CornSnakes.com Forums  
  Tired of those Google and InfoLinks ads? Register and log in!

Go Back   CornSnakes.com Forums > The CornSnake Forums > Natural History/Field Observation
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

Natural History/Field Observation Field observations of corn snakes, field collecting, or just general topics about the natural environment they are found in.

Copperhead in the barn.........How do we handle this??!!?
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-22-2010, 06:44 PM   #91
VickyChaiTea
Well, seeing as how snakes have been living in that area long before you have, you went into their territory. If you live in an area that is known to have dangerous snakes and you CAN'T avoid it, try relocating the animals or dettering them.
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:05 PM   #92
Raptor
Quote:
Originally Posted by VickyChaiTea View Post
Well, seeing as how snakes have been living in that area long before you have, you went into their territory. If you live in an area that is known to have dangerous snakes and you CAN'T avoid it, try relocating the animals or dettering them.
..Relocating tends to be dangerous/deadly for the snake since they won't know where the hibernation areas are. There also isn't much you can do to deter reptiles.
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:16 PM   #93
Cattsy
Quote:
Originally Posted by VickyChaiTea View Post

John 3:16, do an internet search for people who capture and relocate wild animals in your area, wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, and even local pet stores can sometimes help you get into contact with these people. Keep in mind that they may be willing to travel, so even if they're located out of town you may have some luck.
If you read the thread, they did now find someone that is willing and able to come relocate any other snakes that they find in the vicinity, so they do have a plan for next time.

I think the biggest thing this thread has done (besides some interesting conversation) is make those that may not have considered having a plan if they encounter a venomous snake to consider having something in place.

For example KNOWING where an empty trashcan and broom is, if the snake is in an area where it could be easily moved. (In a barn full of bales with loose hay everywhere, not exactly an easy task)

Seeking out and knowing IN ADVANCE, someone you can call to remove a venomous snake.

My advice to J3 was to ask around town, there's almost always a loony snake guy that's willing to come out and move snakes, especially in out of the way hicktowns. WHich they did and they found someone! So that is awesome.

Snakemaster, in all due respect, one day it will be your children... Whatever life experience you *think* you have, it all changes when you have your own babies.

My seven year old has ADHD and sensory issues. As part of that he has very very little impulse control. He's grown up around dogs, even powerful breeds such as pitbulls. I've DRILLED into him from day one, DO NOT ever EVER touch or approach an unknown dog, and he still has problems, he doesn't think, he just acts. He LOVES my snakes, and handles my ball python, however I still always have to remind him to move slowly and carefully, and he's GROWN UP around snakes... He needs constant supervision, and I am glad that we now live in an area where there are no poisonous snakes, because he is so fascinated with them that I am not %100 sure that he would act the way that J3's kids did and come get me if he saw a snake, he could very easily get carried away and try and catch it...

Depending on the circumstances, I would attempt to relocate a hot if I came across one, but I also would not hesitate for a SECOND to dispatch said snake if it was in an area that wasn't safe to try and capture it.

Older children yes, are capable of making a rational decision and being careful of said snake, but it still is NOT is a safe area, for it or the children, and younger children under age 5, do not have the maturity to make a common sense decision about a snake, and often do not have the maturity to always be on the lookout for one. They have one track minds and very little common sense. A MATURE six year old MIGHT be able to make a rational decision, but I can assure you that most children this age or younger do not yet have the capability of such decisions.

I found this site:

http://www.copperhead-snake.com/

in particular please take a look at the pictures halfway down the page of the results of a snakebit to a FINGER... Copperhead venom is hemolytic, it actually causes cells to EXPLODE, causing severe damage. This will leave lasting scars, permanent damage, and probably chronic pain...

I understand that the chances of a bite are low, however, is the damage you see on the page above something that you are willing to inflict on your little niece/nephew that you mentioned caring for?

I think that is all that people are getting riled up about, is the fact that you seem to not care at all about the damage that snake could cause, your ideals are somewhat "rose tinted" and live and let live is certainly a great way to approach things, but understand that ATTACKING a parent for protecting their children is very low class.

The OP has a plan for next time, they are obviously concerned with the wildlife they encounter, which is why they posted here in the first place wanting to know how they could avoid killing the next hot snake they find, for which I commend them! They did the right thing with their current knowledge and next time a snake they encounter might get lucky and be relocated to a safer location.
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:18 PM   #94
knox
Quote:
Originally Posted by VickyChaiTea View Post
Well, seeing as how snakes have been living in that area long before you have, you went into their territory. If you live in an area that is known to have dangerous snakes and you CAN'T avoid it, try relocating the animals or dettering them.
Lots of animals lived in the U.S. before we English, German, Irish, African, Indian, Swedish, Australian, Italian, Greek, you name it moved to this wonderful country.

