[lonestar]

OH MY GOSH! Earlier this summer a water moccasin bit my cousin on the toe. They have a creek on their property and she was going to tell her dogs and cats goodnight--in sandals walking on a path. She was in the hospital for eight days. She still has to wrap her leg when she flies. It was really serious for the first few days.

[Calpernia]

>>>She still has to wrap her leg when she flies.

What? Your cousin is a bird :O

What happened? Does the poison stay in the system? Tell me more! Cause I'm always taking the kids out to hike in these preserves. Between what you just posted, what Meekie just posted and the Bear attacks Coleus posts about here in NJ...I'm starting to wonder if I'm educating them or putting them in harms way. (see Mama_bear, I'm not the nature expert I make my self out to be...I might be more naive then I should be)

[Calpernia]

Huh, I don't see it in the NE Peterson's Field guide. When I lived in NC and FL, there were reference maps everywhere to the animals indigenous to the state. NJ doesn't seem to have one. The field guide I have doesn't show pictures of the snake I saw. hmmm....Off to do more research. I'm curious now. Last time we hiked at this watershed property, I saw a rainbow boa sunning himself on the trail. THAT I know was a domestic pet released by 'someone'. I now wonder how many animals are able to adapt to being released? I saw this snake REALLY well. I need to find a picture before I forget. Maybe the nature center needs a 'heads up'.