#1: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-14 04:18:09 by AndyS
Andy writes;
I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
the mocassin was a very close call.
Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
gardening......?????
Andy in Eureka, Texas
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#2: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-14 04:33:17 by JoeSpareBedroom
"AndyS" <andysharpe@juno.com> wrote in message
news:1150251489.826006.322680@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Andy writes;
>
> I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
> copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
> This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
> and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
> Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
> the mocassin was a very close call.
>
> Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
> folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
>
> Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
> gardening......?????
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
>
I tripped over my cat in the garden and almost ended up with a cultivating
tool in the side of my head. Does that count? :-)
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#3: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-14 06:24:22 by Zootal
When I lived in Las Vegas, we had a rather severe Black Widow infestation.
They didn't like moist places, but would still occaisonally turn up in the
garden. Fortunately, they are timid spiders and you have to stick you hand
into their web and corner them to get bit. Many close calls, but the Black
Widow is more afraid of you then you are of it, and will run away from you
if it can.
Up here in the NorthWest we have hobo spiders, but I've not seen any yet. We
do have a lot of Giant House Spiders, which are big and fast. When I see
them, I move them to my wood pile or garden as they will kill hobos when
they find them.
Oh yeah - skunks. They like to prowl the garden at night, but run when I
turn the outside light so we don't have run ins with them.
"AndyS" <andysharpe@juno.com> wrote in message
news:1150251489.826006.322680@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Andy writes;
>
> I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
> copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
> This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
> and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
> Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
> the mocassin was a very close call.
>
> Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
> folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
>
> Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
> gardening......?????
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
>
Report this message |
#4: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-14 16:27:39 by Tim Fischer
"AndyS" <andysharpe@juno.com> wrote in message
news:1150251489.826006.322680@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Andy writes;
> Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
> gardening......?????
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
>
I have had to deal with three western diamondbacks, a sidewinder, and a
Mohave green this spring and the season is just beginning. Not exactly
gardening, but the Mohave was under the stairs down to my pool yard. I
reached through the steps to pull out a frisbee and didn't see the snake
just inches away until after I'd grabbed it (the frisbee, not the snake).
My dog likes to hang out in the shade under the steps and dropped the
frisbee when he saw the snake. He was bit on the nose last year by a
diamondback and avoids snakes at all costs. It was an expensive lesson as
anitvenin is costly - not to mention the pain he suffered. It's unsettling,
to say the least, to step out the door and find a rattler under foot.
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#5: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-14 16:50:57 by Bill R
AndyS wrote:
>
> Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
> gardening......?????
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
>
The only snakes that I see in my garden are harmless garter snakes.
There are lots of them as the pictures on my web site show:
http://members.iglou.com/brosen/snakes.htm
I have stepped on them, ran over them with the lawn mower, and grabbed
them when pulling weeds but I have never been bitten.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)
Gardening for over 40 years
To see pictures from my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen
Digital Camera - Pentax *ist DL
Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail
Report this message |
#6: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-14 20:11:26 by Sterling
"AndyS" <andysharpe@juno.com> wrote in message
news:1150251489.826006.322680@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Andy writes;
>
> I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
> copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
> This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
> and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
> Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
> the mocassin was a very close call.
>
> Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
> folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
>
> Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
> gardening......?????
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
>
I live outside Cincinnati Ohio. As far as I know, we don't have
any poisonous snakes in the area. Every once in a while, I hear
of a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend-who-knows-someone-who-
knows-someone that got bitten by something poisonous -- but
when you follow these things through and investigate, it always
turns out to be unsubstantiated rumor mill stuff.
I've been outside nearly every day of my life in this area for ...
oh ... 'bout the last 30 years or so. Spending most of the time
in the yard at the homestead, but also spend several weeks a
year living full-time outside -- backpacking/camping in the
area.
I have never seen anything poisonous.
Anyone in SE Ohio got legitimate evidence of such? Not the
friend-of-a-friend stuff, but real, hard, first-hand evidence?
Report this message |
#7: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-14 22:45:04 by Mindful
"AndyS" <andysharpe@juno.com> wrote in message
news:1150251489.826006.322680@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Andy writes;
>
> I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
> copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
> This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
> and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
> Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
> the mocassin was a very close call.
