Posted on 10/23/2015 1:51:43 PM PDT by w1n1
I’ve always been fascinated with snakes.
I will admit that as a youth they absolutely terrified me. While I ran around catching lots of lizards and frogs, whenever I bumped into a snake, I did less catching and more running.
As I got older and learned more about them, I began actually seeking snakes out in the hopes of seeing them up close and capturing them. I’d carefully handle the nonvenomous ones, take a few photos and then release them. I did get bit a handful of times, but for the most part the encounters were interesting and educational.
Every spring, as soon as it starts to warm up, I begin to see many of Southern California’s snake species out and about again. And as temperatures start to rise, usually during late April to early May, I start slowly searching the backroads for snakes.
Southern California has almost 20 different species of snakes, some of which are very comfortable living near suburban areas. Gopher snakes and king snakes are common species in many residential areas, where they find plenty of prey in the form of mice and other rodents. Those living in more rural areas will see coach whips, patch nose and rattlesnakes, all of which find their required habitat and forage near these less-developed areas.
Over the years, I have been lucky enough to find almost all the species indigenous to the Southland. It may seem a little odd, but my favorite snakes to encounter are rattlers. Their diamond-shaped heads, thick bodies and telltale rattles seem to signify authority and an animal that means business. Whenever I come across a rattlesnake, the first thing I grab is my camera. And I never get tired of seeing any of the species of rattlesnake that occur in Southern California.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RATTLESNAKE The southern Pacific rattlesnake can be found close to urban areas anywhere small rodents and ground-dwelling birds exist. This is a very common species and is usually the one encountered by hikers and anyone spending time outdoors. Often referred to as a diamondback for the dark diamond shapes on its back, the southern Pacific comes in a variety of different color schemes. I’ve seen this species from a cinnamon brown to a dark gray in color. Read the rest of the story here.
He was a Lab/mutt mix. Someone dumped the mama dog off here in the country and she was expecting pups. She was also Lab/mutt mix.
She had 8 beautiful pups tho only two looked like their mother. Smokey was the runt of the litter and I recall Daddy would always pick the runt so I did the same.
I put up a sign near the highway and gave the other 7 away in just a few days.
He said the LT took the muzzled of his M16 and started tracing a circle around in the air around the area of the snakes head. The snake followed it as the circle got smaller until the cobra was was basically looking down the barrel then the LT fired taking out the snake.
The only good snake is a dead snake.
So, you know my cats. They averaged 3 a week during the summer. Today, they presented me with a squirrel which, thankfully, was dead.
I recall as a high schooler, there was a snake near the superintendents office. He came out where a bunch of us were, and gave us a lesson in how to kill them. Just quickly grab them by their tail and very quickly crack them like a whip.
Instant death!
He was so quick at it the snake never had a chance to react.
Good for you, keeping the pups until you found homes for them. So much better than turning them over to a shelter.
Ha! The very reason I don’t mind the neighbors having outside cats, but out Tigger stay inside all the time. :)
Snakes give a lot of men instant sex changes.
I agree, kill em all and let Mother Nature sort em out....... Or something like that.
Rattlesnake fajitas, yum!
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LOL
Never been afraid of snakes. Catch ‘em, play with ‘em, let ‘em go. ;-)
You deserve your Man Badge.
:)
Aw shucks! T’wernt nothin.’
I was at most 8 yrs old when I started catching every snake I ran across.
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