Cubby update

[Pats]

Cubby loves being here and Cubby loves me and I love Cubby. He's a cuddler and you know you're being cuddled. He has taken on a job and that's to watch over me. He even jumps up and follows me into the bathroom and will stand and guard the door. lol
Oh, speaking of bathrooms - the other day I noticed something weird looking in my plants in the bathroom and looked closer to see beady eyes of a snake, then noticed the tail hanging. I quickly maneuvered around it to get to the door, shut the door and ran upstairs yelling, "Who's home? I need help." My grandson was home. I was panic stricken, saying there's a snake in my bathroom and it's for real. My grandson asked what kind. I was like, I don't know, it's black. He said it's a black snake. I said I don't know if it's a black snake, just that it's black and this big. I followed him down the stairs asking what he was going to do and he said he'll grab it. I asked what if it's poisonous? He said it's a black snake. I said I don't know if it's a black snake. I'm just so glad he was home because I was ready to call 911 and I would have felt really stupid if someone else had come to the house to pick up this rubber snake my son put there.

 

[Judge]

Oh, speaking of bathrooms - the other day I noticed something weird looking in my plants in the bathroom and looked closer to see beady eyes of a snake, then noticed the tail hanging.

If you noticed those "beady eyes", then you must have noticed whether they were round or almond-shaped. If they are round, then the snake is not venomous. Maybe even just a black garden snake.

But if the snake has those almond eyes, call animal control.

Hope Cubby becomes a permanent fixture in your home. Good boy!

 

[Pats]

If you noticed those "beady eyes", then you must have noticed whether they were round or almond-shaped. If they are round, then the snake is not venomous. Maybe even just a black garden snake.

But if the snake has those almond eyes, call animal control.

Hope Cubby becomes a permanent fixture in your home. Good boy!

To me - a snake is a snake is a snake (including the rubber ones. lol)
And I could not send Cubby back home to live outside. He had a shed with heat and air, but he wants to be with people, which is why he loves me. (and why are there cat emojis and not dogs???)

 

[Progster]

"Who's home? I need help."

Given that you have two dogs at home, you really needed to ask for yelp, not help

 

[Judge]

To me - a snake is a snake is a snake (including the rubber ones. lol)

Well, I can relate. Here in the desert the odds of encountering a poisonous rattlesnake seem astronomically higher. Though they're more prone to staying away from humanity than seeking to cohabit as such.

 

[Pats]

Well, I can relate. Here in the desert the odds of encountering a poisonous rattlesnake seem astronomically higher. Though they're more prone to staying away from humanity than seeking to cohabit as such.

When my brother moved to Arizona he had 2 big collies and took them to a class to teach them to be afraid of snakes (due to so many rattlesnakes). One of them was afraid of sticks after that.

 

[Judge]

When my brother moved to Arizona he had 2 big collies and took them to a class to teach them to be afraid of snakes (due to so many rattlesnakes). One of them was afraid of sticks after that.

Yep, we have the same classes here too...and for very good reason. My cousin once thought of taking her dog to such a trainer, but came to the conclusion that it might be too traumatic in the big picture.

I did have a friend in California whose Yorkie was bitten by a baby rattler. Poor thing died in about 60 seconds. Baby rattlers let loose of all their venom at once. He was a very nice little dog too. RIP "Crawford".

 

[china autie]

There are Black Rat Snakes, maybe King or Queen snakes too.

I don't know which is which.

I saw one sidewinding to get to the river where it then swam away.

I picked up a different one who was sunning itself and it latched onto my (always loose) clothing. When i let it go, it went running off into the grass.

I seen a family of garter snakes under a deck once. Quite a big bunch of them.

A former dog sitter's kids had a red racer. It was pencil thin and I found it beautiful.

I saw a Little Green Snake once on a rocky mountain path by some woods.

My soon to be ex husband (and mist of his fam) was deathly afraid of snakes so I couldn't have any.

He,also didn't want me to raise hissing cockroaches in the,attic-- something that I didn't understand.

Now I can and so maybe sometime after I get my own little shack in the woods, I will also try breeding some snakes.

That is all the snake stories I got.

Yours was funny, though perhaps not so much at the time.

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

If you noticed those "beady eyes", then you must have noticed whether they were round or almond-shaped. If they are round, then the snake is not venomous. Maybe even just a black garden snake.

But if the snake has those almond eyes, call animal control.

This is actually a myth, there is no correlation between how venomous a snake is and the shape of their eyes or pupils. Some of the most deadly snakes in the world have round eyes.

 

[Judge]

This is actually a myth, there is no correlation between how venomous a snake is and the shape of their eyes or pupils. Some of the most deadly snakes in the world have round eyes.