>
> Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
> folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
>
> Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
> gardening......?????
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
>
My friend down in Foley reached to pick some weeds and was attacked by fire
ants. She ended up in the ER from the reaction. She gave up gardening.
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#8: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-14 23:35:51 by William Wagner
In article <e6ps9e$nvn$1@nntp.aioe.org>,
"Mindful" <spamtrap@spamfree.com> wrote:
> "AndyS" <andysharpe@juno.com> wrote in message
> news:1150251489.826006.322680@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> > Andy writes;
> >
> > I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
> > copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
> > This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
> > and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
> > Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
> > the mocassin was a very close call.
> >
> > Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
> > folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
> >
> > Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
> > gardening......?????
> >
> > Andy in Eureka, Texas
> >
>
> My friend down in Foley reached to pick some weeds and was attacked by fire
> ants. She ended up in the ER from the reaction. She gave up gardening.
Worse I've had in 40 years was to be weeding and disturb a yellow
jacket nest. It took numerous stings before I realized something was
amiss.
Sad to hear your friend gave up gardening. Perhaps container gardening
or another option would be fun. Nothing wrong with house plants or a
small green house.
I ran into the fire ants only once while waiting for my wife who was
shopping. I sat on a bench and my feet touched the ground. . Not
nice.
Bill
--
S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade
This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.
Report this message |
#9: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 00:13:53 by Jangchub
On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:11:26 -0400, "Sgt.Sausage" <nobody@nowhere.com>
wrote:
>
>I live outside Cincinnati Ohio. As far as I know, we don't have
>any poisonous snakes in the area. Every once in a while, I hear
>of a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend-who-knows-someone-who-
>knows-someone that got bitten by something poisonous -- but
>when you follow these things through and investigate, it always
>turns out to be unsubstantiated rumor mill stuff.
>
>I've been outside nearly every day of my life in this area for ...
>oh ... 'bout the last 30 years or so. Spending most of the time
>in the yard at the homestead, but also spend several weeks a
>year living full-time outside -- backpacking/camping in the
>area.
>
>I have never seen anything poisonous.
>
>Anyone in SE Ohio got legitimate evidence of such? Not the
>friend-of-a-friend stuff, but real, hard, first-hand evidence?
I live in Texas where they say there are all these poison snakes. I
do have many snakes in my gardens, but mostly corn and rat snakes, not
poisonous and when I come across them they go the other direction.
I also think many of these stories are mythos.
Report this message |
#10: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 02:03:05 by Bill R
Sgt.Sausage wrote:
>
> Anyone in SE Ohio got legitimate evidence of such? Not the
> friend-of-a-friend stuff, but real, hard, first-hand evidence?
>
There are a few poisonous snakes in this area. If you are around creeks
lookout for water moccasins. Also in this area there are copperheads,
and two varieties of rattlesnakes. The only poisonous snakes that I
have actually seen in this area are the water moccasins.
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)
Gardening for over 40 years
To see pictures from my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen
Digital Camera - Pentax *ist DL
Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail
Report this message |
#11: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 03:29:43 by Mindful
"William Wagner" <not-to-here-williamwag@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:not-to-here-williamwag-C6E7B8.17355014062006@sn-indi.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net...
> In article <e6ps9e$nvn$1@nntp.aioe.org>,
> "Mindful" <spamtrap@spamfree.com> wrote:
>
>> "AndyS" <andysharpe@juno.com> wrote in message
>> news:1150251489.826006.322680@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>> > Andy writes;
>> >
>> > I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
>> > copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
>> > This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
>> > and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
>> > Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
>> > the mocassin was a very close call.
>> >
>> > Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
>> > folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
>> >
>> > Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
>> > gardening......?????
>> >
>> > Andy in Eureka, Texas
>> >
>>
>> My friend down in Foley reached to pick some weeds and was attacked by
>> fire
>> ants. She ended up in the ER from the reaction. She gave up gardening.
>
> Worse I've had in 40 years was to be weeding and disturb a yellow
> jacket nest. It took numerous stings before I realized something was
> amiss.
>
> Sad to hear your friend gave up gardening. Perhaps container gardening
> or another option would be fun. Nothing wrong with house plants or a
> small green house.
