Quote:
Originally Posted by dsafety
Snakes have gotten a bad rap throughout history. Many uninformed people think that all snakes are aggressive and dangerous. The truth is that most snakes are vary docile and perform a very valuable service in nature. Without snakes, our vermin population would explode.
In coastal Southern California, the only poisonous snake found in the wild is the rattlesnake. There are several species but they all look similar. EVERY OTHER TYPE OF SNAKE FOUND AROUND HERE IS NOT POISONOUS!
Excuse me for the bold print but it really bothers me when I see some crazed guy taking a hoe or shotgun to a gopher snake because he does not understand that this species and most others found around here are perfectly harmless.
Even rattlesnakes are fill an important role in the balance of nature. They may be poisonous but they seldom cause any trouble. They will not chase you down or eat your children. They are, like most snakes, very shy and avoid human contact. The only time humans and rattlesnakes have problems with one another is when someone accidental steps on one of these snakes or if one of our pets decides to pick a fight.
Even then, a rattlesnake bite is seldom fatal. If you get bit, stay calm, call 911 and you will be fine. Antivenin injections are stocked in most emergency rooms and can quickly counteract the affects of a bite.
The relationship between humans and snakes is very similar to the ones between humans of different ethnic backgrounds, religions, and economic status. Ignorance often makes people behave badly.
The next time you see a snake, marvel at its beauty. If you can, turn the encounter into a teaching moment by letting your kids marvel along with you. If you raise your children to not be unrealistic fearful of snakes, a few may still be around when it is time to pass the lesson on to your grandchildren.
Sorry for the preaching but this is important to me.
Bob
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Bob:
Well put. I agree with you regarding learning about snakes and how important rattlesnakes are to our world.
I have been a fan of snakes since I was a very little kid. My dad, who was a pilot in the navy, would bring home snakes he caught while traveling and when I was older growing up in Lake Tahoe, we caught and released Garter Snakes fishing along the Truckee River, found Rubber Boas in the meadows around Lake Tahoe, and in college would find California Mountain Kingsnakes in the Santa Ana Mountains of south Orange County. Even when I was an officer in the navy, one of my hobbies was to find and record the snakes around the bases; that was a lot of fun seeing the various snakes found crossing the trails as we ran around the bases.
With my two kids, they already like snakes. My son (7 years old) has a coastal rosy boa as a pet (captive bred) and has seen plenty of snakes hiking with me in the Santa Ana Mountains. My 3 year old daughter has only handled small ringneck snakes, but she keeps asking to see a kingsnake. So far this year we have seen coachwhips, striped racers, ringneck snakes, a couple of southern pacific rattlesnakes, and two red diamondbacks near our house. No gopher or kingsnakes yet, but the season is early and they should start appearing in the hills.
Kevin