My mom had a young cottonmouth 'appear' in her shower years ago in North
Louisiana...yep, they can appear out of the water spigots and drains! Our
old pasture (this was 30+ years ago) had a large pond and we had plenty of
them that were enormous...Dad usually spent the time we were riding and playing
around hunting them...well, except for the time we found some tiny baby snakes -
maybe 6-7" - and insisted on taking one home to raise in an aquarium. That
was, raise him until mom's biology teacher friend came over for a visit and
wanted to know what the hell she was doing with a baby cottonmouth in her kids
room!! Gulf spray and a book cured that right up! (Knocking on wood
as I say this) I haven't run into any snakes here in S. Texas but know too many
people that have. I'm with Heidi, poof gone if I can get you!
Every time I see Steve Irwin on TV I'm rooting for the
Croc. Normally, Tracy, I'd agree with you, when it comes to
respecting nature and all. But, if you've ever run into a water
moccasin down here (aka cottonmouth) you might think otherwise. They
hide underwater, like submarines, and when they surface (usually when
you're halfway into a swamp crossing while riding your horse) right by
your left leg you'll understand the need to kill or be killed. These
things are the most aggressive snakes around and they will come after
you. Just for fun.
I had a cat that was bit by one of these
things. Spent over 500 bucks at the midnight animal hospital trying
to save my cat, "Jax." Anti-venom is incredibly expensive. His poor
leg swelled up like a balloon and it got so bad the vet had to put him
down. Ever since then, because of Jax and, maybe, that 500 bucks, if
I find a cotton mouth out on the trail or near my place I will take him
out (and, not out for dinner).
I've known some neighbors who have had
run ins with these vipers and their horses. Once the horse is
bitten, if it's lucky enough to survive, it's never the same. The
area near the bite swells up and after awhile the skin starts to slough
off. The smell of the skin in that area is the smell of death
because that part of the horse's body is literally dead.
So, in the
name of my dead cat Jax and the safety of the horses around here I kill
Cotton Mouths. Haven't had to do it lately since we haven't had much
rain since last summer. Plus, the city of Ormond Beach is running
out of water so they've decided to tap into the swamp where I go riding
and are using it for drinking water. The way Florida is growing swamps
will soon be a thing of the past. I wonder if it's possible to
have a cotton mouth come out of your water spicket while taking a warm,
comfortable bath?
cya, Howard
>From: "Tracy Cann"
<EBBYPONY@xxxxxxx> >To:
"ridecamp ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject:
Re: [RC] Snakes >Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 13:22:24
-0500 > >You guys are mean. Poor little snakey wakeys.
Don't you ever watch Steve >Irwin or Jeff Corwin on Animal
Planet? Poisonous snakes don't bite people >or horses cause they
want to. They just do it in self defense. Note: On >"Venom
ER" last week it was stated "The MOST common time for a person to be
>bit by a poisonous snake is when they are trying to kill it." So
just >leave them alone. Snakes don't understand revenge
anyway. They're brains >are pretty primitive. Show some
respect for the natural world dude. The >attitude of "I AM HUMAN
AND I MUST EITHER BE IN CONTROL OF NATURE OR KILL >IT" is so
yesterday. Watch where you and your horse are stepping and
>snakes won't be a problem. (note: they have great camouflage so
really >look hard) This is like blaming a shark for eating you
when you go in the >ocean. You're in his kitchen you know and
sharks are not rocket >scientists. Humans are supposed to be the
ones with the advanced brains. > >Sincerely, >Confessed
reptile
fan, >Tracy
============================================================ Just
because someone tells you that your horse isn't "fit"
for endurance...doesn't mean it isn't, it just means your horse isn't fit
to be "their" endurance horse! Go for it, you never know what you'll
accomplish with that "saddle horse" or "trail horse" of YOURS! ~ Darlene
Anderson - DPD Endurance
