and I'm still what you would call a "tree-hugger".
Poor thing! = ((
He was such a beautiful creature! I came across one like this, of course he stanced up ready to protect himself, but let me and my dogs pass.
If it was a water mocassin, Im sure he would have not let you get that close to take a picture on the porch. There are actually stories of these things (mocassins) chasing you out of aggressiveness. I assure you, you wouldnt have gotten such a friendly picture that close.
And that is an opinion of someone from TEXAS. We are not all barbaric rednecks, educated people actually live here.
Poor thing! = ((
He was such a beautiful creature! I came across one like this, of course he stanced up ready to protect himself, but let me and my dogs pass.
If it was a water mocassin, Im sure he would have not let you get that close to take a picture on the porch. There are actually stories of these things (mocassins) chasing you out of aggressiveness. I assure you, you wouldnt have gotten such a friendly picture that close.
And that is an opinion of someone from TEXAS. We are not all barbaric rednecks, educated people actually live here.
As a matter of fact, I think he is a yellow bellied watersnake, or some sort of close relative. Just so you know next time.
I am all for wildlife preservation, environmental protection and recreation but its sad that defending your family from a wild animal, any wild animal for that matter calls for such rhetoric and attack of what looks like a red blooded american man trying to raise,provide, and protect his family. I dont agree with insults but My god dont you people have anything better to do. We have a right to live were we want and do as we please in the realm of laws deemed appropriate by or society and to add some purpose I found this today because my family and I live on 12 acres of land, 1/2 acre is fenced yard and We found a 4ft+ yellow bellied rat,chicken,water ect...snake in my yard yesterday evening, not 30 min after and in the same location my wife and I were watching my 3 year old and our dogs play. We came inside the dogs were going nuts my wife went out came back in screaming SNAKE!, I grabed what I call my Snake Charmer a 20 guage shotgun, took a pic and then shot it. Today I was trying to match the pic when I came across this. You can attack all you want but my family is safe and it is my right as an american to live and protect by any means that I see fit. Those who chose to judge have obviously never been in that situation. So Please go back to your urban jungle and find a more productive cause.
I see this happened a couple of years ago but I don't think that matters much. First, I have been a professional Herpetologist for 41years now and own Specialized Venoms in South Carolina. I handle cottonmouths at least once a week and that in no way even looks like a cottonmouth. The first responce was right on the money, a yellow bellied water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster), completely harmless to humans. They do have a bad attitude when restrained and will bite, the end results of a bite is repaired with soap, water and maybe a band-aid. The misconception between cottonmouths and water snakes has been around for hundreds of years and it will only fade away with education. To see the real thing, visit a zoo, call your county extention agency for literature, buy a good book with clear pictures, but most of all stop bashing every thing that might be into pieces. Even if this were a cottonmouth, it was going to do no harm, let it pass through unharmed and that will be the end of it. As for the idiot that hates tree huggers, if you listen to him there won't be a tree left to hug. It's far easier to kill then it is to learn, but if you have a family, it's up to you to raise the kids the right way. You had a great oportunity to learn together but passed it up, on the other hand your son now knows how to uproot a set of steps and destroy a harmless creature that committed no wrong doing. If you are honest, you know that the boy was taught the wrong lesson. The worst part is that the person who taught him the wrong way, was someone he looks up to and expects to learn from. How will you handle the next situation or will your son already know what dad would do so he will handle himself? It
's not to late dad, spend the weekend learning together.
