SNAKE!! Part II
There are roughly 37 species of snakes in South Carolina, but only 6 of them are venomous. Of those six, three are rattlesnakes: The eastern diamondback, the canebrake or timber rattlesnake and the pigmy rattlesnake. The final three are the copperhead, water moccasin (or cottonmouth) and the rarely seen eastern coral snake.The fact that most folks cant tell the difference between the venomous and non-venomous ones, means that many completely harmless and benificial snakes meet the business end of a shovel, club or gun. This is why I have always suggested to people to at least learn how to identify the six venomous snakes that we have in SC, so at least the harmless and beneficial ones may have a chance.
Venom is an incredible adaptation and of course is not limited to just snakes. Many creatures have evolved to use venom as defense or to aid in hunting for food. There is even a venomous primate! Here is a link to a very interesting and brief history on what venom is and how it came to be.
Snakes are a very important part of a healthy environment. They help to maintain the balance of predator and prey. They perform a great service to humans by feeding on rats, mice, and even other snakes. Depending on the species of snake- frogs, toads, insects, caterpillars, rabbits, squirrels, fish and birds can be on the menu as well.
There are many myths and misconceptions about snakes. For example they don't hypnotize birds, water moccasins don't drop out of trees into boats, (those are usually non-venomous brown or banded water snakes), they aren't slimy and they don't chase people. Although some will aggressively defend themselves if they are cornered or feel threatened.
So, what should you do when you see a snake? Oftentimes bites occur when someone is trying to kill or capture a snake, so usually the best option is to just leave it alone. If you can't identify it and are able to get a picture, send the picture to me or someone who may know what it is. Chances are that if a snake is removed from the environment, it will eventually be replaced by another one, anyway.
That being said, I have captured and relocated 17 copperheads and one canebrake rattlesnake from our property in the 18 years that we have lived here. As a matter of fact, the canebrake was just yesterday, July 20. I was on the riding mower in the back yard when I had to abruptly stop before running it over. He was a beautifully patterned snake about 14 inches long. After snapping a few pictures with my phone, I gently scooped him up with a long handled pitchfork and dropped him into a tall bucket. Easy-peasy. I released him at the edge of a remote swamp a few miles from our house.
I know that many people don't understand why I wouldn't kill a venomous snake. We could debate for hours about why we should or shouldn't do it, but its just what Robin and I feel is the right thing to do. Consider this: I could have easily killed an amazing creature who's only "fault" is being venomous, who just wants to survive and be left alone, meanwhile O.J. Simpson was just granted parole.
I have my mother to thank for my foundational respect and love for snakes and all creatures for that matter. Growing up there were always nature books and magazines around, and she always encouraged my brother, sister and I to get outside and into the woods. She's told me of a time when I was very young that I ran up to her carrying a snake asking, "Is this one poisonous?" Flustered, she said, "No, that one's not, but please don't mess with them until you ask me first!"
In closing, I would like to share two of many events in my life that have helped to shape my views about our relationship with these fascinating animals:
The fight
I was around eight or nine years old when I was playing alone on the playground at Alhambra Hall in Mt. Pleasant, when I saw three older kids, two boys and a girl, burning a green snake with cigarettes and a lighter. Although I was very nervous, I became very angry so I confronted them. What happened next is just a blur. I remember being hit in the stomach and then the face. It could have been the girl that hit me, I don't know. I remember looking up from the ground as they were walking away laughing while the green snake was writhing in pain on the ground near my face. The snake died by the time I could breathe again. I clearly remember not only being in shock that I had just gotten my ass kicked, but also feeling incredibly sad that people could be so ignorant and cruel. It was a life changing moment, for sure.
The party
A few years ago, Robin and I were at a large birthday party for a friend. We were seated with a few people we hadn't met before when the subject of conversation turned to snakes. The woman we were talking to said that she and her husband found a yellow rat snake in their barn. She said she knew that it was harmless and that the presence of the snake must be the reason why they didn't have any mice or rats in the barn. But then she said, "...but then we killed it, because you know, its a snake."
Peace, y'all.
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