>
> I ran into the fire ants only once while waiting for my wife who was
> shopping. I sat on a bench and my feet touched the ground. . Not
> nice.
>
> Bill
>
> --
> S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade
> This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
> Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
> and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.
I sent her an email asking if she was gardening at all. She said she has a
few pots of flowers on the front porch. Her fear of going onto shock and
dying the next time keeps her out of the yard. She said they were recently
talking about moving back to New Jersey. Too much heat and too many insects
in Foley she said. She's allergic to insect stings. I understand her fear.
Report this message |
#12: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 05:15:27 by Carl 1 Lucky Texan
AndyS wrote:
> Andy writes;
>
> I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
> copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
> This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
> and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
> Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
> the mocassin was a very close call.
>
> Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
> folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
>
> Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
> gardening......?????
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
>
The pit vipers (rattlers, copperheads,etc.) are bite-release predators
and their venom is critical to their survival. Only in about (numbers
are sketchy due to the relative rarity of bites) 1 in 5 or 10 human bite
reports has the person been envenomed. Much depends on why you are being
bitten, whether the snake has fed recently, etc. If you are reaching
into an area where a snake has a spot 'staked out' for prey, it cannot
distinguish your hand/foot for a rodent or rabbit. You will be
envenomed. If a snake is trying to scare you away, it may strike and
bite - even more than once - and not waste its venom. Likely the myth
about dogs being immune has more to do with the type of encounters they
have with snakes. They are being scared away instead of confused with a
prey animal. Also, receiving the antivenin serum is not without risk. It
is made from horse blood products and if you have been exposed to horse,
burro, donkey meat you could have an anaphylactic reaction. Still, if
your physician is prepared for that possibility with an epi dose, it's
usually better than no AV. And even survivng a bte with AV doesn't mean
you might not have permanent damage to muscles/nerves.
If you are bitten, try to rememeber what the snake looked like or have
somone kill/capture it and bring it with you the ER. Coral snake bites
are extremely rare and they must chew on a skin fold to envenom you. 2
big fang puncture wounds will be a pit viper. DO NOT suck, cut and suck,
use electricity. Ice use is a mixed bag, it may slow the venom from
spreading, but damage will be greater in the area where it is
concentrated. Probably better without it. Just try to calmly and safely
get to a doctor. A good doctor will not administer AV until you show
symptoms of envenomation. Even if you have not been envenomed, blood
loss and/or infection is still possible and must be treated so don't
hang around at home waiting for something to swell, turn black or go numb.
Do not reach into or around logs and rocks where you cannot see.
You can find good info by googling images and other stuff related to
outdoor safety. Bees are probably the number one killer of people in the
outdoors.
Carl
--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)
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#13: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 13:25:09 by Phisherman
On 13 Jun 2006 19:18:09 -0700, "AndyS" <andysharpe@juno.com> wrote:
>Andy writes;
>
> I just had a neighbor that got bitten on the finger by a
>copperhead while he was weeding his garden by hand.
>This is North Texas and we have a LOT of copperheads
>and mocassins around, and they are a constant hazard.
>Last month, I killed two coppers and one mocassin, and
>the mocassin was a very close call.
>
> Anyway, I just thought I'd post this as a caution to remind
>folks that critters lurk under them thar rows of stuff.
>
> Anybody else here had a close call, or a bite, while
>gardening......?????
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
In the past 13 years I saw two copperheads in my backyard. Usually I
see one or two copperheads every year. You have to watch where you
put your feet and hands. Protect the large black (rat) snakes because
these snakes dine on copperheads. Copperheads are usually not fatal
to healthy adults, but the venom can kill a dog or small child.
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#14: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 13:37:07 by AndyS
Carl 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
Andy replies:
Excellent advice and a good post , Carl....
As for the poster who lives in Texas and hasn't seen any poisonous
snakes,
well,.... they have seen him/her......
I don't worry about snakes since I have lived in rural areas for most
of
my life, and am always aware of the presence of snakes. It's not hard
to avoid, and only a damn fool get him/herself bitten , mainly because
of carelessness...... Still, I have also been lucky.....
I presently live on a lakeside, and cottonmouths and copperheads
abound
around here. I have a HEALTHY respect for cottonmouths, but I don't
worry about copperheads so much since their poison isn't very strong,
and
their actions are predictable, UNLIKE the cottonmouth.....those SOBs
will
actually chase a person and make them change their underwear...