Okay, after reading all of these posts, I just have to give my opinion. When I was in 6th grade, I was bitten on the ankle by a copperhead snake. It was just big enough to wrap around my ankle, where it bit me once & as I looked down it was preparing to bite me again. Luckily I was able to kick it off my ankle with the shoe on my other foot, & it just grazed me the 2nd time. Let me tell you from experience, a venomous snake bite is NOT fun & is VERY painful. I got very sick & was in the hospital for over a week, was on crutches for 3 months & ended up having to go to physical therapy to learn to walk on that foot again. I was told by the doctors in the hospital that if the snake would have bitten me the 2nd time, it more than likely could have killed me. Now that I am older & have small children of my own, I will do everything in my power to make sure that they dont have to go through the pain & trauma that I went through all those years ago. The reason I found this site was because my kids were playing in the front yard earlier & came running in the house saying they saw a snake. My son said it went right next to his foot. My husband went out with a shovel & killed it without even hesitating. To me, all he was doing was protecting our children. Now looking @ pictures on the internet, I'm thinking that it was probably a yellow-bellied water snake, but who cares. It was a snake, in my yard, around my kids, & it needed to be dead. Everybody can have their own opinion, but I dont think you really know the consequences of a venomous snake bite until you almost die from one. In fact, we just had a man that lived about 15 minutes from here, that actaully died from a copperhead bite about a week ago. I'm sure his family would feel the same way as I do about snakes. So to all you people who are angry & lashing out at this man for killing the snake, I pray for you that you will not have to go through what I went through. But please dont judge me for feeling the way I do.
Round pupil = water snake
Slanted pupil = cotton mouth
Just one difference. Also, look for the pit between the eye and nostril.
This is one I would release in a nearby lake or stream. I think it was a water snake.
Geez man. You are a very, very ignorant person, I love to break it to you. The dead give-a-way that you are a overly scared MORON-look at the pupil of the decapitated snakes head. Big round eyes, you see? NON-venomous. All venomous N. American snakes have eliptical pupils. Well, you look like the church going type, and that religion teaches to kill things you don't understand or fear, so you probably believe you made the right choice. Maybe someday we'll get lucky and someone will return the favor to you. Karma comes around punk....
I just shooed one of these exact snakes off my porch.
I could tell it wasn't poisonous by it's rounded pupils, but it had a cream colored lower jaw and a diamond patterning on its back. It was also striking like crazy and it was flaring it's jaws to seem like a venomous snake.
I'm a biologist so I was sure what I had was a banded water snake, but while I don't approve of your killing this guy I can understand. I just hope that next time you take a few seconds and look at it's eyes. Round is safe, slit pupils are not. Same goes for copperheads and their look-alikes. The only round-eyed snake that is harmful is a coral snake and you've got to be really really diligent to get bitten by those tiny-mouthed rear-fanged critters :)
Wow, I have to say this seems to be a microcosm of our society today. My friend, I agree with the decision to kill the snake, and I understand the others who dont. Thing is, this is a free country and do we not have issues much more important than chastising someone for killing a snake that they thought was poisonous? Not all of us are blessed with the apparent uber-intelligence that you folks have. Please, grow up, live and let live. We STILL live in a country that values freedom, and that includes the freedom to kill something that might be a threat. As long as this country is free, which might not be too long, grow up and live your lives. I wont critique your way of life if you dont critique mine. Brian, I am sorry that what you did caused such venom from others. I wouldve done the same my friend. To the others that disagree.....you act like youd rather see him or one of his kids dead than the fool-snake. Really? Is this what we have lowered ourselves to? Im frightened by the comments you have made toward this man.
Wow. The irony that Papa said we should "Live and let live..." is so thick I can't breathe.
Heather~have you ever been bitten by a poisonous snake? I'm betting no, because if you have, then you more than likely wouldnt feel the way you do. Like I said in my previous post, I was bitten by a copperhead & got VERY, VERY sick. The whole "look at the shape of their pupil/eyes" thing is just crazy to me. I promise you, when I was bitten, I had no time to look at the shape of the snakes eyes, nor would I have wanted to be close enough to be able to anyway. I see where you called this man ignorant & an overly scared moron & then tell him "karma comes around punk"..WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? So are you saying that after being bitten by a snake that ended up being poisonous, I don't have the right to want any snake I see to be a dead snake? And if I do, does that make me an "ignorant, overly scared moron"? Does it make me a "punk" because I got my husband to kill a snake that was in our yard that had slithered right past my young son's foot? Is "Karma" going to take care of me because I was trying to take care of my children & because of that the snake is now dead? People like you disgust me, always trying to "shame" people for trying to protect themselves or their family. So go ahead, next time you see a snake~try to get close enough to "see the shape of it's pupils". Maybe you'll get bit like I did, then you'd know the pain of a venomous snake bite. I bet if you did, you'd change your idiotic point of view on this topic..
