Poisonous Snakes on the trial

imported
#1

This should be an interesting subject…anyway…I was raised in rural Georgia where most people killed poisonous snakes when found. In fact there are still “Rattlesnake Roundups” held throughout the southeast every year. According to my Father (age 74) snakes were killed because they were considered a threat to humans. He was raised in a farming community where people commonly came into contact with poisonous snakes.

I have never killed a poisonous snake. NOT because I am a great lover of all animals and snakes should be respected. I don’t kill them because they scare the living hell out of me. Yea…when I see a snake on the trial I scream like a sorority girl with a new hair ribbon…and then I run the other way.

So my question is…do many people kill snakes on the trial or are they left alone?

I’m not making a judgment either way…just curious.

Eric

#2

Live and let live.

Tomahawk

#3

I have pet snakes, so I could no longer kill a snake on the trail than kill a stray dog that wandered by minding it’s own business while I was hiking. There’s absolutely no reason why you should kill them in their won home. You are the visitor. LNT means no trail of dead bodies, either.

Victoria

#4

i think mice and disease are more of a threat to humans, snakes equal less mice…dont have to do and rocket science to leave the snakes be

medicineman

#5

Along with Peter Pan,I oversee Kelly Knob in Georgia. Our mountain has earned a reputation as a hospitible enviornment for Timber Rattlers. Watch your step.
Chops 97

Charles Aiken

#6

My understanding is that it is unlawful to kill a snake on or around many parts of the AT. I saw reference to the killing of 2 rattlesnakes at the new Gooch Gap shelter in Georgia, not by long distance hikers but by some weekend warriors who killed the snakes and bragged about it and probably also left a load of garbage at the shelter! These particular rattlesnakes were snakes that I had seen often during my hikes in that area. What a shameful thing it is for hikers to kill wildlife as if we had a priority over them in this out of door experience. However, before I get on my soapbox as a protector of wildlife, I’ll have to admit that I don’t feel the same way about what I consider to be the most dreaded, the most dangerous animal we encounter over the entire length of the AT- not the copperhead, not the timber rattlesnake (which is a beautiful animal that is really not at all aggressive), not the bear in the wild, not the moose, but the yellow jacket! They are fierce and can do great damage to a human being, especially in August and September when they begin to sworm and are at their most aggessive!

But I consider it a great experience when we have those rare opportunities to encounter most of the wildlife out in the woods. Rattlensnakes have been in those mountains way before we were, and it is a rather awesome thing to encounter their beauty and respect their right to be there with us. So, I hope we can enjoy, walk around them, and leave them be for others to enjoy.
Pastor John from Georgia

Pastor John

#7

I think you all are missing the point except maybe pastor John. His question wasn’t “Do you think they should be killed” it was “are they killed”. And like Pastor John said, the answer is yes. The obvious answer to the prior is no they shouldn’t be, but some people are dumbasses and wan’t to brag about it. I think I actually met the same guy the pastor described last year. Said it snapped at him so he tied his knife to his hiking stick, stabbed it, and ate it. Rattlesnakes are territorial and if you saw one in the same area from year to year, chances are it is the same one. ADDENDUM: If you really need food and will otherwise starve, and a snake is the only thing around, Kill and bar-b-que! I hear they are good eats!

Chris

#8

I wuld scream too and hurt myself running the other way.Thats the only thing im affaid of while ill be out there.

Anthony

#9

Heph saw this one in NY last year. I got a nice pic of it.

Bushwhack

#10

I was raised in the country in rural Goergia. When I was a kid it was very common to see snakes run over on the road. I’ve noticed a great decrease over the years. With more traffic practicly everywhere I must conclude there are fewer snakes.

We were taught that snakes were a part of life. We would only kill a poison snake if found in the yard. That was the mind set in those days. Those in the woods were mostly left alone. While fishing in the swamps I’ve seen trees that looked like they were growing snakes. Just leave them alone and they’ll let you be.

If we found king or black snakes we would put them in the corn crib to control rats. It would start your heart good to find one when filling a hamper to feed up.

I think the eastern diamondback is under consideration for the endangered list. Winter finds them under stumps hibernating. Sometimes many will use the same stump. Developers clearing lots usually just kill them.

As with everything else, education is the only way to change attitudes.
pete

pete56

#11

Last year on the trail, met a guy who killed almost every snake that he came across, even the ones in the shannys where the snakes pictures were posted, saying they lived there and not to kill them. He regularly bragged about his snake killing ability, until one day in connecticut when BLAMO!! bitten by a baby timber rattler, luckily there was no injection, but talking to him afterwards there was definetly(sp?) a change in attitude.(the news story probably had a little to do with it.) I think this just goes to show what karma can get you, Like Tomahawk said Live and let live!

