#1: More snakes in the garden

Posted on 2006-06-15 23:41:44 by Cheryl Isaak

I went next door to sit with neighbor and watch the kids play. We walk over
to her old garden, now a holding bed. We notice a long snake, brown and tan
in the compost bin.

Now - over the weekend (at camp) I hear that the Easter Diamondback has been
seen in more suburban areas after the drenching rains we've had. OK - right
color, kind of small in diameter, but I have a curious 7 year old (aka DD)
and an exuberant 5 year old (aka DD's Best Friend and next door neighbor).
Sh*t!

"get the kids inside and get animal control; I think it might be a
diamondback".

Neighbor hustles kids inside

She gets her oldest (19 and an Eagle Scout) son outside -
"color is off, but that varies. Head is round not squared. Kind of thin"
(rattlers are husky snakes)

Creep closer - we agree it looks like more like a python - some one's
escaped pet? Cops are "tied up" (this is a scary thought), Animal Control is
closed for the day. Decision one - take pictures. Duly done.

Lets capture it - get a container with a lid. She grabs a plastic storage
tote.
"Hey - B..., you're a man - grab it and dump it in"

"NO WAY" "How about a pair of tongs?"

She grabs the tongs, hands them to me as he won't do it, I grab the snake
and d*mn it strong for such a small snake. About .5 inch in diameter and 6
feet long. It burrows off into the compost heap and is gone.

=====

I come home, and start looking at pythons on line. Doesn't look like any of
the common pet pythons. OK - snakes of NH on google. There it is - I'm right
it is a python (distant relative) - an Eastern Milk Snake.

Guess what - I'll bet there are eggs in her compost heap.

Giggle

Cheryl

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Mr Ad

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#2: Re: More snakes in the garden

Posted on 2006-06-16 01:13:37 by frank

Clipped from rec.hunting. Lot of good advice.
Frank

What to do (and not do) when you see a snake

by Chad Minter
http://www.envenomated.com

First, don't kill nonvenomous snakes. Any given area can only support a
fixed number of snakes. If you kill the nonvenomous snakes that leaves
a
food supply that could support a population of venomous snakes.

Remember to stay a safe distance from the snake. Snakes usually strike
about
1/2 their body length, but they can strike farther. You also don't want
to
trip and fall on the snake.

80% of bites occur when someone tries to catch or kill a snake. The
safest
thing you can do if you see a snake is to leave it alone. (It's
probably
protected by law anyway.)

85% of bites in the United States occur on the hand and forearm. 50%
involve
a victim under the age of 20. 70% of bites in the United States involve
alcohol consumption.

If you have a snake in your yard, either call someone trained in their
removal or stand at a safe distance and spray it with a garden hose.
Snakes
hate that and will leave quickly.

Step on logs rather than over them. Snakes coil beside logs in the
"Reinert
Posture" and might mistake your leg for a predator or prey.

Watch where you put your hands and feet. Do not reach under boards with
your
fingers.

Snakes can be handled safely with proper tools and training, but do NOT
risk
trying to handle venomous snakes if you have not been professionally
trained. There are things that no website can teach you about how to
handle
venomous snakes safely.

You can minimize the appeal of your yard to a snake by 1. cutting the
grass,
2. picking up debris, and 3. Controlling rodents. If there is no food
or
shelter the snake will soon leave for better hunting grounds.

The safest thing to do if you see a snake is to LEAVE IT ALONE. Most
bites
occur when someone is attempting to capture or kill a snake.

Know which snakes are venomous in your area. If you are in the
Southeastern
US, take the "hot or not - is it venomous test" at
http://www.envenomated.com

If you are bitten by a snake, seek immediate medical care from a
licensed
and experienced physician. According to the Centers for Disease
Control, the
first aid for snakebite consists of:

"Do remain calm - Remember that there is an excellent chance for
survival,
and in most cases there is plenty of time.

Do suck and squeeze - as much venom as possible directly from the
wound.
Venom is protein and can be taken orally with no ill effects.

Do remove jewelry - Swelling can progress rapidly, so rings, watches
and
bracelets can be a real problem.

Do mark the time - The progress of symptoms (swelling) is the most
obvious
indicator of the amount of envenomation.

Do keep the stricken limb below the heart.

Do get to a hospital as quickly as possible - Anti-venom serum is the
only
sure cure for envenomation, and because some people are allergic to
horse
serum it should only be given in a fully equipped medical facility.

In case of a Coral bite, do pull the snake off immediately - Corals'
fangs
are relatively small, and they have to work at getting venom into the
wound.
Therefore, the faster the snake is removed the less venom is injected.

Do attempt to identify the offending snake - Positive identification in
the
form of a dead snake is helpful, if convenient, but no time or safety
should
be wasted since the symptoms will give medical personnel an accurate
diagnosis.

Do get a tetanus shot.

Don't cut the wound - This almost always causes more damage than it's
worth.

