You guys can keep the poisonous snakes. They're not safe around my place. I want to do anything I can to keep one of my dogs or a family member from being bitten.
Pappy , I'll take a poisonous snake over a poisonous person any day of the week , at least I know what the snake will do and why .
Last edited:
Okay, then... let’s go back to food talk! 
This weekend’s food prep challenge will be making Biang Biang Mian. If you love noodles these are a must try. I’ll be making the noodles from scratch. The hot sauce is made with prickly ash (Chinese black peppercorns) and a type of Chinese chili peppers. Also star anise which I’ve never worked with before.
It’s as spicy as you want it to be, but so very savory.
I’ll be leaving out the cilantro. I can tolerate it, but sure don’t love it.
This weekend’s food prep challenge will be making Biang Biang Mian. If you love noodles these are a must try. I’ll be making the noodles from scratch. The hot sauce is made with prickly ash (Chinese black peppercorns) and a type of Chinese chili peppers. Also star anise which I’ve never worked with before.
It’s as spicy as you want it to be, but so very savory.
I’ll be leaving out the cilantro. I can tolerate it, but sure don’t love it.
I strongly disagree with you and Pappy on this . Bronze is 100% correct in his reasoning . Venomous snakes were put here for a reason . A large fruit grower in South America , decided that too many workers were being bitten and paid to have the venomous snakes on their plantations exterminated . The following year there was no crop to pick , rats moved in and ate everything . The company , might've been Dole if I remember correctly , had to pay to have snakes brought in from research and breeding centers in Florida and also to educate their workers in how not to get bitten. If they had educated them to begin with it would have saved lives and a lot of money .
There is research going on to isolate compounds in Copperhead and Rattlesnake venom that can lower blood pressure without the side effects of current medication also pain killers have been developed from Cobra venom rhat can 100% block pain by shutting down nerve receptors . Also minus side effects and minus addiction , major benefits over opiates . I made money when I was younger by catching Canebrake rattlesnakes and selling them to the research centers for venom research. That's one of the reasons I know what I do about the research . I also had a pet Neotropical rattlesnake that I freely handled for years , along with cobras and vipers from every part of the world . And of course large pythons as in RETICulated pythons and burmese pythons . Ever wonder how I chose my handle ?
This is fascinating! I had no idea. But it’s another case of how all creation works together. There’s something beautiful about a thing like venom being both deadly and potentially beneficial.
And you have had quite the interesting life.
Didn't intend to spark a snake war.
Good morning Army!
You should know by now that we can be a cantankerous bunch.
I don’t want to picture how you managed to nab that copperhead and carry him to his freedom. Or how @retic1959 managed to wrangle the ones he did. Or how @Bunnykiller fed his pet without crying.
We’re all different! But we return day after day here and enjoy each other. Family love!
I just imparted what I do with the snakes. Guess it hit some nerves.You should know by now that we can be a cantankerous bunch.
I don’t want to picture how you managed to nab that copperhead and carry him to his freedom. Or how @retic1959 managed to wrangle the ones he did. Or how @Bunnykiller fed his pet without crying.
We’re all different! But we return day after day here and enjoy each other. Family love!
Pap is hardly the only one who thinks I'm nuts for releasing them live. My neighbors think I'm nuts too. They see a copperhead and they shovel it to death or shoot it. To each their own. That snake never did anything to me. I rather like the idea of setting him free to chase mice or become a menu item for a hawk. Balance seems to figure itself out better than me. Looks tasty!Okay, then... let’s go back to food talk!
This weekend’s food prep challenge will be making Biang Biang Mian. If you love noodles these are a must try. I’ll be making the noodles from scratch. The hot sauce is made with prickly ash (Chinese black peppercorns) and a type of Chinese chili peppers. Also star anise which I’ve never worked with before.
It’s as spicy as you want it to be, but so very savory.
I’ll be leaving out the cilantro. I can tolerate it, but sure don’t love it.
