One of the more tragic cases of snake mis-identification I've encountered..

RioBravoReptiles · #1 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 05:10 PM

One spring several years ago I met a nice family in rural SE Missouri and they invited me to their farm to look for snakes. They explained there were many snakes on their property, "good ones" and "bad ones".
.
Just as promised there were snakes. Snakes in the barn, snakes in the garden, snakes in the woodpile and snakes in the pond.
.
Of course they thought the water snakes were Moccassins and they weren't, the snakes in the garden were mostly Prairie kings, they had been killing them as Copperheads. I found a milksnake under an old pallet in the barn and had to explain that no, it wasn't a Coral snake.. Now these nice folks knew and recognised the big black ratsnakes in the barn and the woodpile.. so that was a plus. They promised not to kill more harmless snakes.
.
There was no sign of the ground rattlers that were supposedly plagueing the area.
.
I happened to be back in that area late the following Summer (my brother lives nearby) and I called these people to say hello. "Please come out and help us with the ground rattlesnakes!" they asked, so I went right out.
.
Here's the real tragedy.. As most of you probably know small black ratsnakes are banded and don't look much like the adults.. when I arrived they showed me several smashed and chopped black ratsnake babies! They were both proud of their prowess and concerned at how many more may be waiting to bite someone.. I carefully explained to them what was going on and that they had been systematically killing the hatchlings of their resident ratsnakes, which they actually considered pets!
.
Live and learn.
.
Gus/Rio Bravo Reptiles.

nomadbean · #2 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 05:20 PM

Our neighbors bring us dangerous snakes sometimes. Some alive, some not. They are getting better at Bullsnakes and Hog noses. Prarie Rattlers never make it to me alive- not that I would know what to do with them. BUt they know we are "the snake people" and we will relocate the mean snakes away from their animals. We have tried several times to get them not to kill rattlers but ranchers are not real good listners about "predators' on thier land. We still try, rats are worse in my opinion. I prefer snakes than rats that carry the plague, yes we still have plague out here in the plains, mostly cats but how scary is that.
P.S. I like your note Gus.
Trina
OMNIherp, LLC

amercnwmn · #3 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 05:25 PM

Yep seems like with many people, if its a Black Rat, its a Black Mamba, if its a Rough Green, its a Green Mamba, or poisonous Vine Snake, If its a patterned snake it is either a rattler or a copperhead..God forbid if its in water of all things!

louise · #4 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 05:47 PM

that is very sad. just goes to show people really need a lot of education on snakes.

Heidi · #5 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 06:00 PM

Have they been directed to an online ID site? I know sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. I had to post a picture on here for a black racer and rat because to me, those two look the same. I wouldn't kill either one of them though. Come to think of it I wouldn't kill any of them, maybe just bring the dogs inside.

RioBravoReptiles · #6 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidi

Have they been directed to an online ID site? I know sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. I had to post a picture on here for a black racer and rat because to me, those two look the same. I wouldn't kill either one of them though. Come to think of it I wouldn't kill any of them, maybe just bring the dogs inside.

.
These people don't have internet, anyway have you ever thought just how hard it might be for someone without a basic knowledge of snakes to use those pages?.. but the state of Missouri puts out some of the best info and photo-guides to native herps and wildlife you can get at any price.. FREE! I went and grabbed some and gave them to these folks.
.
Gus..

Radical · #7 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 09:17 PM

People can be so stupid.

fizzbob7 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 09:19 PM

if people would take 30 minutes of their life to get acquainted with the VENOMOUS snakes of their area, then they'd be fine.....there is no need to know all of the snakes and no excuse not to be able to ID all venomous snakes in the area, since in most states, the number of species is small compared to non-hots and that the sound of a rattler is distinct from the sound of a rat snake shaking their tail in the leaves.......kind of like process of elimination....easier to eliminate all the venomous snakes than to try and eliminate all the non-venomous snakes........people remember most of what they HEAR though and they hear all the wrong things growing up

Radical · #9 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fizzbob7

if people would take 30 minutes of their life to get acquainted with the VENOMOUS snakes of their area, then they'd be fine.....there is no need to know all of the snakes and no excuse not to be able to ID all venomous snakes in the area, since in most states, the number of species is small compared to non-hots and that the sound of a rattler is distinct from the sound of a rat snake shaking their tail in the leaves.......kind of like process of elimination....easier to eliminate all the venomous snakes than to try and eliminate all the non-venomous snakes........people remember most of what they HEAR though and they hear all the wrong things growing up

People are too lazy to learn the difference, and if they're taking the time to learn chances are they wouldn't kill a venomous snake even without knowing if it was venomous or not.

People need to show more respect for animals, and stop killing them because they think they're deadly and prey on people.

It's because they're so easily influenced by television, movies, and other sources of media. We're always hearing about how evil snakes are, how deadly they can be...etc, etc. But the reason why people are getting killed/bitten by snakes is because of their own stupid mistakes, they need to learn NOT to step on a venomous snake while they're out hiking, and simply avoid it. I always hear stories about people trying to handle a wild snake and getting bitten by it, and then they'll kill it. What's the point? If you were being provoked, and thought you were in danger, you'd react in a similar manner and attack whatever was trying to harm you, right?

People just need to be informed of what their actions are really doing, and it does cause consequences because it destroys the ecosystem in the end.

So instead of telling them not to kill snakes because they aren't venomous, tell them not to kill snakes.... and if they absolutely have to remove them, just relocate them or call someone that will.

RioBravoReptiles · #10 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radical

People can be so stupid.

.
Yes they can.. but in this case I want to just say that these are pretty nice people and probably go out of their way now to not kill harmless snakes around their house.. I don't know what more they can do in their situation and if you knew them you'd likely back off from calling THEM stupid.
.
Regards,
.
Gus/Rio Bravo Reptiles.

amercnwmn · #11 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 10:05 PM

I agree Gus, Missouri does have some of the best literature Ive seen on native snakes..
I have a pamphlet for Missouri Snakes and one for Lizards.
We go to Cassville MO all the time to Roaring River State Park, and they hand them out to anyone who comes into the Nature Center at the park. I have yet to see anything similar in Arkansas.

RioBravoReptiles · #12 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooChile

....... We go to Cassville MO all the time to Roaring River State Park, and they hand them out to anyone who comes into the Nature Center at the park. I have yet to see anything similar in Arkansas.

.
ALL THE TIME? How do you get anything done at all?!
.
Gus..

amercnwmn · #13 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 12:30 AM

HAR.. HAR.. *giggles*
Ok, well I dont get to go ALL the time..LOL
I WISH I got to go ALL the time! :P I think its so beautiful in that area.
I'm about 30-45mins Southwest, in fact, we were discussing a possible picnic there this weekend, untill I found out I have to WORK

So silly..

deadliestformula · #14 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 01:16 AM

I have to agree, The Missouri department of Conservation is a great agency here. They constantly have youth programs and contests and even a TV show about the states natural plants and animals as well as activities in MO parks to do. And the show is aimed at kids! But the amount of FREE literature that they offer is amazing, even a nice monthly magazine with pics of native animals and interesting articles about tons of stuff.

Advertisement