Well, KMS, you have your point. However, I stand by what I said. Just last night I was walking in the dark and found a 3 foot blotched water snake right in front of me. i already knew what it was, as I study snakes, but i wasn't any less than 8 inches away from it face to face, looking at him, i did NOT put myself between him and his protection (the pond), and I believe that most people claiming that water snakes "chase" them are really just in the way of what the snake wants, the water aka safety. After about 5 minutes he slowly meandered to the water and neither of us were any worse for wear. To answer your question, after 20 years of practice I have not been bitten by a venomous snake (not poisoness). I've handled copperheads and some big rattlesnakes, i have been bitten over 100 times by non venomous snakes, the worst being a 7 foot prego red tailed boa constrictor. Didn't blame the snake though. Every snake venomous or not that i have ever encountered has only ever wanted to be left alone to crawl away to safety. This includes some mighty big rattlesnakes and cottonmouth water moccasins, the only venomous water snake in N. America. Fear and ignorance produce terrible results and you would be much better off leaving the snakes alone and teaching your children what to do should they encounter an unknown snake in the yard or the wild. At the age of 4 I understood what LEAVE IT THE H$LL ALONE meant. Yes, I do think you are a terrible person for killing snakes that you, unrightfully believe, are posing a threat to your family. It would be much better if you would learn how to leave things alone and not p!ss them off in the first place. That sucks that you got bit but....KARMA COMES AROUND PUNK. and SHAME on you for getting your husband to come kill a snake in your front yard that you haven't even said was venomous. I bet you don't even know what kind it was, but I'm willing to bet you know what t.v. shows are going to be showing this evening. People like you disgust me. Stay inside in your safe little bubble and keep being guided by fear. Leave the outdoors to people that aren't such jerks.
Sorry...can't empathize. Found a snake on my back porch today under my feet curled up. My 2 year old grandson was nearby. But I calmly took his picture and started researching. When he tried to leave, I captured him calmly with my grandchild watching. I knew it was important for him not to fear snakes but I did tell him "they bite" After a day of opinions and researching it was clear I had a baby copperhead. Now, what to do? Public opinion screamed "kill it"...I was called crazy, a nut and a fool....but I did not allow this to override my respect for this snakes life. At the end of the Day, I walked him down to the creek and released him. I was left with a great feeling and felt that somehow I would never regret my decision or actions. YOU had plenty of time to check your facts. This as not an emergency situation. You could have even trapped him like I did mine. But, you chose to kill and all for your own ego and out of your own fears. You will find living in fear and teaching fear to your children will be its own punishment. Hope you stop and think next time....its not much different from teaching a child to stop and roll if they are on fire. Teaching a child to be calm in situations could save their life one day....your actions could very well cause damage to your child in the future in an entirely different situation.
This is a yellow bellied water snake. Workers at my job just killed one thinking it was a water mocassin and also last year they killed this same snake. The head is semi heart shaped and the mouth is white with brown spoting, unlike the water moccasin's mouth that is all white. The eyes of this snake are not slit and visable from the top,whereas the eyes of a pit vipor are slit and not visable from the top. Also the head is not wide like a water moccasin, Other pictures In conclusion, this is a yellow bellied water snake. They are non-poisonous and great for keeping down the pest population.
This is a yellow bellied water snake. Workers at my job just killed one thinking it was a water mocassin and also last year they killed this same snake. The head is semi heart shaped and the mouth is white with brown spoting, unlike the water moccasin's mouth that is all white. The eyes of this snake are not slit and visable from the top,whereas the eyes of a pit vipor are slit and not visable from the top. Also the head is not wide like a water moccasin, Other pictures In conclusion, this is a yellow bellied water snake. They are non-poisonous and great for keeping down the pest population.
