Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
In article ,
"marcesent" wrote: "OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message ... Either that or what attacked him were not walking sticks. I have a close friend that was attacked as a child by a swarm of locusts. She had bites all over her. She's been terrified of large grasshoppers all of her life since that incident. I've seen some pretty big grasshoppers. Your dad also could have been telling a tall tale. ;-) No offense meant. None taken. As I said though, I do remember seeing it - I was 15 or so at the time. I was out in the driveway with him. He was trying to "sweep" the critter off the driveway with the shovel (that was the tool he had been using, he had no intention of harming with it) and the thing kept coming at him. And it looked like a walking stick, not a locust or grasshopper. My mom was there too, she was a bit freaked out! She remembers it, but I definitely think her version gets a bit "colored" with her high anxiety at the time. I should send an email to A&M and ask them if it's possible from the sticks to get aggressive when disturbed when nesting. My main concern in asking this is my daughter, my neighbor's dogs (miniature greyhounds - love to get into the garden), and gardening with my bare hands and while barefoot. But it's not a big worry. I've played with many a walking stick as I find them to be rather fascinating. So far, no harm, no foul. -- You're much braver than me! But I have maintained a healthy curious respect for them. It's funny, my Bachelor's from A&M is in Wildlife Biology - aquatic biology and herpetology. I've handled more snakes and lizards and frogs and traditionally "creepy" things without batting an eye - I find them fascinating. But I couldn't bring myself to study insects, and definitely can't touch them. Aren't phobias weird? But they get to live in my home too, and I hope they stay happy. It's nice to see critters that the fire ants haven't driven out or eaten. Julie Insects I believe are not intelligent enough to reason... or to attack unless they think you are "food" for some reason? It probably kept coming towards him 'cause it was too dumb to do anything else and just wanted to go that way? G I think the stories of people being "chased" by water moccasin snakes are pretty much the same thing. The snake is just trying to get away, but too stupid to move in the right direction. Best thing to do is to step aside? But yeah, I'd be curious to see what A&M says. I'm always up for an education if I am wrong. ;-) -- Peace! Om "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message ... Insects I believe are not intelligent enough to reason... or to attack unless they think you are "food" for some reason? It probably kept coming towards him 'cause it was too dumb to do anything else and just wanted to go that way? G I think the stories of people being "chased" by water moccasin snakes are pretty much the same thing. The snake is just trying to get away, but too stupid to move in the right direction. Best thing to do is to step aside? But yeah, I'd be curious to see what A&M says. I'm always up for an education if I am wrong. ;-) I remember my Dad was trying to get away at the same time pushing it off the driveway with the shovel. But who knows, the whole thing may have been one big misunderstanding (my Dad and the stick, that is). But remember, many creatures are not intelligent, but are perfectly capable of aggression in self-defense (fire ants, for example). You're right about the "chasing" thing. Many times it's just the noise the person makes while they're running away crashing through the brush that makes them think the snake is chasing them. I spent a *bunch* of time in East Texas doing my field work for herpetology in the early 90's and we found more than our share of moccasins. Nasty things, they are - stink like rotten eggs (sulphur) when you disturb them. But only once did I have one get *really* aggressive with me - it was when I was in a canoe and I happened to paddle right on top of the lilies where he was sunning himself. I thought he was going to come *into* the canoe with me....he struck the paddle like 6 times!! Hoop snakes are another Texas lore that makes me laugh. The best one was a little old lady in East Texas that we were talking with on a cultural herpetology trip. She claimed that the hoop snake took it's tail in it's mouth (forming the "hoop") and then rolled at high speed chasing her across the pasture, over a barbed wire fence (it jumped it) and then up a tree! And the whole time the snake was whistling....I didn't have the nerve to ask what tune. I've always maintained a healthy dose of skeptcism on both sides - both the believers and the unbelievers of an "animal legend." It's funny how emotional people get (not you Om ) on both sides of the equation. When emotion is projected onto critters - whether loving or hateful - objectivity goes out the door. And a little objectivitiy - and education - is a good thing. We need more people that can balance both with care and kindness (like you, Om )! ok soapbox over!! Julie |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
In article ,