Lots of animals died, habitat destroyed for the neighborhood that you live in. For the roads that you drive on. For the factories that processed the foods you eat every day.

Do you enjoy your computer? How many animals died by the process that gave you that computer? The factory destroying habitat. The miles and miles of asphalt for the delivery trucks to drive on, possibly killing innocent snakes at night just trying to warm themselves on the road. And on and on and on.

Your argument, though true, is hypocritical. I am not saying this to be mean, but to bring to light that if one lives in a neighborhood, wears leather shoes, eats processed foods, drives a car, eats at Burger King, uses a computer, works in 99% of the jobs out there, went to school, etc... Animals died for that.

Animals that were here long before us.

It all seems so noble when looking at it microscopically. But the arguments don't hold up if one is part of society, ENJOYING the benefits and luxeries of medical and technilogical advancements that we enjoy.
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:25 PM   #95
Lennycorn
Good post Cattsy
And that' what I hope will be done next time.
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:30 PM   #96
VickyChaiTea
Knox, wow, I never said killing animals was wrong. So no, this is NOT hypocritical.

I'm just saying that if you encounter a dangerous animal your first instinct should not be to kill it just because it's in the same area you are. :/
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:36 PM   #97
azhketh
Quote:
Originally Posted by John3:16 View Post
Now I'm getting kinda tired of people going on about this poor snake...
My post was about what to do NEXT time.....
I have solved this problem....hopefully..assuming that this college kid will drive 2hrs round trip from the nearest town to move the next hot I find.

I mean seriously people..telling NOOBs to move a HOT??!?!?!
Or just leave it in the barn so the children can get bit next time they gather eggs??!?!?!?!!?!?
Seriously??!?!?!!?
Come on.......
Well, then why are you complaining? You asked for options, you got them. Kill it, move it, leave it, find help. Or a fifth option, move yourself. The first two are pointless as the snake, or a different snake, will move back into the area. The third would involve drilling it into your kids' heads that touching the local wildlife is bad. Which is a pretty good idea regardless of what you do to the next hot you find. The fifth I assume is not on the table.

Really, I don't see the point in killing or moving the snake. Yes, it's a danger to your kids. So is the snake sitting out in the grass that you haven't come across yet. If there was a snake in your barn, you can bet there are more outside. Plus I think brown recluse spiders live in TN? Pretty much the only thing you can do is educate your kids, do it a lot, and hope it sticks.
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:37 PM   #98
knox
Quote:
Originally Posted by VickyChaiTea View Post
Knox, wow, I never said killing animals was wrong. So no, this is NOT hypocritical.

I'm just saying that if you encounter a dangerous animal your first instinct should not be to kill it just because it's in the same area you are. :/
Well, if it's not wrong, what's wrong with killing an animal that has the potential to hospitalize an innocent child for doing nothing but walking around their own property?

I am not pointing this at you as an individual, seriously. I just don't understand people getting all upset when a venemous creature is killed for the sake of protecting people.

And as stated above, relocation often dooms the snake to death anyway - but a slow, starvation or dehydration.

If relocating can cause the death of the snake, and keeping it around risks thousands of dollars in hospital bills and possible permanent tissue damage or death, the most humane solution seems to be a quick death.
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:41 PM   #99
knox
AZHKETH, the point in killing the snake is that you KNOW that particular snake will never have the opportunity to hospitalize a little girl.

Same reason I kill every Black Widow I find in my garage. Sure, there are hundreds more in my yard, but at least THAT one is not ever going to bite me and cause me to miss work and pay out the wazoo for pain meds as I writhe in agony in the hospital.

My brother was bitten by a widow. I never want to go through that.
 
Old 08-22-2010, 07:42 PM   #100
knox
And I am not going to move just to avoid spiders...
 

Join now to reply to this thread or open new ones for your questions & comments! Cornsnakes.com is the largest online community dedicated to cornsnakes . Registration is open to everyone and FREE. Click Here to Register!

Google
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:23 AM.





Fauna Top Sites
 

Powered by vBulletin® Version
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Page generated in 0.06070399 seconds with 9 queries
Copyright Rich Zuchowski/SerpenCo