There should be a torture chamber for...

...people who deliberately run over snakes.

Just got back from the barn, and my day is absolutely ruined. As I was driving down the nice country road, about 200 feet behind a car up ahead, I saw the car swerve into the lane for on-coming traffic (no one was coming) and then swerve back. Knowing that groundhogs, squirrels, turtles, etc., live along that road, I slowed and kept my eyes peeled to the right, to make sure I didn't hit whatever critter the person in front of me swerved to miss.

Then, when I neared the spot where the car had swerved, I saw something wriggling frantically in the road to my left. I immediately knew what had happened, and heartsick, I stopped beside it. Beautiful little eastern kingsnake (probably a new hatchling), with its lower half smushed and entrails squeezed out the vent. I used the heel of my boot to shorten its misery (I've taken snakes hit on the road to vets before when they weren't in too bad a shape, but this one was a guaranteed goner), and then cursed the driver so casually driving away after deliberately running over the harmless little snake.

I know, logically, that the hatchling could have been some hawk's lunch only moments earlier, but at least it would have served a purpose in the circle of life. As it was, a senseless waste and a cruelty the little snake never deserved. Just makes me furious.

Sorry. Needed to vent.

Vent away as much as you need to, just reading that made me angry and very sad for the poor little creature that did absolutely nothing to harm that nasty SOB driving that car in front of you.

We gon't have so many snakes here but the baby gese every year right near my place...so sad...we have to pull the necks of a few every spring that have been hit by cars and have compund fractured legs or ripped open chests...it's horribly sad but it's better to kill them quickly and let a fox take the body in the night or let them suffer all day, possibly passing on or possibly still being alive when the fox comes at dusk....

princess said:

Vent away as much as you need to, just reading that made me angry and very sad for the poor little creature that did absolutely nothing to harm that nasty SOB driving that car in front of you.

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Thanks, Princess. I appreciate you commiserating with me.

This is why I make every effort to take my snakes to my kids' schools (when the more open-minded teachers allow me to). I show the children how docile the non-venomous snakes can be (although I caution them that any wild snake can/will bite when first captured), I tell them how beneficial they are in the environment, and I urge them to tell their parents not to indiscrimately kill every snake that crosses their backyards. It's always amazing -- and gratifying -- to me to see the kids who are most frightened at first eventually get up the nerve to come up and ask to touch or hold one of my snakes. All it takes is just a little bit of education and gentle persuasion, and converts are made. I do this with everyone -- my neighbors, my coworkers at the office, the overnight-delivery people who bring me my snakes, even the Animal Control officer who showed up at my door last fall when one of my idiotic neighbors thought it way MY snakes escaping to terrify her in her backyard -- duh, she lives beside an overgrown pasture full of mice, lizards, etc.

I sure wish we could round up all adult humans and put them in a classroom to do the same thing, to show them how harmless non-venomous snakes really are.

I totally agree. Educating the general public goes a long way to safeguarding our friends. It's wonderful that you are sharing your pets with so many people.

What a horrible person to run over a snake on purpose like that. Those same people aren't likely doing it just because they are prejudiced towards snakes though. I've seen plenty of jerks purposefully run down raccoons, dogs, cats, squirrels, possums, etc. Our beautiful little pair of native weasels were smushed by some jerk who swerved out of his way just to hit them. Grrrrr.......You are right, and I believe that in the afterlife there is some sort of special torture just for people who do that kind of thing.

At least there is some consolation knowing that many hawks and other birds keep a close eye on the roads for an easy meal, so they don't go completely to waste.

Big Idea

I had the best idea, you will probley things to far out there but hear me out... why dont we (meaning a lot of people on this site) get a couple of groups like 1 or 2 groups and all over the united states or where ever any one is, have like a club or something... dont know really what to call it... but have it free, have refreashments and some type of food and post every where like the news, newspapers, word of mouth that adualts and children can go a learn about snakes like you do in classes but its open to the public and say that EVERY one is encruged to go especilay adualts... but its just an idea.

That would be cool. I always thought about teaching an IPM (integrated pest management) gardening class through the local community services. Aside from cutting down on unnecesarry pesticide use, it would be cool to introduce garter snakes to folks in the classroom and teach them about what awesome slug eaters they are, so less of them get whacked by the Hoe Of Doom.

herp_lover2004 said:

I had the best idea, you will probley things to far out there but hear me out... why dont we (meaning a lot of people on this site) get a couple of groups like 1 or 2 groups and all over the united states or where ever any one is, have like a club or something... dont know really what to call it... but have it free, have refreashments and some type of food and post every where like the news, newspapers, word of mouth that adualts and children can go a learn about snakes like you do in classes but its open to the public and say that EVERY one is encruged to go especilay adualts... but its just an idea.

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There are already these clubs in most large cities in most states. They are called Reptiles Societies. To find one in your city or town, do a search on the web, or check the local reptile shops and pet stores. If you don't find one, then by all means start one. They are well worth the time, and really help out with education and all. I have been to meetings at the one here in Austin, and the one in San Antonio. Both are hosted by wonderful people, and always have something fun going on.

Yeah . . .

I witnessed someone try to run over a coyote the other day. Thank goodness they didn't get him/her. I was so mad I was almost in tears. I've seen them hit on the side of the road before but never realized that people do it on purpose. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I was.

I don't think there's a herp society in my area, I've checked around a little. What would be involved in starting one?

Wouldn't it be ironic if one of them swerved off the road and hit a tree while trying to run over some helpless animal? My dad saw that happen to a guy who tried to run over a fawn that was waiting to cross the road with his mum. Served the guy right. He ended up pretty mangled too since he also wasn't wearing a seat belt. Can we say karma?