View attachment 747127
Retic, I do understand what you are saying. I now see your side somewhat. I don't go looking for poisonous snakes around here to eradicate. We have an abundance of all kinds of snakes where I live. I let snakes go if they are good, that includes rat snakes, and there are a ton of them. Every time we have a flood here, a new batch of nasty snakes comes with it. A water moccasin bit my daughter's Boston Terrier 3 times in my backyard. I took him to the emergency clinic, and they would not even work on him until the credit card went through the machine. She took 30 _ _ _ _ minutes before she even looked at the dog. She did not give him anti-venom, even though my son killed it, and we took it with us to show them. The dog was in miserable pain, and the regular vet also saw him. He stayed at the clinic for a few days, suffering. He had to have surgery and a blood transfusion, and he still DIED. The bill was about 900 dollars, and the dog still didn't make it. That was many years ago, and I'd hate to think of what they would charge now.
Since that time I lost two more dogs to them. My dog and one of my son's dogs tangled with another water moccasin, and both were bit. I had to have them put down. My son's old dog has been bitten by a water moccasin, and survived. He makes it his mission in life to clean out all snakes around here. One night I was taking my son's dog out to relieve himself, and there was another moc on the porch. I didn't see it, but my son's dog did, and he grabbed it. Blood went everywhere, but thankfully the dog didn't get bitten that time. The dog saved me.
This spring a rat snake was on the porch, and I didn't see it, but Bella did. It was striking at her face, but I managed to pull Bella in the house. (this was right near my door) Bella has quick reflexes from dodging cat claws, so luckily she didn't get bitten. She still looks for that snake though at night, and that makes me nervous. I do turn the porch light on, but it isn't that bright.
I have picked up kingsnakes with a hoe, to move them to a different location in the yard. I like them, and some other types of snakes, but have good reason to hate and fear poisonous ones.
Since that time I lost two more dogs to them. My dog and one of my son's dogs tangled with another water moccasin, and both were bit. I had to have them put down. My son's old dog has been bitten by a water moccasin, and survived. He makes it his mission in life to clean out all snakes around here. One night I was taking my son's dog out to relieve himself, and there was another moc on the porch. I didn't see it, but my son's dog did, and he grabbed it. Blood went everywhere, but thankfully the dog didn't get bitten that time. The dog saved me.
This spring a rat snake was on the porch, and I didn't see it, but Bella did. It was striking at her face, but I managed to pull Bella in the house. (this was right near my door) Bella has quick reflexes from dodging cat claws, so luckily she didn't get bitten. She still looks for that snake though at night, and that makes me nervous. I do turn the porch light on, but it isn't that bright.
I have picked up kingsnakes with a hoe, to move them to a different location in the yard. I like them, and some other types of snakes, but have good reason to hate and fear poisonous ones.
My point is the habitat will support X numbers of snakes. You take one out another will replace it and it wont take long. And you offered proof. With your son eradicating them they still come back because the area can support them. It's not practical to take regular tours of the area to get rid of snakes. There will always be snakes around as long as the habitat suits them. You kill the snakes and the rodent population explodes and guess what? That draws in an abundance of snakes. If I had that many dogs bitten by snakes I would either move me and my dogs somewhere else or I would quit having dogs. Just how I would do it and not speaking for anyone else.
Foxes and rabbits, one years rabbits are everywhere, the foxes show up they are everywhere, rabbits less so. The foxes disappear, seeking a more rabbit filled area. Lo and behold, the rabbits return to prominence. It is a cycle that I watch each season, it never ends and I have little to no impact upon either the foxes or the rabbits. My land will support so many of each at any given time. I watch and take the long view, the land has always seemed to balance itself over time.
On another note, I had a snake problem for a while. I went and remain on a concerted effort to decrease the rodent population by inventively placing poison around the environs of the house using some things I made that little mice and chipmunks can enter to get the bait but the dogs, cats, deer can't. Those little vermin used to get into the tractor, the mower, automobiles, you name it, and reek havoc. The house and surrounding area is not the free smorgasbord for snakes that it once was. I still see them occasionally but far less frequently.
