Snake Stories [Archive] - Badger & Blade

View Full Version : Snake Stories

LarryAndro

04-10-2012, 11:32 AM

Something snake-related and funny happened to me the other day. I relayed my story to a friend, who in turn had a funny snake story...

My wife and I got home from somewhere, and I went to the door first. A snake was curled up on our porch waiting for us! What to do? Well, I quickly threw our place mat over the snake (like Sir Walter would have done) and let the wife walk across the covered snake. (I told her what happened a few days later.) Afterwards, I took a picture for you guys to see.

I told my friend, and he mentioned once catching a small snake in his house. His son was just learning safe use of guns, and so said son suggested that he be allowed to take it into the backyard and shoot it. My friend said, no, not every critter should be killed just because a gun was handy. So, they turned it loose in the creek behind their house where the snake swam to mid stream and was grabbed by a snapping turtle lurking below!

(I know! The last story was a little twisted.)

Mike H

04-10-2012, 11:42 AM

Rat Snake?... cool.

He looks no worse for wear. :lol:

LarryAndro

04-10-2012, 11:52 AM

Rat Snake?... cool.

Yes, from another friend... Texas rat snake, pantherophis obsoleta lindheimeri

Years ago, a neighbor lady asked me to help her get one of them - much larger, though - out of her small fruit tree. (Welder's gloves came in handy.)

Oblique Human

04-10-2012, 02:14 PM

Snake and funny in a single sentence? Just a pic makes me want to tuck my feet up and peek beneath the chair.

dpmtherrien

04-10-2012, 05:31 PM

Snakes do get a bad rap, and its nice that you explained to your son about not killing something just because. Its good that you let the snake go, but too bad that nature stepped in.

rickboone1

04-10-2012, 05:38 PM

I can't believe he stayed here long enough to get stepped on, then you go get the camera.

thunder54

04-10-2012, 08:06 PM

I heard this story while working at UPS. A driver delivers a package to rural stop. The receipient opens the package and it is empty. The customer had ordered an albino python and had it delivered to his house. Well the snake got out of the box in the package car and the driver found the snake 2 days later. He about had a heart attack when the snake slithered down from the top shelf. If I hadnot seen this story on the news I would have called BS. Some one should have got in serious trouble because one thing UPS will not ship is live animals. Too much of a hassle and too many chances for damage claims.

Legion

04-10-2012, 08:12 PM

Yes, from another friend... Texas ratsnake, pantherophis obsoleta lindheimeri

Years ago, a neighbor lady asked me to help her get one of them - much larger, though - out of her small fruit tree. (Welder's gloves came in handy.)

Dare you to remove an Australian snake with welders gloves. :lol:

LarryAndro

04-10-2012, 08:22 PM

Dare you to remove an Australian snake with welders gloves. :lol:

You have heard of the International Scale of Male Macho Levels? We Americans would always be the top graph spot on that scale if it wasn't for Crocodile Dundee and you other crazy Aussies and your freaky dangerous animals. In a grudging, sour grapes sort of sullen American way, I bow your way. :)

Legion

04-10-2012, 08:29 PM

Haha. Despite the constant threat of death from fauna, we Australians are secretly quite proud of our freaky dangerous animals.

I have lots of snake stories, but they all involve narrow escapes.

honed

04-13-2012, 02:56 PM

Haha. Despite the constant threat of death from fauna, we Australians are secretly quite proud of our freaky dangerous animals.

I have lots of snake stories, but they all involve narrow escapes.
Death from fauna :biggrin:

DC_MPA

04-13-2012, 03:05 PM

I hate snakes. The only good snake is a dead one.