Just find some herpers in the area and get them to meet regularly. You could see if local petstores will allow you to hang fliers up advertising your club. That way when they come to buy crickets/feeders etc. they'll find out about the society. You don't need many people to start. Two or three will work fine!

then for the first couple of meetings, you have each person in the group talk a little about themselves and the herps they keep. Maybe bringing some to show off. As your club gets bigger you work on getting people to come and talk to your group about herping experiences they have done, if they are in the herp field what they do, etc. Then, when you have enough people in your group to warrent it, you start group outings. Go to places like Zoo herp houses, wildlife preserves, etc, to learn about the herps that live in that community. They are actually really fun.

Wouldn't it be ironic if one of them swerved off the road and hit a tree while trying to run over some helpless animal?

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If i saw that i would p#?# myself laughing.

Sorry it's just really upsetting when thing like this happen.... more so when done on purpuse.

SnakeNutt i'm with you people like that should be, not to put to fine a word on it, castrated nice and slowley.

Sisuitl said:

Wouldn't it be ironic if one of them swerved off the road and hit a tree while trying to run over some helpless animal? My dad saw that happen to a guy who tried to run over a fawn that was waiting to cross the road with his mum. Served the guy right. He ended up pretty mangled too since he also wasn't wearing a seat belt. Can we say karma?

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Looks like the karma police got him [/RADIOHEAD]

I have seem the same thing on a mountain bike trail near my home. I like to walk the trail and most people on it ride bikes. On many trips I will see several small snakes that have been run over. I can't tell if the riders didn't see the snake or swerved to hit it. I found one pretty snake that had just been run over. I could tell it wasn't going to make it so I moved it off the trail and into the grass. It was depressing.

I know there are people who will deliberately run over any animal....sick! We've done local talks at our PetCo on the difference between rattlesnakes and non-poisonous varieties, and it went over really well. My friend used to have a 5 ft. Western diamondback that was about as thick around as your arm and had fangs that were easily visible across the room. He used to bring him out to demonstrate the differences between the two species. Old Harrah finally died of old age at 25 yrs. old! Our local state park has a wildlife center and they have reptile appreciation day where you can bring your reptile to show off in a contest for the prettiest and ugliest. They also show the local reptile population and do education, so there's plenty of stuff out there for people to learn.

Ignorance

That is all it is. One time when I was about 9 or 10 my Mom and I were driving down the road and what appeared to be a king snake was crossing. Her, having the philosophy "the only good snake is a dead snake" runs over it, stops the car, backs up over it, and runs over it again. This broke my little heart, as I was begging her not to run over it in the first place. Unfortunatly to this day I cannot convince her that snakes play a vital role in nature, but I still haven't stopped trying, and I never will. She(along with millions of others)still believe that "coachwhips" will actually whip you to death, "racers" will chase you down just to bite you, and so on and so on. Until recently(thanks to me)she believed that racers were venomous.....And I mean absolutly no disrespect to my Mom as I love her more that anything, but she has been brainwashed by myth and for some people the initial fear of the myth will always overcome the facts. But WE CAN'T STOP TRYING. I believe that as generations pass so do the myths, as I have noticed that the majority of "snakeaphobes" are in the upper age group, this is most likely in part due to people like us, the ones that are willing to take a stand and educate our young, not with assumptions and theories but with cold hard facts. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!
:sidestep:

Matt

that frigin' piss's me off

That is really sick, I would assume some people would do it out of fear and lack of information, heck i was afraid of snakes a few months ago untill my friend made me hold his corn, now I have my own! But i would never run one over even if I was afraid!

It amazes me how ignorant and just plain stupid some people can be. I have always loved snakes, (all animals) for as long as I can remember I was out catching frogs, snakes, salamanders and my husband and son are the same way. When we see something new - whether it's reptile, insect or bird -we have a great time researching it and learning about it. When we got our first family snake I was shocked at how many people (my neighbors and co-workers) thought I was insane...they are either terrified of snakes or just think that they are slimey creatures that have no purpose.
Last weekend I brought 'angel' out to the neighbors during a cookout and I was pleasantly suprised. The kids were curious and gentle - after handling her a bit thought she was wonderful. The parents who were very anti-snake, started to come around a bit... (It will take awhile to teach these people that snakes are beautiful creatures with an important role in nature.)
I have heard 'the only good snake is a dead snake' a dozen times since getting our corn snake.
Next week I am bringing Angel to my office for a short visit. I may not change eveyone's mind, but I'll do my best to make them think about letting a snake cross the road or their yard unharmed. (I love the idea of going to the school too!)
If we all do our part to help people understand and appreciate our reptile friends maybe we can save a few more. (I'm bringing a friend and her son to the reptile show in Sept.) This is a great thread - thanks for starting it!

Deb

some people are just

cruel. Why in the world would anyone hurt an animal that wasn't threatening their life? But I guess some people are just like that. One day I saw a group of older boys messing with some creature; it iritated me so I grabed my pitch fork (wasn't sure what I was going to to with it but ya never know ) turned out they had pulled a snapping turtle out of our pond and were getting ready to kill it. So, I told them in so many words that if they killed it no good would come of it and I watched like a hawk while they let it go took their stuff and left. There's just no reason for stuff like that. There really was no point to that story, but I'm annoyed and I tend to ramble when I get that way.

A guy at work told me the other day that he saw a snapping turtle in the road, so he got out of his truck and shot it with a 9mm. His reason?......"those things are mean" he says. Now how exactly is a turtle "mean"? Moron.