P.S. if you like snake pics, check out our pictures, under searh, Up and Down Ga-Me 2004

Up(of Up and Down)

#12

Uh, just so you know… Official Rattlesnake roundups are held every year in order to “humanely capture” the snakes and milk them for their venom. Then they are released in the same area where they were caught. The venom is used to create anti-venom serum to treat snake bites.

Inspector Gadget

#13

I agree with pete66. I don’t want 'em near my house or my outbuildings. Too much chance my dawg, or human visitors, will have a bad encounter with one. There, it’s my home, not theirs.

But in the woods, I give 'em a wide berth and leave 'em alone. There, it’s their home, not mine.

Skyline

#14

Dont kill anything on the trail!!! But watch out for the North Carolina hoop snake. It grabs its tail in its mouth and will roll after you like a wheel. It gains top speeds going down hill. If you pitch and dart you can make them lose control. If they hit a tree they shatter into pieces. Easy day!!!

Virginian

#15

I used to think snakes were vile evil creatures until I almost stepped on 4 rattlers on my AT thru-hike. They could have bit me and seriously hurt me, and although I was so close to sqaushing them, they were kind enough to warn me of there presence and nothing more. Gained a whole new level of respect and understanding for snakes on my hike. One of many “revelations”.

Oh yeah, and always heed advice from The Virginian!

Hopfrog

#16

Follow up question…

In another thread Pastor John mentioned that Rattlesnakes are generally passive and Copperheads are aggressive. I have heard this from other people as well. Can someone expand on this description? Are Copperheads threatened easier? Do Rattlesnakes just lay in the trail unless provoked? I may have answered my own question but would like to hear from someone with more knowledge.

Thank you

Eric

#17

Eric, In my younger years I had quite a collection of snakes which I carried to various events and showed the snakes and talked about the differences and how to recognize them. Timber ratttlesnakes are generally not very aggessive unless really pushed. When threatened, they will coil and buzz until you leave them alone. They will bite but generally have to be provoked to do so. I’ve pushed some off the trail with my hiking poles and rarely do they even strike at the hiking pole. But if you step on one, or put your hand near one, they will bite. All of the pit vipers have the pits which are sensory instruments and they are attracted to the warmth of their prey.

But the copperhead is a very different snake. I stepped too close to one in Pennsylvania (it was hidden under a fern right beside the trail and apparently I hit it with my hiking pole) and it struck at me which I felt on my boot and upon investigation, there he was coiled to strike again. But they are more aggressive and will strike at you without a great deal of provocation. They are simply more nervous and more aggressive. But different species of snakes differ in terms of their aggressiveness. For example a a pilot black snake which we see often on the trail can be picked up and within minute they will be tame enough to crawl on your arm without attempting to bite. But the black racer (more slender and much faster) or the coachwhip will not tame up very easily and they are difficult to handle without being bitten.

Notice some rattlesnakes will not even coil if you don’t threaten. But I’ve had copperheads become very aggessive with even miminal threat.

I do not know about the diamond back rattlensnake which would never be encountered on the AT and the cottonmouth is even more aggessive (although I don’t know that they would ever be found on the AT unless it was some of the low, marshy areas. Does anyone know whether any cottonmouths have been found on the AT? I’m sure the banded water snake is found but doubt that the range of the cottonmouth would be in the area covered by the AT.

Pastor John from Georgia

Pastor John

#18

P.J.,

where in georgia are you?

I’m from near the area, and imho, cottonmouths would only be found near still water in north georgia section and southwestern norht carolina, around lake chatuge and fontana lake…any hikers taking zeros around lakes in those areas might need to keep an eye out, but timbers and coppers just like you said are the biggest worries…diamondbacks are few in the mountains, mainly in the lower eleveations or in the valleys…i’ve only seen on diamoad back in my area in 40 years, but it was 6 feet and thick as a mans bicep…lot’s of timbers, and thousands of coppers…only one cotton in 40 years also, and it was 25 feet from hiwassee lake in cherokke county. coppers won’t kill you, but you can lose a finger or get a crippled ankle or leg if you get a bad reaction…and black racers eill chase you!! they’ve chased me before…and the bite, while not poisonous, still hurts i’m told, and they don’t let go so quick…and it gets infected easily…they have two rows of small hooked teeth, not two big fangs like vipers…better to hol onto prey until it dies…

VvvvvvV
^^^^^

Big Dee

#19

Another thing to remember is that we are breeding the rattle right out of rattle snakes, and we will be the ones to pay for it. I saw a good study on this a while ago. Rattle snakes that rattle are most often killed, because we know they are there. That measn the ones who don’t rattle as much live to breed. Their offspring don’t rattle as uch, either. Every time they breed with non-rattling rattlers (which will be more and more common as we kill the loud ones) the babies rattle less and less. That rattling is the warning that keeps us from getting bitten. Do we really want silent rattlers?

Victoria