Rustonrazor

04-13-2012, 05:56 PM

You have heard of the International Scale of Male Macho Levels? We Americans would always be the top graph spot on that scale if it wasn't for Crocodile Dundee and you other crazy Aussies and your freaky dangerous animals. In a grudging, sour grapes sort of sullen American way, I bow your way. :)

Ok, since you got on the subject of male macho"ness", and then connected it to Australia, I would have to go with Jim Craig from "The Man from Snowy River". That dude was for real. Sorry to derail the thread, my son and I have been on a kick lately of watching Snowy River I and II.

malocchio

04-13-2012, 06:16 PM

I was walking through the village on mount kilimanjaro last year.I caught a movement in the 4 ft. tall green hedge bushes 3 feet to my left.As I glanced over ,out plopped a green mamba,who happily chose to ignore me and slip under fallen banana palms.....The black mamba is the deadliest snake known,according to the medics I talked to in Tanzania and there are no medical records of anyone ever surviving its bite.The beautiful ,fluorescent green mamba is a small snake,but it has the same venom,just less of it due to its small size,your odds of surving are a bit better....a tad above "nil".

Legion

04-13-2012, 11:04 PM

style="width: 100%"
|-
|
| Snake Species
| LD50*
| Distribution
|-
| 1.
| Inland taipan
| 0.025
| Australia
|-
| 2.
| Eastern brown snake
| 0.053
| Australia
|-
| 3.
| Coastal taipan
| 0.099
| Australia
|-
| 4.
| Tiger snake
| 0.118
| Australia
|-
| 5.
| Black tiger snake
| 0.131
| Australia
|-
| 6.
| Beaked sea snake
| 0.164
| Australia
|-
| 7.
| Black tiger snake (Chappell Island ssp.)
| 0.194 - 0.338
| Australia
|-
| 8.
| Death adder
| 0.400
| Australia
|-
| 9.
| Gwardar
| 0.473
| Australia
|-
| 10.
| Spotted brown snake
| 0.360 (in bovine serum albumin)
| Australia
|-
| 11.
| Australian copperhead
| 0.560
| Australia
|-
| 12.
| Cobra
| 0.565
| Asia
|-
| 13.
| Dugite
| 0.660
| Australia
|-
| 14.
| Papuan black snake
| 1.09
| New Guinea
|-
| 15.
| Stephens' banded snake
| 1.36
| Australia
|-
| 16.
| Rough scaled snake
| 1.36
| Australia
|-
| 17.
| King cobra
| 1.80
| Asia
|-
| 18.
| Blue-bellied black snake
| 2.13
| Australia
|-
| 19.
| Collett's snake
| 2.38
| Australia
|-
| 20.
| Mulga snake
| 2.38
| Australia
|-
| 21.
| Red-bellied black snake
| 2.52
| Australia
|-
| 22.
| Small eyed snake
| 2.67
| Australia
|-
| 23.
| Eastern diamond-backed rattlesnake
| 11.4
| North America
|-
| 24.
| Black whipsnake
| >14.2
| Australia
|-
| 25.
| Fer-de-lance
| >27.8
| South America
|-

*LD50: mg/kg in saline by subcutaneous injection in mice.

"Which snake species is the most venomous depends on the measure used. The average or the maximum venom yield from milking could be suggested, but these measures can be criticised as not reflecting the impact of a real bite. The measure generally acknowledged as best reflecting how dangerous a snake's venom is is that of LD50. The lower this number, the less venom is required to cause death. By that measure, the most venomous snake in the world is Australia's inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus). The table below gives the top 25 species in order, their LD50, and their distribution."

This is the official "@#$% you up" meter of snake poisonous. I've been bitten by #2.

Phog Allen

04-14-2012, 06:10 AM

Holy smokes David, you were bitten by an Eastern Brownie? From what I have gathered from the tele they are one of the most aggressive poisonous snakes in the world. Maybe only surpassed by the Black Mamba. One thing I am unclear about with the Aussie snakes is whether they are chewers or injectors. I know some of the African snakes have fixed fangs in the back of their mouths and whrmen they bite venom is excreted from a gland in their mouth and runs down the fangs into the wound. I think it may be the reason that anyone ever survives a neurotoxic invenamation. They don't get enough in them in a quick strike. I think if some of them had the folding hypodermic fangs our American vipers have along with the Aussies wildly powerful neurotixic venom no human would ever survive an attack.