Anyway, I was interested in hearing all the various critters that
folks have
encountered in their garderns.... I would like to add that a blanket of
leaves in the fall, or also in the spring, often harbor copperheads
that are
practically invisible. So when you start to gather up a big armful for
your
garden, think about it........... Sorry if I caused anyone to give up
using
leaves, but it's not hard to do it without exposing oneself to bad
critters...
Use a rake and a piece of cardboard or wood panelling.....
Good luck to all,
Andy in Eureka, Texas (presently revelling in
surplus tomatoes)
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#15: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 13:38:02 by Ron Hardin
Ohio apparently only has garter snakes.
I always pick one up on the scythe when doing the lawn near the
bushes. They're never hurt, and just wind up on top of the windrow
that lines up on the left, looking disoriented.
Maybe it's always the same one. He's been getting progressively
bigger. I don't know what he's feeding on.
The scythe serves as a nice transport device for putting him back
in the bushes. They don't mind it as much as being picked up.
I don't know why the scythe doesn't hurt him. It's razor sharp.
--
Ron Hardin
rhhardin@mindspring.com
On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.
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#16: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 15:07:29 by Phisherman
On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:38:02 GMT, Ron Hardin <rhhardin@mindspring.com>
wrote:
>Ohio apparently only has garter snakes.
>
>I always pick one up on the scythe when doing the lawn near the
>bushes. They're never hurt, and just wind up on top of the windrow
>that lines up on the left, looking disoriented.
>
>Maybe it's always the same one. He's been getting progressively
>bigger. I don't know what he's feeding on.
>
>The scythe serves as a nice transport device for putting him back
>in the bushes. They don't mind it as much as being picked up.
>
>I don't know why the scythe doesn't hurt him. It's razor sharp.
I'm a native Buckeye and lived in several areas (Cleveland, Akron,
Columbus, Dayton, Springfield) of the state, although I left Ohio 20
some years ago. There are 27 or so kinds of snakes in Ohio, only 3 of
which are poisonous. Two of these three, the Eastern Timber
Rattlesnake and the Massasauga Rattlesnake are endangered and
protected. The other poisonous snake native to Ohio is the Copperhead,
found mainly in the south-eastern part of the state. None of these
snakes are at all likely to be found in north central Ohio. Here in
east TN, the copperhead is not uncommon, and I've come across a Timber
Rattler once in 15 years.
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#17: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 16:01:01 by Callen Molenda
"Jangchub" <sakadawa@kopan.com> wrote in message
news:ne2192lvsvb299lt02dnvtfskkh3cepktl@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:11:26 -0400, "Sgt.Sausage" <nobody@nowhere.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >I live outside Cincinnati Ohio. As far as I know, we don't have
> >any poisonous snakes in the area. Every once in a while, I hear
> >of a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend-who-knows-someone-who-
> >knows-someone that got bitten by something poisonous -- but
> >when you follow these things through and investigate, it always
> >turns out to be unsubstantiated rumor mill stuff.
> >
> >I've been outside nearly every day of my life in this area for ...
> >oh ... 'bout the last 30 years or so. Spending most of the time
> >in the yard at the homestead, but also spend several weeks a
> >year living full-time outside -- backpacking/camping in the
> >area.
> >
> >I have never seen anything poisonous.
> >
> >Anyone in SE Ohio got legitimate evidence of such? Not the
> >friend-of-a-friend stuff, but real, hard, first-hand evidence?
>
> I live in Texas where they say there are all these poison snakes. I
> do have many snakes in my gardens, but mostly corn and rat snakes, not
> poisonous and when I come across them they go the other direction.
>
> I also think many of these stories are mythos.
I don't think they're mythos. We live in Central Virginia and are infested
with copperheads. However, they mainly leave us alone and we try to do the
same.
However, while my mother was in the hospital one of her nurses had a
horrible scar on the inside of her lower arm. It literally looked as though
a lion or shark had taken a bite out of her. She told me that she was
weeding in her vegetable garden and lifted the foliage on her squash plant
to discover a copperhead underneath. He struck, and the resultant tissue
damage was quite spectacular.