On another note, I had a snake problem for a while. I went and remain on a concerted effort to decrease the rodent population by inventively placing poison around the environs of the house using some things I made that little mice and chipmunks can enter to get the bait but the dogs, cats, deer can't. Those little vermin used to get into the tractor, the mower, automobiles, you name it, and reek havoc. The house and surrounding area is not the free smorgasbord for snakes that it once was. I still see them occasionally but far less frequently.
I am infinitesimal compared to the forces of nature. Basically, I'm a fart in a windstorm. Whether I kill the snake in my garage or capture it and send him out 750 feet will make virtually no difference. If anything, catch and release helps my problem because that snake had a hell of a bad experience coming to my house. If that snake has any memory whatsoever, he'll remember not to come here again. If I kill it, another snake takes it place that never had a bad experience coming to my house.
Saw an interesting segment on my Alaska show. Guy went out to hunt rabbits. No rabbits to be seen. So he showed us why. All the spruce trees had no growth on the bottom few feet. The rabbits ate it all. There was nothing left to eat. So they just moved somewhere else. After awhile, the growth comes back and the rabbits follow. As you say, it cycles. In this particular habitat, it was spruce growth. It's different in other habitats I'm sure.
I put out bird feeders next to the house. Got tons of birds. After awhile I started getting more snakes. Then after awhile I had a hawk who would hang out in the trees above the feeder. The cycle just follows the food chain. That's what I do as a fisherman. I don't look for the fish. I look for the prey (baitfish). And one way is to look for the birds who feed on the baitfish. Easier to see above the water than below. So my eyes are always peeled for flocks of birds landing in the water. Go over there, troll through and bam! The fish are bitin'! Every time. I guess if you want to get rid of something you have to start at the plankton level. That way you wipe out everything. But then I'm sure that causes other unforeseen problems. I'm just not smart enough to play those games. I just let God sort it out.
Try to realize that the dogs sought the snake out and not the other way round . The snakes eyesight is no good past a coupla feet , it has no ears and it can't outrun a person much less a dog . While the dogs nose told him exactly where that snake was at from a distance . As far as the snake is concerned the dog is a predator that wants to eat him and the snake knows it can't outrun the dog so he's going to defend himself in the only way he can . Given a choice the snake would prefer to use it's venom for catching food , using it for defense may deprive the snake of a chance for a meal . Most bites are dry bites meaning little or no venom injected but if the snake is facing predation he's gonna unload . It doesn't make losing a pet any easier but it might help to know they ain't out to get you or your pets they're just hoping for a nice , juicy rat .The rat snake probably trailed one up to your porch .
The bird feeders finally went here. The little sloppy eaters left too much on the ground for the mice and following the mice came the snakes. I have a lot of trees, the birds are every where whether I feed them or not. I relent if we have heavy snow or ice. I had a fox around for a while that thought it was one of the dogs, come up the steps and lay right there, for whatever reason the labs just accepted it. It moved on, they seemed to be far more predator than preyed upon. For a couple years there was a large den about 1000 feet from the house, I enjoyed that. The only control I try to exercise around here anymore is rodent control.
It took me a while to notice the cycles here, it happens so slowly over time. I used to have a very stressful job, nothing unwound me like sitting and just watching the creatures around me (and a tad of whiskey had some beneficial effects also).
It took me a while to notice the cycles here, it happens so slowly over time. I used to have a very stressful job, nothing unwound me like sitting and just watching the creatures around me (and a tad of whiskey had some beneficial effects also).
Most wildlife are deathly afraid of humans...including snakes. They'd rather be somewhere else than near a human. Most wildlife will only attack a human if they feel their young are at risk or they are hungry and you're standing between them and their meal. And not always then. Beyond that, they really don't want anything to do with humans or any other non-forage animal species either for that matter.
