Welcome to the country! Snakes edition part deux

[masraum]

Holy Guacamole!!!!

I just walked out to the garage to get something out of the freezer. It's about 100-150'. I've been trying to keep the grass mowed short. When I walk around the property, I stare at the ground where I'm walking. Even with all of that, I just stepped on this.

He's just sitting in the middle of the yard in the grass not near anything.



I realized that I was about to step on "something" a split second before my foot hit the ground. I guess I'm happy (and VERY lucky) that 1 The ground is soft from a ton of rain in the last 24 hours, 2 the soles of the shoes that I was wearing are relatively soft and spongy and 3 it's unseasonably cool (68º) outside.

I saw that I stepped on him, and I felt that I stepped on him. I took about another 4, 5 or 6 steps. My heart stopped. I pooped a little, and then I went back to take pictures.

I came inside. About 5 or more mins later, I went back out and he was still there. I have heard that spraying them lightly with water will often usher them along. It didn't do anything.

About 15-20 mins later, I fed the dog and took him outside. The snake was still there, hadn't moved since I sprayed him with water. Then I noticed that there were two big frogs where the wife's car had been parked. I carried one over and dropped it right in front of the snake. No movement. Then I moved some grass with a long twig so I could see his head (was obscured by grass after the spray with the hose, playing by a copperheads head with a twig, probably not the brightest thing). Then I went and got the other frog and dropped it right on the snakes head. I got a tiny movement of the head that time, but that's it. The snake and frogs aren't moving much. I guess the low temps and heavy rains have them cooled off so they aren't feeling perky.

I wish I had one of those hooks. I'd move him to the field next door. I'd rather he wasn't hanging out in the middle of the yard.

Yes, I'm still feeling the effects of the adrenaline.

[Evans, Marv]

In '69 I was on a search for a lost kid in Sequoia Natl. Park and came upon a nice sized rattle snake early in the morning while it was still cool. It was coiled up and no matter how much I poked it, it would only move very slowly. I left it there.
We see snakes here once in a while (only maybe six rattlers in eleven years), & I leave them alone or carry them over into the weeds/grass and let them go. This is the last one I saw two years ago in the shade of my tractor parked in the driveway. It rattled at first, but after I tried to pick it up with the mop handle, it just wanted to leave after a while. I finally got it onto the handle and put it up in the grass on the slope above the house.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

In '69 I was on a search for a lost kid in Sequoia Natl. Park and came upon a nice sized rattle snake early in the morning while it was still cool. It was coiled up and no matter how much I poked it, it would only move very slowly. I left it there.
We see snakes here once in a while (only maybe six rattlers in eleven years), & I leave them alone or carry them over into the weeds/grass and let them go. This is the last one I saw two years ago in the shade of my tractor parked in the driveway. It rattled at first, but after I tried to pick it up with the mop handle, it just wanted to leave after a while. I finally got it onto the handle and put it up in the grass on the slope above the house.

I want to get a

[Evans, Marv]

About any old stick will do. Usually they just hang off each side and stay there for a while if you pick them up in the middle.

[masraum]

I just went out. I think it's been 2 hours or more and the snake's still sitting there. When I walked up the frog was resting its chin on the snake, but as I approached the frog moved a little.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

About any old stick will do. Usually they just hang off each side and stay there for a while if you pick them up in the middle.

I have a few of these:



38" reach, keeps me from stooping to pick **** up. Two at the barn, two at the house

Snakes not included

[Jim Bremner]

Shovel, split head from bode, split head length wise. Bury.

If it's not a venomous snake, let it live.

[masraum]

He probably would have fit into the palm of my hand with my fingers outstretched with room to spare.



I thought I had something in the garage that the old owner left that would work. I didn't see what I remembered, but then I saw what is probably a 4' piece of rebar. I bent it similar-ish to a snake hook. I need a grinder to smooth and shape the hook a bit but it worked.

Sorry for the vertical video. I was trying to watch the snake that I was carrying, watch the ground for other snakes, and keep the phone/camera pointed at the snake.

[DonDavis]

That’s called a “nope rope”.

Pretty sure if my mother was still with us, she’d chop it up like onions with a garden hoe.

I’d prob relocate it further away.

It’ll prob go right back out in the sun to try and warm up.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

That’s called a “nope rope”.

Pretty sure if my mother was still with us, she’d chop it up like onions with a garden hoe.

I’d prob relocate it further away.

It’ll prob go right back out in the sun to try and warm up.

I prefer "danger noodle."

[Tobra]

My wife got bit by a copperhead. Took a LONG time to mostly get over. She ended up getting RSD, which sucked more than somewhat. Took years to wear a regular shoe.

[flatbutt]

That is one lethargic snake.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Tobra

My wife got bit by a copperhead. Took a LONG time to mostly get over. She ended up getting RSD, which sucked more than somewhat. Took years to wear a regular shoe.

Yikes. I joined a facebook group called "National Snakebite Support" after my first run in with a (non-venomous) snake. I've got the protocol for dealing with snake bites down, mostly in my head but also links and screenshots on my phone. What I need to do is figure out what the nearest hospital is that's got antivenom. No point in going anywhere else.

Originally Posted by flatbutt

That is one lethargic snake.

Yep, we had lots of cold rain yesterday, last night and this morning. I'm guessing that's what had him so lethargic. I'm not complaining!

[masraum]

I told the wife about the snake. SHe was concerned. THen I told her that I dropped a frog on the snake and she was angry that I'd put the frog in harms way.

[red-beard]

Snakes gotta eat, same as worms...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by masraum

I prefer "danger noodle."

Yep, Dangle Noodle. Copper gots the hurt juice.

[Rick Lee]

This is the one I have. If you do it right, you cannot get hurt using one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/Ouronehome-Professional-All-Aluminum-Handling-Comfortable/dp/B07T6SR1GW/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=snake+stick&qid=1621481292&sr=8-5

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by masraum

I told the wife about the snake. SHe was concerned. THen I told her that I dropped a frog on the snake and she was angry that I'd put the frog in harms way.

I think that is a toad, not a frog.

[Heel n Toe]

Meanwhile, in Florida...

https://i.imgur.com/AXHKtbo.mp4


(I don't know how to make an Imgur file live or embedded.)

[masraum]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

I think that is a toad, not a frog.

Yes you are correct, but...
https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/what-s-the-difference-frog-vs-toad

Let's dive into their similarities and differences, starting with this fun but confusing fact: All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads, according to Penn State University. Basically, toad is a classification of frog. And here's another fun fact: There's no scientific distinction between a toad and a frog, according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web.

Confused yet? Who could blame you?

In terms of scientific classification, both frogs and toads belong to the order Anura, which means "without a tail," according to Penn State University. Within the order Anura are several families of animals, including Ranidae, which are referred to as true frogs, and Bufonidae, which are referred to as true toads. Other families of frogs and toads exist — for example, tree frogs are a different family of frogs than true frogs — but these are smaller groupings of species, and some are specific to certain regions of the world.