"marcesent" wrote: remember my Dad was trying to get away at the same time pushing it off the driveway with the shovel. But who knows, the whole thing may have been one big misunderstanding (my Dad and the stick, that is). But remember, many creatures are not intelligent, but are perfectly capable of aggression in self-defense (fire ants, for example). Good example. ;-) They swarm up your leg then the group "mind" starts them all stinging at once! I declare outright war on fire ants.... You're right about the "chasing" thing. Many times it's just the noise the person makes while they're running away crashing through the brush that makes them think the snake is chasing them. I spent a *bunch* of time in East Texas doing my field work for herpetology in the early 90's and we found more than our share of moccasins. Nasty things, they are - stink like rotten eggs (sulphur) when you disturb them. But only once did I have one get *really* aggressive with me - it was when I was in a canoe and I happened to paddle right on top of the lilies where he was sunning himself. I thought he was going to come *into* the canoe with me....he struck the paddle like 6 times!! Heh. Sounds like that rather ticked off copperhead we had to "rescue" one time. Since we were doing volunteer work for WRI, we had to capture it alive... I refused tho' to crawl under the guys trailer for it and made him unscrew the skirting. We were successful but both of us had an adrenaline rush for nearly an hour. Wish I'd had a digicam way back then. Hoop snakes are another Texas lore that makes me laugh. The best one was a little old lady in East Texas that we were talking with on a cultural herpetology trip. She claimed that the hoop snake took it's tail in it's mouth (forming the "hoop") and then rolled at high speed chasing her across the pasture, over a barbed wire fence (it jumped it) and then up a tree! And the whole time the snake was whistling....I didn't have the nerve to ask what tune. lol I've heard that one too! -- Peace! Om "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Walking Sticks - Dangerous or not?
OmManiPadmeOmelet wrote:
In article , "marcesent" wrote: "OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message ... Either that or what attacked him were not walking sticks. I have a close friend that was attacked as a child by a swarm of locusts. She had bites all over her. She's been terrified of large grasshoppers all of her life since that incident. I've seen some pretty big grasshoppers. Your dad also could have been telling a tall tale. ;-) No offense meant. None taken. As I said though, I do remember seeing it - I was 15 or so at the time. I was out in the driveway with him. He was trying to "sweep" the critter off the driveway with the shovel (that was the tool he had been using, he had no intention of harming with it) and the thing kept coming at him. And it looked like a walking stick, not a locust or grasshopper. My mom was there too, she was a bit freaked out! She remembers it, but I definitely think her version gets a bit "colored" with her high anxiety at the time. I should send an email to A&M and ask them if it's possible from the sticks to get aggressive when disturbed when nesting. My main concern in asking this is my daughter, my neighbor's dogs (miniature greyhounds - love to get into the garden), and gardening with my bare hands and while barefoot. But it's not a big worry. I've played with many a walking stick as I find them to be rather fascinating. So far, no harm, no foul. -- You're much braver than me! But I have maintained a healthy curious respect for them. It's funny, my Bachelor's from A&M is in Wildlife Biology - aquatic biology and herpetology. I've handled more snakes and lizards and frogs and traditionally "creepy" things without batting an eye - I find them fascinating. But I couldn't bring myself to study insects, and definitely can't touch them. Aren't phobias weird? But they get to live in my home too, and I hope they stay happy. It's nice to see critters that the fire ants haven't driven out or eaten. Julie Insects I believe are not intelligent enough to reason... or to attack unless they think you are "food" for some reason? It probably kept coming towards him 'cause it was too dumb to do anything else and just wanted to go that way? G The walking sticks out at my place seem to climb for safety. If ol' dad was the tallest thing around, it was probably trying to climb him. I think the stories of people being "chased" by water moccasin snakes are pretty much the same thing. The snake is just trying to get away, but too stupid to move in the right direction. Best thing to do is to step aside? But yeah, I'd be curious to see what A&M says. I'm always up for an education if I am wrong. ;-) Water moccasins are at least smart enough to recognize something out-of-the-ordinary in their environment, which they generally seem to consider a threat (yeah, every time I've seen this, it's been a guy with a .22). They *will* attempt to drive you from their territory. DT |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
new things for walking sticks | Gardening | |||
walking sticks | Texas | |||
PHOTO OF THE WEEK, Walking Sticks Doing It | Gardening | |||
K2O, dangerous or not? | Freshwater Aquaria Plants | |||
Walking Sticks? | Gardening |