Agkistrodon contortrix mokeson
- Hannibal Lecter
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Agkistrodon contortrix mokeson
Good day, all.
As a neighbor and her sister-in-law were jogging by the house last evening, they, knowing my penchant for enjoying all things reptilian, pointed out that a large snake had been inadvertently killed by an automobile on the road in front of their house and that I might like to check it out. I did, and was very surprised to find what I did.
(Side note - I have never before encountered a venomous snake in this state in the wild prior to last night.)
The snake in question was Agkistrodon contortrix mokeson, the Northern Copperhead. This particular specimen was much darker than any I had ever seen in photos, and in fact more closely resembled the non-venomous Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) than anything potentially venomous, the large triangular head notwithstanding. A bite from these snakes are not particularly dangerous for a healthy adult (though quite painful), but could easily kill a small child.
This particular specimen (or what remained of it) was about three feet long, well into adulthood. The fact that this snake was within twenty feet of where my child gets off the school bus in the evening causes a bit of concern for me. I spoke to the neighbors about it and we are going to be watching the children much more carefully; in fact, I will be walking them home from the bus stop personally for the forseeable future.
It has been a banner year for reptiles; I would normally see two to four box turtles each day driving to work, where I would normally not see that many in a years' time.
An interesting autumn awaits...
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Hannibal
P.S.: I have added a stock photo of the species in question...
As a neighbor and her sister-in-law were jogging by the house last evening, they, knowing my penchant for enjoying all things reptilian, pointed out that a large snake had been inadvertently killed by an automobile on the road in front of their house and that I might like to check it out. I did, and was very surprised to find what I did.
(Side note - I have never before encountered a venomous snake in this state in the wild prior to last night.)
The snake in question was Agkistrodon contortrix mokeson, the Northern Copperhead. This particular specimen was much darker than any I had ever seen in photos, and in fact more closely resembled the non-venomous Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) than anything potentially venomous, the large triangular head notwithstanding. A bite from these snakes are not particularly dangerous for a healthy adult (though quite painful), but could easily kill a small child.
This particular specimen (or what remained of it) was about three feet long, well into adulthood. The fact that this snake was within twenty feet of where my child gets off the school bus in the evening causes a bit of concern for me. I spoke to the neighbors about it and we are going to be watching the children much more carefully; in fact, I will be walking them home from the bus stop personally for the forseeable future.
It has been a banner year for reptiles; I would normally see two to four box turtles each day driving to work, where I would normally not see that many in a years' time.
An interesting autumn awaits...
--------
Hannibal
P.S.: I have added a stock photo of the species in question...
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"I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective."
"I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective."
- spyderknut
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I saw a Coral Snake (red touches yellow :eek: ) while mountain biking with my 7 year old the other day. It slithered off under some dead branches before he caught up. I love seeing poisonous snakes in the wild! I caught a small Copperhead once in North Carolina.
"There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." -- my grandfather
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- Michael Cook
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- snuffaluff
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I'd say they are aggressive if cornered or "toyed" with. They won't just out right attack ya.
I used to work at a paintball field so we ran into snakes all the time. I once raked a copperhead up onto my feet/shins while cleaning out the picnic area... didn't know I could jump backwards that far..lol
I used to work at a paintball field so we ran into snakes all the time. I once raked a copperhead up onto my feet/shins while cleaning out the picnic area... didn't know I could jump backwards that far..lol
- spyderknut
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Coral snakes are quite timid. This was only the third I have seen and the first in 8 or 9 years.
I think Copperheads and Rattlesnakes are fairly timid but will certainly defend themselves.
I have seen a Cottonmouth bare its fangs at me when I was yards away and clearly not a threat. I have heard tale of them chasing people. :eek:
Most snake bites are preceded by the phrase: "Y'all watch this." Alcohol is almost always involved. :D
I think Copperheads and Rattlesnakes are fairly timid but will certainly defend themselves.
I have seen a Cottonmouth bare its fangs at me when I was yards away and clearly not a threat. I have heard tale of them chasing people. :eek:
Most snake bites are preceded by the phrase: "Y'all watch this." Alcohol is almost always involved. :D
"There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." -- my grandfather
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I thought it might be Parseltongue myself. :)Senate wrote:it's not a thread about the last Harry Potter movie? :confused: :D
We are fortunate to be close enough to the coast that there are no rattlesnakes here. There are some a few miles farther up the creek and a bit farther there are scorpions. Butt the most poisonous things here are yellowjackets and neighbors' wagging tongues.
