Snakes

ar450 said:

Anybody heard that pa was air dropping Texas rattlers out of helicopters in burlap sacks? Reliable source said supposed to be around 300. 30 was found in the Mt. Davis area. 7-8 foot long and 6-8" in diameter.

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Do they get parachutes, or is it Argentinian style hard landings?

ar450 said:

Anybody heard that pa was air dropping Texas rattlers out of helicopters in burlap sacks? Reliable source said supposed to be around 300. 30 was found in the Mt. Davis area. 7-8 foot long and 6-8" in diameter.

Click to expand...

Bonjour

Snake bites are exceedingly rare in MD. Poisonous snake encounters, while engaging in normal outdoor activities are uncommon. Death from a (native) snake bite is almost unheard of these days.

Yes, there are snakes in the woods. Yes there are poisonous snakes in the woods. Yes, under all the right circumstances you could be bitten and even if not lethel, the bite will be painful... you could also win the lottery or publisher's clearinghouse might come knocking.

Not trying to make light of the OP's question, but there is NO reason to fear going hunting because of snakes. Rattlers & copperheads tend to prefer rocky areas, log piles, etc. Think nooks and crannies where mice, chipmunks and such live. Sure they can be found other places, such as when traveling from one preferred habitat to another, but your chances of stumbling upon one is not very good. They will almost certainly know where you are long before you know where they are and they will avoid you whenever possible.
Chit happens and seeing a snake (any snake) unexpectedly at close quarters is unnerving. Try to remain calm and give it an escape route. Back away. It WIL NOT chase you. Snakes bite prey (he can't swallow you) and in defense. unless you step or sit on him you have little to fear aside from the aforementioned initial shock of seeing him.

DO NOT SHOOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only are they a valuble part of the ecosystem, they are also legally PROTECTED!!!

The old advice of stepping ONTO a log then far off the other side rather than stepping OVER a log is still sound advice in the unlikely event there is a snake under it. Same goes for traversing rocky areas. Step onto the largest rock and then onto the next large rock. Unless a snake is sunning himself (they're cold blooded) they will be beneath or between rocks. Strike distance is less than two feet. A rule of thumb is half his body length. He doesn't have legs to launch himself, just muscles to extend his body from where he is. That's why they coil... loop would be more descriptive in most cases.

GO HUNTING!!! Hunt mushrooms, pick berries, go fishing, have some fun OUTSIDE! You're much much more likely to be in an auto accident on the way to or from the woods than to have trouble with a snake.
Automobiles, now those things are deadly and do kill hundreds of Marylanders every year!!!

^^^ What he said.

had a black snake in the front lawn yesterday

thought a stick was sticking up, out of the grass - walked up and saw it was 4-5 foot black snake with his head up

healthy looking snake that decided he wanted to go hide in my bushes in front of the house

which he did and I left, had things to do

seen bigger but he was a good size and he did gave me a little bit of attitude