Beware the snakes are out and about
For those of you in or coming to the southwest a cautionary reminder about our rattlesnake population. Spring has sprung as we are on our second straight week of mid to high 80 degree temps. The sna...
Forum Discussion
You're preachin' to the choir here in Florida. It's something natives learn early in life and deal with constantly in tropical and sub-tropical weather. Many years ago, we had a family friend, quite an outdoorsman, who was bitten by a coral snake while picking peas, of all things. He survived. Several years later, he again was bitten. This time, by an eastern diamondback. It wasn't pretty. Allergic to the horse serum, he didn't make it.
You have to be diligent, as you never know where they will turn up. I've found two pigmy rattlers in 2 out of 5 bails of pine straw that I purchased and hauled from the nursery to the house... in my Jeep Cherokee :E I've even had a non-poisonous snake crawl in the front door while bringing in groceries.
Even with all the education and experiences over the years, the warnings about watching where you put your hands and feet, I've managed to step on two snakes over the years. Both in residential areas where the porch light generally illuminates a short walk across the lawn to the car after dark. It's not a flashlight. Fortunately, they weren't poisonous. But, I can't describe the sickness I felt as I was suspended in mid-air, four feet above the ground, wishing I had used a flashlight or at least worn some Depends that evening. I'll leave my encounters with sharks and gators for another time. But, if you get down here, they warrant a healthy respect too.
You have to be diligent, as you never know where they will turn up. I've found two pigmy rattlers in 2 out of 5 bails of pine straw that I purchased and hauled from the nursery to the house... in my Jeep Cherokee :E I've even had a non-poisonous snake crawl in the front door while bringing in groceries.
Even with all the education and experiences over the years, the warnings about watching where you put your hands and feet, I've managed to step on two snakes over the years. Both in residential areas where the porch light generally illuminates a short walk across the lawn to the car after dark. It's not a flashlight. Fortunately, they weren't poisonous. But, I can't describe the sickness I felt as I was suspended in mid-air, four feet above the ground, wishing I had used a flashlight or at least worn some Depends that evening. I'll leave my encounters with sharks and gators for another time. But, if you get down here, they warrant a healthy respect too.
