Quote Originally Posted by btchance
Also, I grew up in an area with a lot of snakes, many of them poisonness.
And where was this? (To ensure that I never move there!)

I've had many a discussion with many different folks re: which way to go around a rattlesnake, should one be in your path, it is not coiled, and there is room on either side. If you go around the back (that is, past the rattle side), are you safer than if you go around the front (the head) reallly reallllly fast?

I've heard (1) go around the head if it's not coiled or posed to strike as it would need to pull back a bit at the least in order to strike (which means that if your friend is riding behind you, THEY may be the one that gets it! ) and (2) go around the tail side and hope that you don't disturb it and (3) don't go around the tail side as it's easier for the snake to coil (or compress) and strike from that direction. I prefer (4), avoid the snake altogether.

I don't really hate or love snakes. I've never had any negative experiences with them and grew up in a family that spent a lot of time in "nature study", garter snakes included.

Now, what about a squirrel? Such unpredictable little buggers...