I know all about the cycle of life scenario, it plays out here all the time. We had an abundance of rabbits too, and the coyotes came and cleaned them out. The rabbits started to come back, and it was a repeat. I live near the woods, and the woods used to be right next to my back fence. We cleaned that area for several feet back. The woods were thinned out, leaving the animals with less place to do their thing. They decided my place would do. I've had deer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, birds, snakes, feral cats, coyotes, fox, turtles, rabbits and snakes. I did have a lot of lizards, but the wild cats culled them almost completely out. I also had geckos, but haven't seen any this year. The creek is out at a distance, but during drought the snakes come searching for food. They also come here after hibernation, searching for food.
Most snakes do try to avoid you at all cost, I know that. The Boston Terrier was just nosy, and got too close. He was not a varmit dog at all. He was our clown. He loved to make you laugh. My son's two dogs are varmit dogs, and will seek out any prey they can get. Those two dogs would even go after frogs! The female found the snake and attacked it. I tried to get it from her before she got bit. I was in the backyard at the time. My big dog went over there to help, and she was NOT a varmit dog whatsoever. The two of them were trying to kill the snake, and I had the hoe trying to get the snake. I was heartbroken when I found that both dogs had been bitten. The grass was not high, I kept it to a nub out there to prevent snakes from coming around. When I was a kid the creek was close to the house, and we rarely saw snakes there. This was a very small town back then, and as civilization sprawls out, the animals get squeezed in. I do plan to move, but that is a long story and I won't get into all that. I keep my two dogs in the house, and my son's old dog goes into a pen off and on during the day. He is an escape artist, so I have to keep him in that. Two snakes have gone INTO his pen. There is nothing in there but the little dog house, and mostly dirt. Both times that dog made mince meat out of the snakes. One of them was a speckled kingsnake. I hated that one was killed. The other if I remember right was a water moccasin. There is never any shortage of snakes in my area, nor will there be unless the prey is gone for good.
Most snakes do try to avoid you at all cost, I know that. The Boston Terrier was just nosy, and got too close. He was not a varmit dog at all. He was our clown. He loved to make you laugh. My son's two dogs are varmit dogs, and will seek out any prey they can get. Those two dogs would even go after frogs! The female found the snake and attacked it. I tried to get it from her before she got bit. I was in the backyard at the time. My big dog went over there to help, and she was NOT a varmit dog whatsoever. The two of them were trying to kill the snake, and I had the hoe trying to get the snake. I was heartbroken when I found that both dogs had been bitten. The grass was not high, I kept it to a nub out there to prevent snakes from coming around. When I was a kid the creek was close to the house, and we rarely saw snakes there. This was a very small town back then, and as civilization sprawls out, the animals get squeezed in. I do plan to move, but that is a long story and I won't get into all that. I keep my two dogs in the house, and my son's old dog goes into a pen off and on during the day. He is an escape artist, so I have to keep him in that. Two snakes have gone INTO his pen. There is nothing in there but the little dog house, and mostly dirt. Both times that dog made mince meat out of the snakes. One of them was a speckled kingsnake. I hated that one was killed. The other if I remember right was a water moccasin. There is never any shortage of snakes in my area, nor will there be unless the prey is gone for good.
I've read that the most dangerous copperheads are the adolescents because they haven't yet learned to control the amount of venom they release when they bite. They just give you the full load.
Kinda like the adolescent humans who see nothing wrong with driving 70 in a 35mph zone weaving in and out of traffic.
I'd rather deal with a 20 pound northern pike than a 2 pounder. Their teeth are sharper than razor blades. Get anywhere near them and they open you up without even knowing it. But the big boys have lots of places with handles on them. Those little dudes are all full of themselves and whip around like raped apes with nothing to hold on to. 95% of my teeth wounds come from the little fart smellers.
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
- Locked