Callen in VA
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#18: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 16:11:50 by Bill R
Ron Hardin wrote:
> Ohio apparently only has garter snakes.
>
> I always pick one up on the scythe when doing the lawn near the
> bushes. They're never hurt, and just wind up on top of the windrow
> that lines up on the left, looking disoriented.
>
> Maybe it's always the same one. He's been getting progressively
> bigger. I don't know what he's feeding on.
>
Ohio has a lot more than just garter snakes but most home gardeners only
see garter snakes in their landscape. If you see one snake there are
definitely more. They won't live alone and will seek a place where they
can bred. There are usually three males for every female in a given area.
Garters eat bugs (some harmful to your landscape plants) which is a good
reason to keep them around. Another good reason to have them is that
they scare the hell out of the Jehovah's Witnesses. We are bothered by
them at least monthly but since they saw one in my yard in March they
will not come on my property. I mentioned that to one of my neighbors
and they asked if they can borrow my snakes. :)
--
Bill R. (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)
Gardening for over 40 years
To see pictures from my garden visit http://members.iglou.com/brosen
Digital Camera - Pentax *ist DL
Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail
Report this message |
#19: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-15 18:30:14 by raycruzer
If someone is afraid of gardening or weeding because of snakes, they
should use long-handled tools. There are a number of long-handled
tools for weeding, hoeing, cultivating, and the like. A tool like the
weed twister, for example, can be used for pulling out weeds, as well
as digging small holes and picking up debris. It can also be used to
pin down a snake.
A large selectiion of these specialized, ergonomic tools are pictured
at the World of Weeds www.ergonica.com.
Callen Molenda wrote:
> "Jangchub" <sakadawa@kopan.com> wrote in message
> news:ne2192lvsvb299lt02dnvtfskkh3cepktl@4ax.com...
> > On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:11:26 -0400, "Sgt.Sausage" <nobody@nowhere.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >I live outside Cincinnati Ohio. As far as I know, we don't have
> > >any poisonous snakes in the area. Every once in a while, I hear
> > >of a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend-who-knows-someone-who-
> > >knows-someone that got bitten by something poisonous -- but
> > >when you follow these things through and investigate, it always
> > >turns out to be unsubstantiated rumor mill stuff.
> > >
> > >I've been outside nearly every day of my life in this area for ...
> > >oh ... 'bout the last 30 years or so. Spending most of the time
> > >in the yard at the homestead, but also spend several weeks a
> > >year living full-time outside -- backpacking/camping in the
> > >area.
> > >
> > >I have never seen anything poisonous.
> > >
> > >Anyone in SE Ohio got legitimate evidence of such? Not the
> > >friend-of-a-friend stuff, but real, hard, first-hand evidence?
> >
> > I live in Texas where they say there are all these poison snakes. I
> > do have many snakes in my gardens, but mostly corn and rat snakes, not
> > poisonous and when I come across them they go the other direction.
> >
> > I also think many of these stories are mythos.
>
> I don't think they're mythos. We live in Central Virginia and are infested
> with copperheads. However, they mainly leave us alone and we try to do the
> same.
>
> However, while my mother was in the hospital one of her nurses had a
> horrible scar on the inside of her lower arm. It literally looked as though
> a lion or shark had taken a bite out of her. She told me that she was
> weeding in her vegetable garden and lifted the foliage on her squash plant
> to discover a copperhead underneath. He struck, and the resultant tissue
> damage was quite spectacular.
>
> Callen in VA
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#20: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-16 13:29:20 by Siobhan Burke
In article <1150371427.446501.174580
@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, andysharpe@juno.com says...
>
> Carl 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
>
>
> Andy replies:
>
> Excellent advice and a good post , Carl....
>
> As for the poster who lives in Texas and hasn't seen any poisonous
> snakes,
> well,.... they have seen him/her......
> I don't worry about snakes since I have lived in rural areas for most
> of
> my life, and am always aware of the presence of snakes. It's not hard
> to avoid, and only a damn fool get him/herself bitten , mainly because
>
> of carelessness...... Still, I have also been lucky.....