This is a yellow bellied water snake. Workers at my job just killed one thinking it was a water mocassin and also last year they killed this same snake. The head is semi heart shaped and the mouth is white with brown spoting, unlike the water moccasin's mouth that is all white. The eyes of this snake are not slit and visable from the top,whereas the eyes of a pit vipor are slit and not visable from the top. Also the head is not wide like a water moccasin, Other pictures In conclusion, this is a yellow bellied water snake. They are non-poisonous and great for keeping down the pest population.
It will not let me post my pic in my other post 3 posts so here is a link. http://www.bugsinthenews.com/Texas%20Snake%20Web/yellow_bellied_water_snake_061804.htm.
Your snake however is a water moccasin. You did a good job. Truly it is better safe then sorry when you have kids. Don't be afraid of snakes, but be aware.
I love it !!! These postings have all the great entertainment that I crave, the very reason that I waste my time reading comments on the net. Sometimes I feel a little down, but it sure helps brighten my day to see how ignorant people tend to be. Kudos to the "biologist" claiming that coral snakes are "rear fanged." I truly hope you are NOT a biology teacher, or maybe you are the biology teacher in Texas that kept a cottonmouth snake in the classroom thinking it was a yellow bellied water snake. To those who glorify "protecting one's family" as justification for killing animals, how about this. In America you are more likely to be killed by a horse or a dog than by a snake. So when I see your dog/horse outside where my precious family might possibly be at some point, I am going to grab my shovel and decapitate said dog/horse. Oh wait, I would probably go to jail for chopping your dogs head off, because your pet is "cute" and it gets protection but a snake, yuk. You can argue all you want about your "right" to protect your family, but in the end you were wrong about the potential threat. Let's take it a step further. You are a crappy driver, so you pose a much greater risk of killing me, my family, or my friends than any snake. Does that mean I should shoot you as it is very possible that you are a danger to my life. What is even more entertaining than all of this is the fact that we as a society worry so much about the immediate "threats" to our family such as killer snakes yet we all disregaurd the fact that we are killing off species and habitats acrossed the globe. Does anyone else think that maybe our children and grandchildren etc might come to find a world without rainforests or coral reefs? What will your answer be when they ask you why you didn't make changes when you had the chance to protect the amazing beauty of nature. Will you tell them that it was for THEIR benifit that you had to drive a hummer or have a 70 inch plasma TV because you were ashamed of the size of your manhood? Will you teach them that is is more important to pollute the water, air, and soil to attain more possesions than the "Jones" down the block than to be content to live in a sustainable mannor? It is the ignorance of each generation that teaches the youth to continue the errors of the past even though the times/information have changed. Keep killing everything and everyone that we don't understand or agree with... what a great mentality to teach our youth. The capacity for understanding should be taught to all youth if we want to overcome the problems of the past. Fear breeds ignorance.
I agree we shouldn't kill stuff indiscriminately but even the "experts" on this site have disagreed about whether this was a yellow water snake or a cottonmouth. So, in the face of not knowing then I wouldn't be too quick to condemn the killing of this snake. Trying to move the snake around to catch it and relocate it has been a pretty exciting thing for me and luckily I didn't get bitten. Snakes are pretty much averse to being messed with so trying to relocate it is easier said than done.
Round pupils = non-venomous.
It took me two seconds to see it wasn't a danger to anyone.
Pathetic.
I'm having a hard time even saying that those pictures are of the same snake. The first one does have the pit viper shape of it's heat while the one of just the head shows a shape more like that of a constrictor (water snake). This might be the problem here.
I'm having a hard time even saying that those pictures are of the same snake. The first one does have the pit viper shape of it's heat while the one of just the head shows a shape more like that of a constrictor (water snake). This might be the problem here.
I'm having a hard time even saying that those pictures are of the same snake. The first one does have the pit viper shape of it's heat while the one of just the head shows a shape more like that of a constrictor (water snake). This might be the problem here.
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Thats a common louisiana yellow belly water snake non venomous they eat rodents great snake to have in the yard you are a dumb ass for killing it who would you like it if the snake cut your head because he thought you was dangerous
You're a monster.
