My encounter with a snake...........

[sarahkonamojo]

Part of a VERY long White Rim story BUT here goes abbreviated.

We needed to stash our bikes at the top of Horsethief for later retrieval. We didn't know when we'd be able to get the bikes. We did a pretty good job of hiding them way off among some rocks and locked to a scrubby juniper. While locking the bikes we noticed a snake rattling at us and moving away. Noted to self a snake lives here.

When we returned for the bikes a week later, the bikes where there as well as the snake! Same one not sure. They look the same to me in my ignorance. The snake had taken up residence between the bikes. When we approached he curled up between the tires and tried to wait us out. Jumping, yelling, and rock throwing didn't phase the snake. Eventually, we were able to push the snake out with some long (10') tarp poles we happened to have. Only then did the snake rattle as he crawled to his old favorite tree.

We were concerned about winning the Darwin Award, but we managed to retrieve the bikes and spare the snake.

sarah

[Nanci]

I'm pretty interested in the three water snakes we have in Florida. I'd sure like to have a shot at catching one, but the ones I see are always basking in water right at the edge of the creek/pool.

Lots of snakes can put on a great show to try to scare you off. The Hognose snake will flatten its head like a cobra and strike violently- but often with its mouth closed...

The Yellow Ratsnake is one that always manages to scare me off from a casual capture- they just go psycho! (They don'[t chase, just coil up and strike.)

[bcipam]

Sounds like a gopher snake (usually quite large, light beige with dark brown diamondback coloring). Big question; Why was it striking at you? Most snakes, even rattlers, are very non-agressive towards humans... did you run over it and wound it and it was hurt and scared? Are you sure you killed it - I would hate to see the snake crawl off severely wounded and left to die in pain (although it will tend become a good snack for an owl or raptor).

Sorry as you can tell I like snakes and hate to see even one injured. If you ride trail alot I would suggest you and your husband educate yourself in the local snakes and what to do when one is encountered. Most snakes are non-poisoness and will not harm humans (unless provoked). I do admit I'm not familiar with Southern snakes and it might been a poisoness snake that's not a rattler.

My best friend has a severe snake phobia so I understand how encountered one is frightening. We are working on her phobia and education is one way. Now that she is able to ID snakes, she doesn't freak out as much. Her fear of course is encountering a poisoness snake (ie a rattler) so now she knows most snakes we find are either gopher or king snakes, some rat snakes and racers. We seldom, if ever, see a rattler.

[salsabike]

I like 'em too.

[Steph]

Why was it striking at you?

I think my husband either ran over it or just startled it before I came along. I don't know if I ran on top of it or just landed right beside it because it happened so fast.

Are you sure you killed it

Pretty sure.

Sorry as you can tell I like snakes and hate to see even one injured.

I can't say I share your fondness, but I wouldn't want to hurt one either.
I didn't realize I was so afraid of snakes. I have handled them in zoos before. Maybe it was just the unexpectedness, not knowing if it was poisionous or not, and the striking that startled me so badly. We have been educating ourselves since yesterday and will better know how to handle the situation in the future. We wouldn't want to harm a snake unless necessary and didn't have a clue wether it was poisionous or not. Now we know better what to look for and how to respond. We both felt bad about it. Most trails we have ridden on are worn and clear,this one was not. I will think twice before I become so adventurous again!

[Nanci]

Most of the time I see snakes, it's on a nice clear path which they are sunning in.

I've run over a snake twice, (MTBing- came up so fast, in long grass, I couldn't see it in time) and both times stopped to make sure it was ok. Mr. Snake, Mr. Snake, are you ok?? Both times they seemed to be moving ok, no squished areas, normal breathing, very angry...

One time I came upon a snake, in the middle of a clear MTB trail, in the middle of a meal of squirrel. I was worried that he would get run over, so I gently lifted him to a safe area with a stick. He just kept on swallowing.

Did you know, BTW, that snakes only have one functioning lung? The other lung is vestigial and does nothing. Everything in them is all elongated. Weird, huh?

[CyclChyk]

This thread is the exact reason my DH and I road bike versus mtn bike.... less snake activity.
(Well that and the fact that 1. road biking is FRICKIN FUN and 2. even tho I suck at road biking; I would get KILLED at mtn biking)

[Nanci]

Wow, I get to catch _way_ more snakes when I'm road riding! They're right out there sunning!! My latest catches, both within minutes of each other, were a juvenile Black Racer, and a Peninsula Ribbon Snake hatchling.

http://tinyurl.com/yfet5x

http://tinyurl.com/yf3v2c

http://tinyurl.com/ymkvz4

And, not seen while biking, but how often do you get to see them hatch?

http://tinyurl.com/yerr5m

[Steph]

Mr. Snake, Mr. Snake, are you ok??

LOL!

Did you know, BTW, that snakes only have one functioning lung? The other lung is vestigial and does nothing. Everything in them is all elongated. Weird, huh?

No, I didn't know that and that is really weird. So you really like snakes? Maybe the snake bite kit my mom had when I was growing up with the razor blade and suction device did some psychological damage to me.

Wow, I get to catch _way_ more snakes when I'm road riding!

You "get" to catch snakes? I have a daughter like you and we have always known she is different than most folks, lol. She wants a pet snake.
I felt safe when we got off the trail onto the road. There goes that illusion! Road biking is not for me. I feel very at home in the woods and will get over this whole snake thing one way or another. I grew up on nearly 30 acres of woods that I practically lived in as a child. We played with black racers. The only time I can remember running from a snake was a cotton mouth in my grandfather's creek. I don't know what has happened to me in my old age.