>
> I presently live on a lakeside, and cottonmouths and copperheads
> abound
> around here. I have a HEALTHY respect for cottonmouths, but I don't
> worry about copperheads so much since their poison isn't very strong,
> and
> their actions are predictable, UNLIKE the cottonmouth.....those SOBs
> will
> actually chase a person and make them change their underwear...
>
> Anyway, I was interested in hearing all the various critters that
> folks have
> encountered in their garderns.... I would like to add that a blanket of
>
> leaves in the fall, or also in the spring, often harbor copperheads
> that are
> practically invisible. So when you start to gather up a big armful for
> your
> garden, think about it........... Sorry if I caused anyone to give up
> using
> leaves, but it's not hard to do it without exposing oneself to bad
> critters...
> Use a rake and a piece of cardboard or wood panelling.....
Delurking to add my two bits: A cheap snow shovel works
wonderfully as a long handled "dust pan" for picking up leaves.
Just scoop the shovel under the pile and use the rake to hold
the scoop of leaves for transport. I live in Maine, and that
trick has cut my clean up time in half when all those pretty
leaves hit the ground in the fall.
--
Siobhan - a.a. list #2201
hellflower.alMayne@earthlink.net (Now a real address, if you ice
the alMayne.)
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the
precipitate.
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#21: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-17 03:00:36 by AndyS
Phisherman wrote:
> I'm a native Buckeye and lived in several areas (Cleveland, Akron,
> Columbus, Dayton, Springfield) of the state, although I left Ohio 20
> some years ago. There are 27 or so kinds of snakes in Ohio, only 3 of
> which are poisonous. Two of these three, the Eastern Timber
> Rattlesnake and the Massasauga Rattlesnake are endangered and
> protected. The other poisonous snake native to Ohio is the Copperhead,
> found mainly in the south-eastern part of the state. None of these
> snakes are at all likely to be found in north central Ohio. Here in
> east TN, the copperhead is not uncommon, and I've come across a Timber
> Rattler once in 15 years.
Andy writes:
I would be very surprised if you didn't have water mocassins there
too.
You would only see them around lakes and ponds, tho....
Of the four poisonous snakes in the US ( rattler, copperhead,
coral, mocassin)
only the mocassin scares me, cause those little devils will actually
CHASE a
person... It's their defense mechanism, just as the copperhead's
defense is
to lie very still and try to be invisible....... I never see corals in
the wild. And
rattlesnakes just want to crawl off when they feel you coming.......
I used to attend the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup held in
March every year in Sweetwater, Texas.... Hundreds of rattlers, mostly
diamonback, and some real big suckers.... I got used to them and have
a healthy respect, but no fear, of rattlers...... I know there are
many
different types and personalities of rattler, but I just lump them all
together. I've never seen an agressive rattler, tho. They just crawl
off
if given the chance.......
Those damn mocassins climb trees and will fall off onto you if you
aren't careful..... shiver .......
Andy in Eureka, Texas
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#22: Re: Snake bite while weeding
Posted on 2006-06-25 19:48:05 by Dan
>
> I live in Texas where they say there are all these poison snakes.
> I do have many snakes in my gardens, but mostly corn and rat
> snakes, not poisonous and when I come across them they go the
> other direction.
>
> I also think many of these stories are mythos.
>
I also live in Texas, and I can attest to the FACT that there are at
least Copperheads just south of Conroe, Water Mocassins in Orange,
Coral snakes in Spring, black widow and brown recluse spiders in
Tomball, scorpions in Kaufman and alligators from Orange to Conroe.
The stories of poisonous snakes, and other things, at least in Texas,
is no myth: I have seen all the aforementioned reptiles and anacrids
in person. Granted that not all the animals were in a garden, but
some were in the back yard, some in small creeks in a neighborhood
and under the shrubery at an apartment complex I lived in. The
scorpion was even in some stored bedding. Imagine crawling into bed
with one of those! I saw a community of black widow spiders in the
water meter housing where I used to live. I took the cover off to
read the meter and there were about a doxen or more female black
widows there-all protecting egg sacs.
I have found that caution is the best policy when it come to working
and playing outside here in the great Republic of Texas. Be careful
when it comes to moving leaves, wood, or even when picking berries or
other fruits and vegetables. It could very well save a visit to the
Vemon MD.
Good growing,
Dan Harriman
Orange, Texas
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