Don't use a tourniquet - This isolates the venom in a small area and
causes
the digestive enzymes in the venom to concentrate the damage.

Don't use alcohol orally - it speeds the heart and blood flow and
reduces
the body's counter-acting ability.

Don't use ice - Freezing the stricken limb has been found to be a major
factor leading to amputation."

Remember, snakes have their place in the ecosystem and were around long
before we arrived. We are the visitors in their garden. Snakes are
quite
capable of defending themselves, but are reluctant to do so. If you
follow a
few common sense rules you can minimize an already very small risk of
snakebite during your outdoor adventure.

Chad Minter is the author of Venomous Snakes of the Southeast and the
webmaster of http://www.envenomated.com

He spends most of his time finding and photographing venomous snakes in
their native habitat.

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#3: Re: More snakes in the garden

Posted on 2006-06-16 02:43:15 by Cheryl Isaak

On 6/15/06 7:13 PM, in article
1150413217.167492.242280@y41g2000cwy.googlegroups.com, "Frank"
<frank.logullo@dol.net> wrote:

> Clipped from rec.hunting. Lot of good advice.
> Frank
>
> What to do (and not do) when you see a snake
>
> by Chad Minter
> http://www.envenomated.com
>
Thanks, I'll save that someplace safe. Here in NE, there is only the Eastern
Diamondback that is venomous and it is rarely in yards and near people. This
year's rainfall has driven them "south" and off the mountains. If I hadn't
heard a reputable report that huge one was seen just a little north of me, I
would have gone straight to my second thought - someone's escaped/released
exotic. I haven't seen a milk snake here before - perhaps another creature
outside its normal venue.

Cheryl

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#4: Re: More snakes in the garden

Posted on 2006-06-16 06:37:47 by vpn1

>Thanks, I'll save that someplace safe. Here in NE, there is only the Eastern
>Diamondback that is venomous

Cheryl, does NE mean Nebraska or New England? I didn't think there
were any venomous snakes in New England.

vince norris

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#5: Re: More snakes in the garden

Posted on 2006-06-16 12:16:55 by David Hare-Scott

"Cheryl Isaak" <cherylisaak@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:C0B74C58.5B67D%cherylisaak@adelphia.net...
> I went next door to sit with neighbor and watch the kids play. We walk
over
> to her old garden, now a holding bed. We notice a long snake, brown and
tan
> in the compost bin.

....snip.....>

> Lets capture it - get a container with a lid. She grabs a plastic storage
> tote.
> "Hey - B..., you're a man - grab it and dump it in"
>

Let me get this right. You collectively have no idea if this snake is
dangerous nor how to properly handle it. But you tell the male present that
HE must do something about it, although he clearly is smarter than you all.

Might I suggest that you let natural selection take its course in future and
the curious one pick up the unknown snake and play with it. You (the
neighbour) would like to be famous wouldn't you (she)? You could be in the
annual Darwin awards.

David

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#6: Re: More snakes in the garden

Posted on 2006-06-16 12:58:40 by Cheryl Isaak

On 6/16/06 12:37 AM, in article 79d492l438t8sk05m46mqs6t82pn8he22l@4ax.com,
"vincent p. norris" <vpn1@psu.edu> wrote:

>> Thanks, I'll save that someplace safe. Here in NE, there is only the Eastern
>> Diamondback that is venomous
>
> Cheryl, does NE mean Nebraska or New England? I didn't think there
> were any venomous snakes in New England.
>
> vince norris
New England. The Diamondback makes it home all the up the coast. I've only
seen one in zoos or the science museums. But I know hikers that have seen
rattlers sunning themselves in the mountains.

Cheryl

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#7: Re: More snakes in the garden

Posted on 2006-06-19 10:05:03 by David Hare-Scott

"Cheryl Isaak" <cherylisaak@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:C0B80720.5B6E5%> New England. The Diamondback makes it home all the up
the coast. I've only
> seen one in zoos or the science museums. But I know hikers that have seen
> rattlers sunning themselves in the mountains.
>
> Cheryl
>

Snakes are attracted to naked people?

David

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#8: Re: More snakes in the garden

Posted on 2006-06-19 12:44:30 by Cheryl Isaak

On 6/19/06 4:05 AM, in article
PUslg.11882$ap3.5395@news-server.bigpond.net.au, "David Hare-Scott"
<compost@rotting.com> wrote:

>
> "Cheryl Isaak" <cherylisaak@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:C0B80720.5B6E5%> New England. The Diamondback makes it home all the up
> the coast. I've only
>> seen one in zoos or the science museums. But I know hikers that have seen
>> rattlers sunning themselves in the mountains.
>>
>> Cheryl
>>
>
> Snakes are attracted to naked people?
>
> David
>
>
The thought of one of those hikers naked would be enough to scare the snakes
away - it surely scares me!

Cheryl

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