It's not surprising that your tractor owner had never seen a copperhead
if he's near Houston. Houston is at just about the southern boundary of
copperhead range. There are copperheads in Florida too but only the
extreme northern bit in the immediate vicinity of the Georgia/Alabama
line. Houston also is near the southern boundary in Texas for water
moccasins as well so it's not too surprising that your tractor owner
hasn't encountered many of those either.
Texas does have 8 species of rattlesnake but any one part of Texas
likely has only 2-4 species. As you might guess they tend to be
distributed largely between eastern and western species or those that
can tolerate the desert and those that can't.
In Houston you might be likely to encounter four species of rattlesnakes
although for two of those (Pigmy and Timber) Houston represents
something close to the southern boundary for those species. More
widespread in Texas and around Houston would be the Western Diamondback
and the Western Massasagua. It and the Pigmy are fairly small with the
Pigmy at about 18" or less and the Western Massasauga at 2 feet or less.
The Pigmy ususally (but not always) has a reddish or rust colored
stripe down its back. The Timber rattler and the Western Diamondback
are much more formidable creatures growing up to 5 and 6 feet
respectively although most are smaller than that.
Around Austin I think you'll find 3 or 4 as well although the Western
Diamondback and maybe the Western Massasagua will be the only two common
to both places. The Pigmy and Timber rattler don't go that far west.
The best way to avoid rattlesnakes is to study the species in your area
and understand their habits and habitat. And be sure you can identify
them. After having worked for the US Fish & Wildlife service for 6
years as a volunteer on the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge in south Florida
I can tell you quite emphatically that I've never seen a visitor to the
refuge (including lots of good ol' boys from Florida and elsewhere in
the south) that could actually identify a water moccasin. Not a one.
To them any snake in the water was a water moccasin. So I also take
your tractor owner's report of having picked up a rattlesnake off his
tractor's engine using a pair of needle nosed pliers with a large grain
of salt. I ain't sayin' it ain't true, mind ya, but rattlesnakes are
not exactly known for their climbing prowess. It's possible if it was
chilly outside and the tractor engine was warm that a rattler might be
encouraged to do what he normally would never consider. And a chilly
and sluggish snake would also help explain why the pliers wielder didn't
get bitten. But I wouldn't bet a plugged nickel that it was actually a
rattler. Too many rat snakes and other kinds of non-venomous snakes
throughout Texas that actually like to climb and wouldn't give a second
thought about climbing up onto a tractor engine, especially if it was warm.
As to Coral snakes you certainly have them throughout south and
southeastern Texas. It's clear that you also know how to identify them
and distinguish them from their look-alike buddies in your area, the
king snakes and, to a lesser extent, the milk snakes. ("red and yellow
kill a fellow, red and black friend of Jack") But there is very little
reason to fear Coral snakes. First, they are very shy and reserved and
hard to find. Their mouths are so small that they have a hard time
getting a good bite on you. The fangs are tiny and most likely wouldn't
even penetrate a leather garden glove. Most would have to have
something really small to latch onto such as the web of skin between
your fingers. But it is truly serious if they get through your skin.
The only true story I know of a Coral snake bite concerns a couple of 10
year old boys in my area near Palm Beach, Florida who found a Coral
snake. One of them was bitten by the snake but only after they had
played with it for about 1/2 hour.
This is getting long so I'll end with these thoughts. Consider that, to
the snake, you look a lot like Godzilla. Would you deliberately attack
Godzilla with your teeth? Yes, venomous snakes have venom but they are
very reluctant to use it on you unless threatened. The venom is their
means of catching food. They eat rarely and venom takes a long time to
replenish. If they use it up on you they're not likely to eat for quite
a while. And remember: 90% of the people who are bitten by a venomous
snake are trying to either capture or kill the snake. Forget about the
pistol and bird shot. Just leave them alone and you'll both be happier.
Finally, pit vipers (copperheads, water moccasins and rattle snakes in
the US) can strike very accurately to about 1/2 their length. Much less
accurately at 3/4 and not at all beyond their length. All you have to
do is keep a respectable distance. And no semi-intelligent snake is
going to come after you. Remember, you really do look like Godzilla.
Chuck Norcutt
NSURIT@xxxxxxx wrote:
> This one required a little more thought than some . . . and that is crazy.
> I've been working on a project since late winter/early spring in a field
> with a large collection of old tractors (think tractor junk yard and
> collection.) Last week I was talking to the owner about snakes and he said
> he
> had never seen a copperhead and had only killed one water moccasin since
> moving there in 1947, however this time of year there are some rattlesnakes.
>
> Told the story of how one had crawled up on the head of one of his tractor
> engines earlier in the spring and he walked by it and didn't pay any
> attention and then started thinking about it, went back and grabbed it
> behind
> the head with some needle nose pliers and pulled it out only to realize it
> was a rattle snake. He said he squeezed real hard and dispatched it. No
> sh&%.
>
> Last week my 93 year old Godmother had a rattlesnake in her back yard and
> she lives in town and that morning I saw a coral snake that had recently
> been hit on my street. Yes, it was red and yellow as opposed to red and
> black. It was still moving when I stopped to check it out. Later in the
> day
> it had become a very flat snake.
>
> My two gransons are up for the week (8 & 10 years old) and we were
> planning on doing some work on their fort/tree house in the woods. Went to
> Cabellas looking for snake boots or leggings. No luck.
>
> I just ordered three pair of snakeboots from snakeboots.com. a little on
> the expensive side, however I will be a little more comfortable tramping
> around in areas I know have snakes with this bit of added protection.
>
> Does anyone else have snakeboots in their kit or interesting snake stories
> while out photographing?
>
> Bill Barber
>
>
--
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