Our pit vipers do not carry the ultra potent venom your snakes do but they can deliver a LOT of it. They are quite sophisticated. They can give you a full dose from both fangs, one fang, a drop from either or like some bites, completely dry. Their haemotoxic venom does not usually kill but causes horrible necrosis and cripples the bite area badly.

That list of yours makes the Crocs the least of worries in Oz.

Cheers, Todd

Legion

04-14-2012, 06:44 AM

The Brown is about the most common snake where I grew up. And by that I mean COMMON. When I got chomped we were playing in the bush, trying to sneak up on each other to bean the other guy with a rock, or some-such. ;)

That was a mistake. Normally the snakes "feel" you coming, and are long gone before you see them (except the tiger snake, and that is another story for another time). Because I was creeping around, when I jumped over a fallen tree to surprise my mate, I surprised a snake who was sunning itself on the ground there. It bit me on the shin before taking off.

Anyway, any Australian kid who has spent time in the boy scouts knows how to treat snakebite (they drum that into you hard), and we were not far from home. I Tourniquet the leg as best I could, waited by the nearest road until my mate ran home, called an ambulance, and ran back with some bandages to compress my leg. By the time it came and took me off the work was already done. I was a bit crook and weak for a week or so, got off school. No permanent kidney damage, although I flush them regularly with beer, just to make sure. :wink2:

All snake bites (except maybe #1) are completely survivable if you know how to treat it at the scene, and have access to a hospital.

I actually still like snakes, they are a cool animal.

My mum used to date a guy who worked for the national parks. When people here had a snake in their yard, he would come and get it (all reptiles here are protected, you can't kill them). The back of his ute was always full of hessian sacks. When it was dark, and the weather was cold, he would let us take the snakes out and hold them. And I'm talking proper snakes.

They are not evil. Just kind of weird. If you understand them they are not scary.

malocchio

04-14-2012, 10:56 AM

htownmmm

04-14-2012, 12:12 PM

Bruce Wayne

04-14-2012, 03:11 PM

Me when I was four

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/154812_112916902106861_100001656542175_79846_29119 06_n.jpg

Legion

04-14-2012, 05:09 PM

this VERY interesting !....if not too painful a memory,can you share with us the experience of what you went through,and the medical treatment given to you ? how many people are bitten each year in australia ?

Well, it was over twenty years ago... We had already put a compression bandage up my leg, so the ambulance guys put something tighter over that. Got oxygen. At hospital I got lots of injections, which I assume were anti-venoms, and I seem to recall something about tetanus. They did lots if tests, a skin test, and also blood tests and urine, which I think where to make sure my kidneys were OK. I had some tablets to take which I seem to recall were antihistamines of some sort, but I'm not sure.

I was sick and very week physically for a few days. Had a headache and was shaky. After about a week or so I was back to my old self. I suspect that because the snake was not really big, and because it got me on the bony part of my shin I might not have gotten a full dose of poison. Dunno. Also, because we treated it quickly, that would have slowed the poison from getting too far into my system before help came.

I imagine dozens and dozens of people are bitten here each year, but only a few actually die.

OldSchoolYoungin

04-14-2012, 05:51 PM

I love snakes and have since I was a young kid.

Don't have too many extraordinary stories beyond the area around my home being absolutely infested with Canebrake Rattlers one summer, though. In fact, the entire neighborhood was infested. It wasn't uncommon to see three or four a day, and that's considering I was only home and awake for a few hours each day; those were the only ones I actually saw. Had a baby on the lawnmower seat once :lol: Put him in a five gallon bucket and took him out in the woods. On the weekends, I was the unofficial snake catcher in the neighborhood. I recovered dozens, if not hundreds that summer alone. Canebrakes are rather timid, which can be both a good and a bad thing. Many times they won't even rattle before they strike as my dog found out, unfortunately. He was bitten in the eye area and was blinded, but survived.