.><CHINOOK*>
- severedthumbs
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- spyderknut
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- zenheretic
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Darwin awardees in training... :Dspyderknut wrote:Most snake bites are preceded by the phrase: "Y'all watch this." Alcohol is almost always involved. :D
So what is the most "aggressive" snake in North America? Aggressive defined as will attack without provocation/irritation. I think the Mamba in Africa (?) is such a critter, that will chase folks, but as I've I got this info from TV I can't be sure. Hannibal what is the learned word? :confused:
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- Hannibal Lecter
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A Toss-Up...
My Dear Friend Zenheretic,
For venomous species, the nod would probably have to go to the Cottonmouth Water Moccasin, Agkistrodon piscivorous. This is a snake that will drop off of low-hanging limbs into your boat for the opportunity to get to you. That its venom contains both haemotoxic and neurotoxic components makes it an extremely dangerous snake.
Yes, the Mamba will certainly attack with no provocation, but the Saw-Scaled Viper of Asia is probably the most aggressive snake in the world; this little fellow will completely leave the ground when striking so sincere is his desire to get to you.
Quite deadly, I might add.
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Hannibal
For sheer irritability, it is hard to beat the Racer, Whipsnakes, or about any water snake, though all of these are non-venomous species. Racers in particular will play "chase" with you with little or no provocation.zenheretic wrote:So what is the most "aggressive" snake in North America? Aggressive defined as will attack without provocation/irritation. I think the Mamba in Africa (?) is such a critter, that will chase folks, but as I've I got this info from TV I can't be sure. Hannibal what is the learned word? :confused:
For venomous species, the nod would probably have to go to the Cottonmouth Water Moccasin, Agkistrodon piscivorous. This is a snake that will drop off of low-hanging limbs into your boat for the opportunity to get to you. That its venom contains both haemotoxic and neurotoxic components makes it an extremely dangerous snake.
Yes, the Mamba will certainly attack with no provocation, but the Saw-Scaled Viper of Asia is probably the most aggressive snake in the world; this little fellow will completely leave the ground when striking so sincere is his desire to get to you.
Quite deadly, I might add.
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Hannibal
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"I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective."
"I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective."
- Irish Lager
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luck for me there is only one species of rattlesnake here, and its not that common, in fact ive never seen one on any of my outdoor excursions. If i could spell i would shed the name for you but for fear of offending the good Doc. i will just leave it at that.
Take it back, found some info on it. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus)
Here is a link to my state DNR website w/ some infor on this little guy.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-15 ... --,00.html
J
Take it back, found some info on it. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus)
Here is a link to my state DNR website w/ some infor on this little guy.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-15 ... --,00.html
J
Say what you mean, Mean what you say! :spyder:
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- Hannibal Lecter
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Hmmm...
Dear Friend,
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Hannibal
Massasauga, as I recall, means "great river mouth" in the local Native American (Chippewa) tongue.Irish Lager wrote:Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus)
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Hannibal
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"I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective."
"I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective."
When I lived in the DFW area of Texas, I did a lot of sprinkler jobs around Lake Worth and other lakes that we worked near. There were some aggrassive water moccasins in the little alcoves (coves?) that would come up on the lawns we were working on. There was never just one. They would cross trenches and were generally unpredictable; several chased us around. A sharpshooter/drain spade (shovel) was my tool of choice for the ones that just wouldn't quit.... :eek:
That was over 15 years ago, and since then I've been living in Albuquerque, NM. Here I have come accross rattlesnakes on jobs near the mountains, in the foothills, and on the west side mesa. When I can, I just try to bypass them, and they are not agressive unless you stumble on them or get close enough for them to detect you. I've never had to kill one to do my job, though; usually it just takes a few small rocks to get them to head for the shrubs. All in all, I like snakes :) .
---Tom
That was over 15 years ago, and since then I've been living in Albuquerque, NM. Here I have come accross rattlesnakes on jobs near the mountains, in the foothills, and on the west side mesa. When I can, I just try to bypass them, and they are not agressive unless you stumble on them or get close enough for them to detect you. I've never had to kill one to do my job, though; usually it just takes a few small rocks to get them to head for the shrubs. All in all, I like snakes :) .