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Look I see why you hate snakes and while I do sympathize with your reaction made purely out of fear I happen to help a friend of mine with catching copper heads, cotten mouths, and ever so often a rattle snake he catches them because he loves snakes he milks their poison and gives it to hospitals to make a five antivenom he takes a small portion for himself considering he hasked been bitten by them all and will continue to but he still loves them if you saw a grass snake go over your grandson's foot would you still be scared if he went to a friend'so house and they had a ball python and he wanted to touch it would you be afraid
I will simply say this I hate you and love snakes also tell hour kids if one goes over their foot not to move unless their sure it I nonvenomous
These photos you posted definitely show a harmless water snake and not a water moccasin (cottonmouth), just FYI. You can tell most easily by the eyes - the pupils of moccasin eyes are thin slits while the pupils of water snakes are round, like the ones in your photos.
I would pick it up and move it to a place where my chickens wouldn't kill it and it could continue to eat my mice. It isn't hard to see that that snake is harmless if you had done your research and know what the venomous snakes in your area actually look like. This tree hugger recently saved a garter snake from her dog and owns a 4 foot python. I do not run screaming from something that their bites hurt less than a dogs bite. Only scared babies kill something out of ignorance.
If it is your way of life then educating yourself on the dangers would be at the top of the list. Not killing everything because you can't tell the difference. Living in the country doesn't mean you get a pass to being an idiot.
If it is your way of life then educating yourself on the dangers would be at the top of the list. Not killing everything because you can't tell the difference. Living in the country doesn't mean you get a pass to being an idiot.
Thank you so much! Just what I was thinking! Poor innocent yellow bellied water snake! How ignorant can one be to not research? Why kill? Why show your kids violence is ok? Not to mention snakes do not die instantly when you chop their head off-they suffer for as long as an hour!!!! It's a shame what this world is coming to!!!! Shame shame shame! Extension of the penis....or lack their of! Hope you feel like a real man now you pansy!
*there
Exactly!!!!! Poor innocent snake!
Love your logic!!!! Lmao! It's people like you who make this world an evil place!
Right! What about respect for living creatures? No everyone wants to KILL.....will never understand their logic!
Truth!
Wait....so you are saying it's ok to kill because you live in the country??!!!?? Wow! Ignorance at its bliss! Please go educate yourself!!!
Love your explanation! Thank you for educating the ignorant!
Once again, ignorance at its best! Keep teaching your kids VIOLENCE and you may have a Jeffrey Dahmer on your hands! Protect your family??? From a snake??? Omg that's pretty pathetic considering we are the ones tearing down places for animals to live!
& you should teach your child(ren?) That anything you kill you must eat! This should be implemented by a young age & you must always follow thru with this very important belief/ rule 2 life! Because I'd you kill something you should at least give it the respect of eating it & praying over it ofcourse apologizing & thanking God for its sacrifice! Of course make sure it's not poisonous to humans 1st!
Lol, u can never be to careful when it comes to your family!
Y'all leave him alone. This was a judgment call, and he erred on the side of safety. I faced exactly such a snake just a few minutes ago, and I emailed a photo of it to my cousin who normally helps me identify friend or foe when it comes to snakes. It does have some of the characteristics of a water moccasin, unless you have some experience with the differences.
So c'mon people, don't be mean. It's a snake, not a baby unicorn. Meanwhile, I highly recommend keeping a 3-pack of professional "Professional Standard Snake Tongs Reptile Grabber Rattle Snake Catcher Wide Jaw Handling Tool", one at each door of the house, for just such situations.
In my case, after finally grabbing the snake with my snake tongs, the area around me began to smell like skunk, which I was able to see in the "Field Guide to Texas Snakes" is characteristic of the yellow-bellied water snake. Not the water moccasin. So I felt justified in doing what I did, which was to pick the guy up and transport him off into the woods where he can hunt frogs and stay away from my dogs and cats which would probably be his demise. (My cats eat copperheads with a vengeance).
Stay safe out there. Watch where you step this summer.
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