Posted on 11/17/2011 5:50:49 PM PST by Morgana
You corrected my comment correctly. I had been erroneously taught in the past that only snakes with long fangs are pit vipers, but it is, in fact, the heat sensing ability (along with being venomous), that makes them pit vipers.
But copperheads do not have long fangs and are not as likely to penetrate as much as, for example, the sometimes seven-foot-plus diamondbacks that I grew up with in Texas (including school playgrounds). Thick, tall boots and heavier pants are a good extra safety measure around copperheads, although not nearly as important as watching for them.
My four-year granddaughter was bit by a smaller coppehead on Mother’s Day 2010 (upstate SC). Rushed her to the hospital. Took several hours before the staff was able to start administering anti-venom. She was in the hospital three days and came through fine. Staff determined that she had been struck three times, with one of the three appearing to be the worst. Since moving here three years previous, I having a love-hate thing going with the backyard due to lots of pine trees and large patches of english ivy spread about, but after this happened, we went on a rampage to get rid of the ivy and some more of the trees. It doesn’t help that there’s a heavily wooded lot next door. Thank God, though, our precious Chloe came through with no problems. By several weeks later, for her, it was pretty much forgotten.
When I was a kid, I was poking at some yellow jackets and one stung me on the back of the neck, when I screamed, one flew into my mouth and stung the roof of my mouth.
I think the little bastards planned it that way.
Belly laugh, your friends are deaf..
I had a yellow jacket drop down the front of my shirt, stung me, fell down to my stomach stung me again and with all the jumping I was doing fell out my slacks and stung me again on the top of my foot....they don’t quit stinging until you stomp on them....We had some get in between the cinder blocks in the old milk house....You spray and then run like hell...hubby use to sit on the porch and laugh at me. He wasn’t going after those damm things...
When i was a boy scout in the Canal Zone one of the kids got bit by a local snake - a few de lance. I heard he lost his leg.
I also heard that they closed the Boy Scout Camp (Chagres) because two were killed from snake bites. Anybody know about that?
the narration on that video sound like its from the flaming section of san francisco.
If you're curious about the outcome, check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdg9gkmWsEA
Democrats are cobras. Republicans are mongeese.
This is what happens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg
Why do I think that was posted from Driving Miss Nancy's district?
There's an orange colored wasp, not the dark red wasp, but orange that is about twice as aggressive as the yellow jacket.
Just get near their nest and the whole bunch comes after you and they keep coming, they will follow you.
When you say it was planned to sting you in the mouth, I don't have a doubt it was. They sting for affect.
That is awesome dude!!
I’ve done the snake bite thing. It was in 1958. We lived out in the boonies. I got up on a Saturday morning to watch cartoons or Howdie Doody and there was a water moccasin in the toilet, he’d come in through the septic system. Being a kid, I just reached in to grab him. He bit me in the palm of my hand. My parents rushed me to the hospital (along with the then dead snake for identification). I got a shot of antivenom, a tetanus shot, and then 2 surgeons spent the better part of two hours removing broken fangs and teeth from my hand. They told me I should have allowed the snake let go instead of yanking him off.
You may be the “exception that makes the rule” Morgana !
I’ve hunted the critters professionally - in my younger “bulletproof” years - and have walked by my share !
These snakes seem to have a knack for finding a concealing background and remain torpid - especially when its cooler -until you step on one or (far worse) put your hand on one climbing ! Once had one pass over my bare arm 6” from my nose as I was crossing a small stream fall.....Fortunately the snake was at least as intent upon avoiding me as I, (had I seen it) would have been it ! We both went our own ways.....
Some areas of NJ are rife with the critters. One of their favorite haunts is old harvest machinery because it also attracts mice, no doubt. ONce caught pluperfect hell from the old man for “wasting” bug spray in a combine I’d just retreived. He reached up and grabbed the roll of draper canvas stored inside the straw walkers and pulled it out...only to find himself surrounded by four of the prettiest copperheads I ever saw ! >PS
Just about my favorite video on YouTube!
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