---Tom
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I had the unfortunate luck to be on the recieving end of a strike from a rather large and rather aggravated Black Rat Snake one time. I was cutting the grass in a field when I came across him coiled next to a tree. I didn't want to chop him up, so I grabbed a branch, and kind of coaxed him around it. As I was carrying him to the edge of the trees, the branch broke. As soon as he touched the ground, he literally launched himself at me. Thankfully, I was just a bit quicker, and was able to pull my hand away when he struck. He still got close enough for his teeth to cut open my thumb though. Then, he promptly turned and slithered off into the trees, while I sat there with a stunned looked on my face, holding a bleeding thumb. Thinking back, I find it odd that a non-venomous snake would strike like that, especially at something much larger than itself.
- Hannibal Lecter
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Hmmm...
My Dear Chris,
Use what assets you have, I suppose... :D
BTW - are you sure it was a Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) and not a Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)? The Racers are MUCH more irritable and will strike with precious little provocation. I know for fact that both are indigenous to your area, and they are very similar in appearance.
Just curious.
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Hannibal
Not really. Most large harmless snakes will strike as a last resort of self-defense. Generally their saliva is an anti-coagulant so wounds bleed more profusely, making it appear much worse than it really is.Chris Mapp wrote:Thinking back, I find it odd that a non-venomous snake would strike like that, especially at something much larger than itself.
Use what assets you have, I suppose... :D
BTW - are you sure it was a Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) and not a Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)? The Racers are MUCH more irritable and will strike with precious little provocation. I know for fact that both are indigenous to your area, and they are very similar in appearance.
Just curious.
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Hannibal
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"I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective."
"I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective."
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Dr.,
It could have very well been a Black Racer, but I'm not 100%. It was probably one of the biggest I've seen, just a little over 4ft long, and he felt like he weighed more than a gallon of milk. I wish I could give you more detail, but it's been at least 6 years now. The most vivid memory about the whole deal is seeing that snake head flying toward me. :D
Funny, after that little incident, snakes don't really bother me at all now. If anything, I like them even more.
It could have very well been a Black Racer, but I'm not 100%. It was probably one of the biggest I've seen, just a little over 4ft long, and he felt like he weighed more than a gallon of milk. I wish I could give you more detail, but it's been at least 6 years now. The most vivid memory about the whole deal is seeing that snake head flying toward me. :D
Funny, after that little incident, snakes don't really bother me at all now. If anything, I like them even more.
Another variety?
Here in Missouri ( pronounced misery). We have a Copperhead variety known as the Osage Copperhead. We also have a Cottonmouth water mocassin called the Western Cottonmouth which is a very dangerously venomous snake. It and our beloved Timber Rattlesnakes are to be avoided at all costs.
I will concur with what Doctor Lecter has said about the Copperhead venom being low on the toxicity chart. We have had no recorded death here in Missouri due to a Copperhead bite.
We have a Rattlesnake species here in Missouri called the Massasauga Rattlesnake. They are exclusive to Missouri and are not found in any other state here in the USA.
Ironically we have many, many more people here in Missouri die of wasp, hornet & bee stings than do from snake bites. Venomous snakes here in Missouri are really hard to find. I looked for 7 years before I found my first Timber Rattlesnake. :)
I will concur with what Doctor Lecter has said about the Copperhead venom being low on the toxicity chart. We have had no recorded death here in Missouri due to a Copperhead bite.
We have a Rattlesnake species here in Missouri called the Massasauga Rattlesnake. They are exclusive to Missouri and are not found in any other state here in the USA.
Ironically we have many, many more people here in Missouri die of wasp, hornet & bee stings than do from snake bites. Venomous snakes here in Missouri are really hard to find. I looked for 7 years before I found my first Timber Rattlesnake. :)
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- Irish Lager
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sorry i did not reply sooner Doc. Thanks for the info, its always interesting to learn what you can about the different species in your area. I personally am not the fondest of snakes, but have great respect for them, as with most creatures. They all have their place, and are part of what makes the outdoors fun.
J
J
Say what you mean, Mean what you say! :spyder:
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