One day a few autumns ago, I had to call out a plumber. For some reason or another, he had to end up going under the crawlspace underneath the house. He wasn't down there long before he came back up with a startled look on his face. I asked him what the problem was; he responded, "Not much besides a six foot rattlesnake". Just so happens that the snake was right below the area of my bedroom. No telling how long he was there; probably getting ready to hibernate. There was no way for him to enter the house otherwise, though, so I didn't worry about it at all. The guy mentioned that he runs into things like that all the time; once he ran into an entire hibernation den below a couple's house!

Snakes really don't bother me, though. I no longer get that many rattlesnakes, mostly just water snakes and corn snakes. Something a bit interesting, also; occasionally, I'll run into a hybrid or intergrade rat snake. These are fairly common in areas where the natural ranges of several sub-species of rat snakes overlap, but they're always cool to see. I have a "resident" brindle-patterned hybrid that's been in the woods besides my house for years now. He's over 6 feet long and mean as all hell!

scottish steve

04-14-2012, 06:38 PM

OldSchoolYoungin

04-14-2012, 06:47 PM

Not snake-related but venom. I used to work in the insect dept of Glasgow Zoo (now closed) and one day it was my job to feed the scorpions. We tended to give them half a larvae and had to get them to take it while still warm and wiggling, otherwise they lost interest. I took one case down and had a hell of a time getting this tiny white one to take something from me. We did a dance and a drop of venom appeared out if it's stinger. Eventually it took the grub in a surly way then ran into a corner. I put the case back with a different side facing outwards on which was written a note with the species name and "Extremely Venomous: only to be handled by Dept. Head."
I apparently would only have had about 45mins to get to Edinburgh if I'd been bitten.
Lucky escape.

Do you recall the species? Scorpions are a rather misunderstood group and most species regarded as "dangerously venomous" are fairly mild in comparison to other venomous animals, i.e. snakes, etc. Even consequences from "dangerously venomous" species like Fat Tails and Death Stalkers are completely manageable given mild medical attention. I've been stung by the "deadly" Arizona Bark Scorpion a few times and suffered nothing more than mild discomfort and an electrical shock sensation upon being hit. You see deaths in the Middle East attributed to scorpion stings, but these are in places where even the most basic of medical precautions are practically non-existent.

Legion

04-14-2012, 06:51 PM

OldSchoolYoungin

04-14-2012, 06:57 PM

Their stings hurt like an SOB, though!

LOL, yes they do! In fact, one of my most painful stings was from a one to one and a half inch "scorpling" Striped Bark Scorpion in Missouri. Not only did it feel like a strong electrical shock upon being tagged, but there was an excruciating burning and stinging sensation hours after the sting. My finger was extremely sore for days. They compare their stings to a wasp -- bulls***!

Hammertime1

04-14-2012, 10:42 PM

All my stories involve almost getting bit by rattlers and moccasins! So not funny to me, except ones that I wasn't the one almost getting bit.
At Ft Benning we got to our bivouac site towards evening. One of guys goes off into woods to take a dump and does number 2 on a big arse rattler! I have never seen a person run so fast with their pants around their ankles before.
Guy I was partnered up with for a land nav course didn't know how to read a compass nor did he mention he didn't know how to read one! We ended up in a swamp that was not on maps before I realized he was clueless and took compass away. Crossing a flooded creek a funny looking blade of grass that was bent over with rest of grass that was now under water in the strong current. All of the grass, even the bright colored one were doing that wavy back an forth motion from current. Every time I go to jump over the weird colored blade it stopped. Stayed motionless didnt move. Because of strong current figired if it was anything other then grass it would have been washed away. Eventually, I jumped. I had a snake come up between my legs directly at my crotch with the whitest fangs I have ever seen in my life. How in the world I didn't get bit is beyond me.
Going fishing with a buddy at his lake in IL. He keeps a few John boats around lake for flip it and go fishing. As we flip boat, I hear rattling. I knew exactly what it was, since I was very famailiar with em from
my time in military. He screaming at me to get in boat and let's go, it's just a bee stuck up underneath the seat buzzing. Of course I refuse and tell him it's a rattler. I get told I don't know about snakes and if it is it's just as snake that had it tail cut off and sounds like a rattler cause there aren't any venomous snakes in Il. I give the boat seat a good kick from outside of boat. Frigin prairie rattaler still comes out on my side , teeth flaring poised for a strike. One whack of oar change his
mind and he went for a swim instead. Buddy was building his house on lake at time. He swore me to secrecy because If his wife found out she wouldn't move into house when it was finished. Seen a few babies rather recently right on his concrete porch summing themselves.
As a kid, I have spent most of my time on lakes, rivers, ponds and in the woods goofing off. I have seen snakes over 8ft in Il. I had never seen a poisonous snake on IL ever in all that time. I played with em all exceot that big one! In 5 yrs time as an adult I ran into every known venomous species in IL several times. Worst part was always had buddies who were all macho and didn't beleive me when I said get back, etc. I always got the there is no poisonous snakes in IL. Always resulted in same thing them screaming holly crap it has fangs an them running away for safety. I can't imagine what it is like where they are really common and a lot more dangerous.

