Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It seems like most of the forum is having a good time trying to identify photos of snakes that people are sending in, wondering what kind they WERE(past tenths).....but are overlooking one important thing, most of them were killed from sheer ignorance,like I stated before in another post, there are only four kinds of poisonous snakes to be concerned about in the U.S. Rattlesnakes, Water Moccasins(Cottonmouth), Copperheads, and Coralsnakes. Those people that were killing the snakes were using up way too much time and effort wondering how to post the photos of their newly killed snakes, when in fact, the much more sensible thing would be to use the internet to type a few simple keywords on a web search to see what the only four types of poisonous snakes look like.Then they wouldn't have to kill everything that moved, then later spend countless hours, and days trying to find someone to identify what they needlessly killed.That is what the internet is for,to find out things!......Just because an animal doesn't have soft, cuddly fur, and have big brown eyes, doesn't mean they should be needlessly chopped in half!! Does any of this make any sense to other readers, or am I the only "Rocket Scientist" that thinks this makes some sense. If it seems like I am a little bent out of shape, it's because I am. The general public is not very "bright" about many thing, not just about a very simple animal like a snake!! Is it really that difficult to figure out what FOUR types of snake look like? It's because 98% of the population has nightmares when they see a photograph of a little 6" long Ringneck !, for cryin' out loud, get real people...............D. Mong

n/p

Hello,......I've just started using this forum site, although I have checked things out on it for many years. I have been involved with snakes since I was six or seven years old, and am now 46.Even as a young third-grader,I brought Florida Indigos to class for "Show and Tell"and was also able to tell people the Latin name(and spell it off the top of my head)for Indigos and many other snakes. A few years ago I had a fairly good sized collection (around 100 snakes)but I had to reduce almost all of them by necessity a few years ago. I only have about twenty now, but am slowly but surely getting back into it. I have a few very nice specimens that I am looking forward to breeding soon. I'm also a friend of "rear fang" and lived in the same neighborhood.We belonged to the same Herp Society in South Fl.......anyway, I'm sure you will be hearing more from me on the forum here, as I love to talk snakes as much as anybody on the forum(I guess you figured that out already, me only being here a matter of minutes, and already posted several). Although there are some people that love to dominate things, I try not to be one of them....by the way, I'm hoping you agreed with me on the point I was trying to get across to some of these folks.From your reply,it seems like you did....anyway thanks for saying hi,.....take care...................D.Mong

D MONG?

You wouldn't happen to be Doug Mong-formerly of the Sawgrass Herp Society?

If so...Howdy and how are you?

This is Frank, the other guy with the unusual snakes.
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

why, yes it would be! What's up Frank? good to here from some of the old "snake" people again! that I used to hang with. I was at Deon's a few weeks ago and picked up a few "GEMS" from a guy he knows,.if Deon didn't already tell you a long time ago why I've been MIA for such a long time, I'll tell you later on when the whole world isn't involved....Anyway, please get back with me, there's alot to kick around after not talking to you for about 6-1/2 years!.........take care,...........D. Mong

I agree with your point, but if you go back and read, all the recent pics of dead snakes were (at least allegedly) of snakes that SOMEONE ELSE killed. The question is how to get the people that killed them to think differently and I think that's generally what the people posting the pics are trying to do.

I didn't mean to imply all of the members were doing the killing, but the fact is someone DID. It's hard for me to figure out the mentality of most of the general public sometimes.I agree with you,I think we both understand where each other is coming from......take care...............D. Mong

There are two kinds of ignorant snake killers. There are those to whom the only good snake is a dead snake. We don't see those people posting here because they don't care what kind it was, as long as its dead! Unfortunately, there are redneck forums online where they post their "trophies".

The other type are the ones that visit here. They kill a snake out of ignorance and fear. I don't mean ignorance in a pejorative way, I simply mean they don't know snakes. (There's a lot of stuff I don't know either. Quantum physics has always confused me with all the little particles and quantum states and the like. So I guess I am ignorant as well? )

But this second group of snake killers comes here to find out what they killed so that they can determine if it presented a real danger. When we treat them with respect and help them, we are probably saving the lives of other non-venomous species those people will encounter in the future.

When we give them a bunch of grief for killing it, they leave with the impression that snake people are a bunch of a-holes and will probably kill snakes in the future because when they asked for help, we spit in their faces. If we don't care enough to help, why should they?
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Yes, I absolutely agree with everything you said, you must also admit, Quantum physics is a little different than someone spending an entire life time without ever knowing the ONLY FOUR types of snakes that possess a threat to them, especially now,it would only take a matter of minutes now with the internet at everyones disposal. Again, like you said before, "the only good snake, is a dead snake" to many people, it's much easier for them that way. I've said it many times to many people, it's been this way since the dawn of time,...and it will continue to be this way till the end of time..........I just have a harder time with nonsense than most people, my friends will surely agree with that. Anyway, you had some good valid points.........take care,....................D. Mong

In my opinion, the vast majority of the posts we get here are from people who have seen a snake either on a hike or in their yard & want to know what kind it is, hoping to be assured that it is a non-venomous species. Most are.

As far as there only being four, that is true, but paints with a really broad brush. In fact there are fifty something different rattlesnakes of two genera. Some of the subspecies can get difficult to differentiate without accurate data on where the animal was seen.

Doug, depending upon when you were active in Sawgrass, you may have caught my presentation. Here's the website for it.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

Greg, just wanted to say you have a great website. In the Cottonmouth section of your site, there's a photo of a banded watersnake and a cottonmouth side by side. I think that really hits home how so many watersnakes are killed on site by people that mistake them for cottonmouths. Atleast in Florida you have cottonmouths state wide. Here in Va. they are limited only to the South Eastern part of the state. Yet, I still have people swear up & down that they have cottonmouths on their property, when in reality the culprit is usually a harmless Northern Watersnake.
Steve

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, cottonmouths & watersnakes take some practice, training, experience..call it what you will..to differentiate. Behavior is as big a key as color & pattern. Get either snake covered in dried mud, & the differentiation gets even more fun.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

Hi Greg,....Thanks for the input, many people could use some snake educating.
My intent was to suggest to the general public to learn to recognize ANY of the venomous snakes, and not cloud their heads with the many species and subspecies and so on that many of us are familiar with (although it would be great if they did want to learn more).Just some simple basics would do a world of good. Unfortunately,like you stated before, the watersnakes will always be "cottonmouths", and anything with a blotch on it's back will be a "Rattlesnake" to most people..............D. Mong