Homestead mailing list

["SISU!" <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Clint L. Novak wrote:
> I'm hoping the collective knowledge of the folks on the list can
> enlighten me on the subject of snakes(mostly the poisonous ones).
> Some questions I have are:
> Are they nocturnal?

My comments will be mostly on poisonous snakes...
Snakes, being reptiles, have to regulate their body temps by the outdoor 
temperature, and the outdoor temps determine whether or not a snake is 
gonna be more nocturnal or diurnal.  In the Spring and Fall, you will 
see pit vipers out sunning on ledges  and sun during the day, and they 
will feed at night.  During the heat of summer, they are mostly under a 
rock or log in the daytime, and come out to roam at night.  Depending on 
the availability of food and water, during the summer, you are likely to 
see them anytime, but special caution should be taken between dusk and dawn.


> When do they stop coming out(temperature)?

Before this past winter, I would say about 50 degrees, but I saw the 
largest rattlesnake I have ever seen last January crossing the road on 
my way back from the store.  That sucker was as big as my leg and I 
swear it was 6+ feet long.  It was about 38 degrees that evening-a real 
mystery.


> Do they live underground?

Yes.
Timber rattlers will often den up with other rattlesnakes and 
copperheads and even rat snakes to overwinter.  They look for small 
caves in rocky outcroppings or overturned trees, stump holes, etc.


> Do they hibernate?

Yes.


> Can you be tested to see how severe a reaction a person might have to a
> bite?

I don't think so.


> Can you really put a rope around your campsite to prevent snakes from
> entering?

If that worked, people would never lose chickens and rabbits to snakes.


> Currently we live in Minnesota, but we're looking in the Ozarks and
> every time we take a canoe trip I see a snake or two, sometimes the
> poisonous variety.  Some of you folks were talking a bit about them a
> while back and I know Gene has been bitten by one.  Being from
> Minnesota, all the time I spent in the country I never gave much thought
> to snakes.  There are simply no poisonous snakes to speak of where I
> grew up or where I currently frequent.  Sounds like many of you deal
> with snakes on a regular basis, I'd value you thoughts, tales, web
> sites, and any other info you would be interested in passing on.

I've lived in GA all my life, just about.  Mostly, I grew up 75 miles 
south of here, in the Atlanta suburbs.  We mostly had non-poisonous 
varieties down there-hardly ever saw any kind of snake, with the rare 
copperhead and water moccasin.  I never saw a rattlesnake there.
Eight years ago we move up here, next to the National Forest, and I see 
a snake at least once a week...usually they are non-poisonous, and I 
generally leave them alone.  Since I live in a rocky outcrop area, we 
have quite an assortment of the poisonous variety, too, and I've killed 
quite a few copperheads on my property.  Copperheads probably won't kill 
ya, but you can easily lose fingers, hands, or toes from their bites. 
It's quite painful, too, I'm told.  We have a LOT of kingsnakes, 
thankfully.  They are immune to venom and eat other snakes, so NEVER 
kill one if you can avoid it.
Now, rattlesnakes, IMO, are a whole nuther ballgame.  They can kill you, 
even the little ones, even after you chop off their heads they can still 
 bite you.  We have now killed 3 in 3 weeks, all about 3 feet long. 
I'll send you a picture of the one that almost got me last week.  They 
are "bad" this year because of the drought.  Instead of being hidden 
most of  the time, they are crawling out looking for water.


--
erthnsky AT bellsouth.net  BevanRon of EarthNSky Farm      NW Georgia USDA Zone 7
34.498N 85.076W