Posted on 08/26/2002 7:44:25 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) Protesters at the Eight Flags Display in Harrison County believe its more than a coincidence that a second snake in as many weeks has turned up at the site.
The protesters, who have vowed to maintain a presence at the site until the Confederate battle flag is removed from the display, believe they are being targeted.
Youve got 26 miles of beach here and all of the sudden you get snakes in this one area? said Tommy Whitfield, the father of Alcorn State University student Jason Whitfield, who is camped at the site. I just find that ironic.
Police investigations of both incidents indicate the snakes arrival on the beach was due to natural causes, said Harrison County Sheriff George Payne Jr.
The display sits along U.S. 90 at the border of Biloxi and Gulfport. It was originally intended to honor the eight countries whose banners have flown over coast since 1699.
The snake that showed up around 1 a.m. Sunday morning appeared to have slithered out from under the boardwalk on the east side of the flag display, Payne said.
An animal control officer identified the snake as a hognose, a nonpoisonous breed.
Authorities said the snake found Aug. 17 was a water moccasin.
Protesters complain that during their six-week stay at the beach, they've been subject to a steady stream of verbal taunts and racial epithets from passing motorists. But in recent weeks, the climate has grown more belligerent, Tommy Whitfield said.
"The rhetoric has been very hostile, and it's only increased," the elder Whitfield said Sunday. "We remain on alert, and no one is left alone down here."
Could it have been a nutria?
This calls for bussing in diamondbacks and velvet tails to make things right.
THEN it grew belligerant????
Actually Mr. Proud father, it's not ironic. It's suspicious to you. The irony which I'm sure escapes both you and your son is that these reptiles seem to be attracted to their like counterparts amongst us humans in your case. But rather than "snakes in the grass", you and your do-gooder boy would be more aptly "snakes in the sand".
Sidewinders would actually better complete the "irony" of it all.
BUT,i think we should call PETA and make sure residing next to an ignorant, south-hating jackass is not harming the snakes!
free dixie,sw
Everyplace would be better off if could get rid of all of them.{Kinda like liberals).
They were brought in to raise for pelts a long time back and really took over.
They have quite a history in the U.S. On FR a While back there was a thread about a fancy restaurant in LA. calling them a French name and selling them.I know some meat is sold to Oriental markets.
If you get after a hognose he'll stand tall,puff up to look bigger than he really is,hiss and spit,strike out all around and try to convince you he's one bad critter that's not to be fooled with.
If you don't back down and give way he'll roll over on his back,hang his tongue out,coil up,squirm around like he's mortally wounded and puts on a most pathetic show.
Yep,birds of a feather or snakes of a scale,whatever.
Yep, they are!!! I'm from south Louisiana (bayou country) and I've had to "take out" two cottonmouths so far on my farm this year. One was almost a 4 footer. I don't like shooting them because they really keep the vermin down, but when they get aggressive to the point where they want to take on a John Deere tractor, I have no choice but to "waste em".
Perhaps the reason they were in that particular area of the beach was that they were just trying to find some vermin to snack on...that's what these onry critters are supposed to do.
I remember several years ago Tim "Potatohead" Russert interviewed Mr. & Mrs. Carville with their children on his "show" (poor children). He asked the older girl what she wanted for Christmas. Her reply was that she wanted a bug sprayer!
I remember several years ago Tim "Potatohead" Russert interviewed Mr. & Mrs. Carville with their children on his "show" (poor children). He asked the older girl what she wanted for Christmas. Her reply was that she wanted a bug sprayer!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.