TonyH

04-14-2012, 11:11 PM

LOL, yes they do! In fact, one of my most painful stings was from a one to one and a half inch "scorpling" Striped Bark Scorpion in Missouri. Not only did it feel like a strong electrical shock upon being tagged, but there was an excruciating burning and stinging sensation hours after the sting. My finger was extremely sore for days. They compare their stings to a wasp -- bulls***!

We've got those little buggers down here also. I got zapped by one last fall, right on the back of my leg - behind the knee. Electric is the best way to describe it. Unpleasant doesn't begin to cover it.

LarryAndro

04-15-2012, 06:43 AM

I started this thread, but it has gone too creepy! Did I really need to know the term "neurotoxic invenamation"?

I don't need no stinking sleep!

ImaRobot

04-15-2012, 07:17 AM

I've had to deal with fer-de-lances on a few occasions. No close calls for me, lucky I've always spotted them first, at least the ones I've seen. I'm sure I've missed a few. My friend had a seven footer strike at him, terrifying.

One slightly funny things I've seen with a fer-de-lance was one travelling into the farm I was staying at and watching about 12 chickens peck at and corral the snake away from the farm. That was pretty cool to watch and gave me a whole new appreciation of the chickens running around the place.

pipskicks

04-15-2012, 08:40 AM

I have to admit, I love snakes like Boa/Python but I can't stand poisonous snakes, scared me too much. In high school I can still remember I got into a phone booth, but a real booth which has closing doors, closed myself in with a large rattler along my foot and nearly peed my pants.

Gotta be careful with them though, near my house there was a park trail that was heavily used and a rattler was stuck snapping at the edge of the trail, looked very dangerous for a runner with headphones as the snake could hit them while they ran by. I couldn't find a way to move it without killing it though unfortunately.

I don't like them, but killing them for no reason and leaving it there dead isn't nice in my book, I just honestly feared for the people using the park since the snake was worked up near the road and would not budge, just snapped at everything.

scottish steve

04-16-2012, 03:37 AM

Do you recall the species? Scorpions are a rather misunderstood group and most species regarded as "dangerously venomous" are fairly mild in comparison to other venomous animals, i.e. snakes, etc. Even consequences from "dangerously venomous" species like Fat Tails and Death Stalkers are completely manageable given mild medical attention. I've been stung by the "deadly" Arizona Bark Scorpion a few times and suffered nothing more than mild discomfort and an electrical shock sensation upon being hit. You see deaths in the Middle East attributed to scorpion stings, but these are in places where even the most basic of medical precautions are practically non-existent.

Hi
I've no idea of the latin name. It was a looong time ago and the only name I can remember is Eurycantha Calcaratta, the big big stick insect, as it tried to snap my finger off with one of it's leg- that hurt
The scorpion was a desert species, very very small and transparent. Given that Glasgow had no antivenom a bite would have necessitated a helicopter ride to Edinburgh. I was told it would have been very serious if I hadn't been treated within 45 mins and was made to believe that death was a possibility, though they might have been scaring a young man into being more responsible. My supervisor did noticeably blanche when I told her and the next day it had been moved out of the room I dealt with. I'm sure it would have ruined my day and possibly my week.