Something from my garden

[karstopography]

It’s a rare day I don’t see a snake. Northern Diamondback water snakes, broad banded water snakes, plain bellied water snakes (can you tell I live on the water), though, I have never seen a water moccasin where I live.

I have a coachwhip that hangs around my garden. They are extra cool snakes. Big, standout eyes, super quick, they rise up like a periscope to scout for prey. It got caught up in my nylon critter exclusion net, but I was able to cut it free and didn’t even get bit. Off it went and I saw it again a few days later next to my deck.

See the occasional copperhead or coral snake. I relocated a large coral snake from my mom’s koi pond to a nearby nature park. Coral snakes evidently have a defense mechanism where they can form their tail into a head like structure. I had an extremely hard time differentiating the head from the tail. Coral snakes are lightning fast when agitated. I gave that snake my full attention. I’ve had a few friends bit by copperheads, usually while working in a garden. One friend was weeding a rose bed and got a prick. He thought it was rose thorn, but the pain really started to intensify and then he saw a flicking red tongue of the snake.

Western diamondback Rattlesnakes live nearby out in the salt marsh and sand dunes. I’ve seen a few kayaking in the marsh. BTW, They can and often do swim and have been known to head for boats and kayaks for a perching spot.

Snakes just want to be left alone. I try my best to do that. No real reason to kill them, they won’t really chase a person down like a man-eating tiger.

[Donnyboy]

I have these guys....,




And...
I think they're as cool as hell....

If you can't handle the idea of walking up on a snake... better stay home....

I also have black widow spiders.

I don't know how venomous that particular rattle snake is, but a friend was vacationing with his wife in diamond back country. His wife descended some stairs off a porch. A diamond back was laying against the lowest step where it couldn't be seen while descending the steps. He struck the lady and she died the next day. I like snakes, but I like living people more.

[Donnyboy]

I'm recovering from a spider bite on the back of head. I have no idea what type of spider it was because I got it in my garden and I quickly swatted it away. It happened about a month ago and the bite site is getting smaller but still exuding moisture if I forget and scratch the itch. I didn't rush out and spray my garden with insecticide. I try to remember to carry a stick which clears the webs ahead of me as I stroll in my garden in the morning. If I see a black widow or brown recluse spider, I kill it. I love nature, but I sometimes find it necessary to protect myself from nature. I'm thankful I don't live in Australia with the native brown snake and trapdoor spiders.

[Whwoz]

I do live in Australia and have been following this thread with interest. Curiosity first, what type of snake is pictured please. No doubt venomous or otherwise the OP would not have shot it. Obviously dead from jaw position.

The brown snake mentioned above is probably our most lethal but not most poisonous snake, which is the small scaled snake otherwise known as the Inland Tipain. The brown is highly aggressive and this makes a big difference. The tigersnakes we have locally can also be aggressive, but are not in the Browns league.

I would rather leave a snake alive, there are locations where I would rather not have them