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Bob poses
I managed to get a snap of Bob while he was lounging out in the pond
this morning. The snake is about 4 1/2 ft long. He just sits there, motionless, until something comes within reach. http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...ekhuis/Bob.jpg Discerning observers will notice that this is not a southern black snake. As a matter of fact, it looks very much like a cottonmouth. So here's what happened. I was sitting out by the pond when I noticed this (rather elegant) long, thin, black snake. Over the next few days we named it, and I became rather attached to it. Then I didn't see it for a few days. Then I thought I saw it, but it seemed different somehow. The very next day I got a better look, and the snake had definitely put on weight, so much, in fact, that it didn't even look like the same snake. It wasn't. I have no idea what happened to the southern black racer, honest (the big snake probably ate it, snakes do that). The big snake even has that angular head shape so common to venomous snakes. But it isn't a cottonmouth (water moccasin). It is a Florida water snake, non-venomous (I won't say "harmless 'cause they bite -- hard) and almost identical to the venomous cottonmouth. One can tell the difference by the round eye pupils (cottonmouths have vertical elliptical pupils) and the lack of the heat sensitive "pit" between the eye and the nostril. Anyway, it seemed easier to just name the new snake "Bob" rather than go through all of this, at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. -- Galen Hekhuis I may have mispoken |
Bob poses
Galen Hekhuis wrote:
I have no idea what happened to the southern black racer, honest (the big snake probably ate it, snakes do that). The big snake even has that angular head shape so common to venomous snakes. But it isn't a cottonmouth (water moccasin). It is a Florida water snake, non-venomous (I won't say "harmless 'cause they bite -- hard) and almost identical to the venomous cottonmouth. One can tell the difference by the round eye pupils Do people (one might even suggest "nuts") intentionally get close enough to Cottonmouths to note the shape of their pupils? -- derek - Unless otherwise noted, I speak for myself, not rec.ponds.moderated moderators. |
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On Tue, 22 May 2007 13:12:08 CST, Derek Broughton
wrote: Do people (one might even suggest "nuts") intentionally get close enough to Cottonmouths to note the shape of their pupils? It really isn't difficult to see the shape of the pupils from a good distance away, but I doubt I'd treat it any differently even if it was a cottonmouth. I give it a wide berth, but I'm aware that it's around. Living out here in the boonies, there are always a bunch of critters around. I have a black widow spider living under the same fake rock that the pump for my aerator lives under. Whenever I lift the rock to fuss with the pump I expect to find some upset venomous snake there. I was almost relieved to find the spider. There is stuff that becomes habit here. You don't look under boards or rocks or things outside except very carefully expecting something to spring out at you. You don't poke your hands into things. You just have to be a little aware whenever you go outside. I've got these 17 in "snake proof" boots that I wear when I go "walking" in the weeds, but that is mainly because I can't walk very well, and running is out of the question. But I have not yet seen the snake that can't be avoided. Most of them will flee if given the chance. If you can't watch where you are going, well, maybe you deserve it. Anyway, the shape of the pupils is more distinctive than might be thought, snakes have no eyelids, their eyes are always wide open. -- Galen Hekhuis I may have mispoken |
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Galen,
Great update! Bob 2 is definitely not a racer! Do I see pattern on him? Jim |
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Galen Hekhuis wrote:
I managed to get a snap of Bob while he was lounging out in the pond this morning. The snake is about 4 1/2 ft long. He just sits there, motionless, until something comes within reach. http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...ekhuis/Bob.jpg [ . . . ] And a fine looking specimen he is. In Thailand, Cobras are the most often seen, although I never saw one. More dangerous were the much smaller Mambas, whose venom was more deadly, acted faster, and IIRC, for which there is no anti-venom. We killed three of them on Golf Courses. Never saw them around ponds. A true snake in the grass! -- Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families! Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! ! ~Semper Fi~ |
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On Tue, 22 May 2007 16:17:20 CST, Phyllis and Jim
wrote: Galen, Great update! Bob 2 is definitely not a racer! Do I see pattern on him? Jim I think I see a sort of cross-banding on the sides, however I don't intend to get close enough to find out for sure. I'm 99.9999999% sure of my identification, but even I can make a mistake... -- Galen Hekhuis I have no idea what happened, but I assure you it was all proper. |
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Galen, thanks for the pic and story, totally enjoyed it.... but I'm so glad
I don't have too many snakes making their way to my door steps. Though snakes (of the garden variety) don't bother me in the least, something eating my fish, that I couldn't do anything about without ruining the look of the ponds, would be very distressing. ~ jan ------------ Zone 7a, SE Washington State Ponds: www.jjspond.us |
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Occasional rattlesnake sightings around here,
gartersnakes and bullsnakes. Never did find out what slithered into my family room and never seen again so I guess it's still down there... k :-) |
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"Derek Broughton" wrote in message ... Galen Hekhuis wrote: I have no idea what happened to the southern black racer, honest (the big snake probably ate it, snakes do that). The big snake even has that angular head shape so common to venomous snakes. But it isn't a cottonmouth (water moccasin). It is a Florida water snake, non-venomous (I won't say "harmless 'cause they bite -- hard) and almost identical to the venomous cottonmouth. One can tell the difference by the round eye pupils Do people (one might even suggest "nuts") intentionally get close enough to Cottonmouths to note the shape of their pupils? -- derek - Unless otherwise noted, I speak for myself, not rec.ponds.moderated moderators. Snakes are cool. Living in the UK we don't have much to choose from ... the venomous Adder which you don't see much of and the non-venomous Grass Snake ... and that's about it ... apart from a few escaped pets, I'm sure. |
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It looks a lot like the Northern Water Snake I had. I'm in
Massachusetts. http://www.2greys.com:8080/album/pon.../DSC00089.html They eat fish and frogs. http://www.2greys.com:8080/album/pon.../DSC00094.html Kris |
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That second picture made my toes curl!!
But I do have a vivid memory, as a little person exploring around the water at my grandparents seeing the same thing. k :-) |
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Around this time, I noticed lots of ragged tails on my fish. I got on-
line and decided it was fin rot. I started treating the pond with PP. Then I caught the snake hunting the fish and catching a 7" fish by the tail. The snake was only 2'. It was one of those "doh!" moments. It never occurred to me a snake was biting their tails off. Kris |
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but the PP was a good treatment for damaged tails anyway. Ingrid
On Thu, 31 May 2007 21:13:07 CST, wrote: Around this time, I noticed lots of ragged tails on my fish. I got on- line and decided it was fin rot. I started treating the pond with PP. Then I caught the snake hunting the fish and catching a 7" fish by the tail. The snake was only 2'. It was one of those "doh!" moments. It never occurred to me a snake was biting their tails off. Kris |
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