American Snakes

[Tobus]

Anyone with personal snake or shark stories ?

Way too many to count. Everyone I know in real life has snake stories. It's just something we deal with in my area of Texas. Mostly Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes. I had a step-brother growing up, who had been bitten on both shins and had scars all the way down his legs from where they had to cut him open to relieve the swelling and vent the poison from rattlesnakes. I've seen horses who got bit; it is not pretty.

The sad thing is that snakes of all kinds are on their way to becoming endangered. Human beings have a mostly illogical fear of them (as BEEDEE's post exemplifies). This is partially due to religious and cultural stigma, but it's also due to ignorance of snakes. People would just rather kill them than learn about them. In truth, though, snakes are very beneficial to have around. Obviously we don't want them in our homes, but they do serve an important role in the ecological system. And the more humans try to "tame" the land, the more they exterminate snakes.

Now I ain't sayin' I haven't shot my share of rattlesnakes. I will not tolerate them around my horses (and thankfully my horses have enough "horse sense" to stay away from them!). But I do leave portions of my land wild enough that snakes can have their place too. I think it's important to keep them around just like all the other wildlife.

[Dixiecat]

Sorry Canuck, looks like you won't get your chance to see a Timber Rattlesnake in Ontario. One hasn't been spotted since 1941 and then it was restricted to the Niagara Gorge.
http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.c...es/Cro_hor.htm


Now, the Massasauga rattlesnake on the other hand:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistrurus_catenatus

Anyone with personal snake or shark stories?

Nope, but I have a good bear story..........

[Lallans]

Sorry Canuck, looks like you won't get your chance to see a Timber Rattlesnake in Ontario. One hasn't been spotted since 1941 and then it was restricted to the Niagara Gorge.
http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.c...es/Cro_hor.htm


Now, the Massasauga rattlesnake on the other hand:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistrurus_catenatus




Nope, but I have a good bear story..........

OK, I have or had the idea that 'the Massasauga' is not the scientific name for them and 'Timber' is, but I am no expert and too wary to go ask them how they feel about it.

[Dixiecat]

Ah, no. Two different snakes. Sorry for the confusion.

Massasauga rattlesnake is a subspecies of Sistrurus catenatus. Timber rattlesnake is Crotalus horridus, see this link; http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.ph...id=102&lang=en.

[azwildcat96]

Ah, no. Two different snakes. Sorry for the confusion.

Massasauga rattlesnake is a subspecies of Sistrurus catenatus. Timber rattlesnake is Crotalus horridus, see this link; http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.ph...id=102&lang=en.

We have the Pygmy Rattlesnake (Western Massasauga - sistrurus catenatus edwardsii) down here in Arizona. They're only found in the Southeastern Chirichahua Mountains of the state. It is one of the 4 protected species, and is considered the most primitive form of rattlesnake in the US. They only grow up to 22" long.

[Lallans]

People that I know who own land they're found on claim that pigs are mightly fond of a meal of Massasagua rattlesnake and clean them out in no time, and then they're occasionally heard to mutter something about letting some pigs loose. But I would rather have the snakes than wild pigs running around- I've seen Old Yeller. Not that anyone asks me.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Now, the Massasauga rattlesnake on the other hand:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistrurus_catenatus

This is the only venomous snake in Michigan, where it is known as the Michigan rattler, and in Ontario.

Yes, this is the only venomous snake we have in the State of Michigan and I for one and quite happy about that. Possibly could kill your dog, might make a child quite sick but unlikely to be lethal to adults.

It's a good thing to be on top of the food chain!