Not a myth. Look it up. Though I stand corrected in that it's true that not all species of venomous snakes have elongated pupils. However in terms of local snake species to the OP, here's what a North Carolina county and university source cites:

"If a confrontation is unavoidable, how can you tell the difference between a venomous copperhead and a harmless rat snake? The rattlesnakes, copperhead, and cottonmouth are pit vipers. They are characterized by a pit between and slightly below the eye and nostril, long movable fangs, a vertically elliptical “cat’s eye” pupil, undivided scales on the underside of the tail, and a large triangular-shaped head that has a small, smooth, shiny cap over the nose. Nonvenomous snakes have round pupils, a large smooth cap over the top of the head past the eyes, divided scales on the underside of the tail, no pits and no long fangs."

Read more at: Distinguishing Between Venomous and Non-Venomous Snakes

From what I see online, there are any number of sources that do mention the eyes as one of many ways to consider/distinguish venomous from non-venomous snakes. It's not a myth, but just one factor in many to consider. One thing for sure, I wouldn't mess with any snake that clearly can be identified with "cat eyes".

Of the 20 venomous species in the continental US, I think only the coral snakes have round eyes. Here rattlesnakes and cottonmouths (pit vipers) all have "cat eyes".

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

Not a myth. Look it up. Though I stand corrected in that it's true that not all species of venomous snakes have elongated pupils. However in terms of local snake species to the OP, here's what a North Carolina county and university source cites:

"If a confrontation is unavoidable, how can you tell the difference between a venomous copperhead and a harmless rat snake? The rattlesnakes, copperhead, and cottonmouth are pit vipers. They are characterized by a pit between and slightly below the eye and nostril, long movable fangs, a vertically elliptical “cat’s eye” pupil, undivided scales on the underside of the tail, and a large triangular-shaped head that has a small, smooth, shiny cap over the nose. Nonvenomous snakes have round pupils, a large smooth cap over the top of the head past the eyes, divided scales on the underside of the tail, no pits and no long fangs."

Read more at: Distinguishing Between Venomous and Non-Venomous Snakes

From what I see online, there are any number of sources that do mention the eyes as one of many ways to consider/distinguish venomous from non-venomous snakes. It's not a myth, but just one factor in many to consider. One thing for sure, I wouldn't mess with any snake that clearly can be identified with "cat eyes".

Of the 20 venomous species in the continental US, I think only the coral snakes have round eyes. Here rattlesnakes and cottonmouths (pit vipers) all have "cat eyes".

North Carolina has coral snakes...

I've heard that the pupil shape as a distinguishing feature is a North American idea, it's unfortunate that it has spread around the world, I actually heard a local say the same thing when I was working in South Africa I can just imagine some kid wandering up to a pretty little snake thinking it's non venomous because of it eyes but oh wait it's actually a Black Mamba… Remember you are on an international forum

 

[Mary Terry]

Not a myth. Look it up. Though I stand corrected in that it's true that not all species of venomous snakes have elongated pupils. However in terms of local snake species to the OP, here's what a North Carolina county and university source cites:

"If a confrontation is unavoidable, how can you tell the difference between a venomous copperhead and a harmless rat snake? The rattlesnakes, copperhead, and cottonmouth are pit vipers. They are characterized by a pit between and slightly below the eye and nostril, long movable fangs, a vertically elliptical “cat’s eye” pupil, undivided scales on the underside of the tail, and a large triangular-shaped head that has a small, smooth, shiny cap over the nose. Nonvenomous snakes have round pupils, a large smooth cap over the top of the head past the eyes, divided scales on the underside of the tail, no pits and no long fangs."

Read more at: Distinguishing Between Venomous and Non-Venomous Snakes

From what I see online, there are any number of sources that do mention the eyes as one of many ways to consider/distinguish venomous from non-venomous snakes. It's not a myth, but just one factor in many to consider. One thing for sure, I wouldn't mess with any snake that clearly can be identified with "cat eyes".

Of the 20 venomous species in the continental US, I think only the coral snakes have round eyes. Here rattlesnakes and cottonmouths (pit vipers) all have "cat eyes".

We live in pit viper territory - indigenous water moccasins, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes and even coral snakes infiltrating from Florida. I always look first to see if they have triangular heads and short, blunt tails which are good clues as to whether they are poisonous. I don't want to get close enough to them to determine the shape of their eyes but know that is a useful clue, too. Pit vipers are among the most aggressive snakes in the world - they will come after you whereas most snakes just want to avoid you. We don't kill them if at all possible and let them go about their business. But I still hate them all and they freak me out every time I encounter one.

 

[Judge]

North Carolina has coral snakes...

I've heard that the pupil shape as a distinguishing feature is a North American idea, it's unfortunate that it has spread around the world, I actually heard a local say the same thing when I was working in South Africa I can just imagine some kid wandering up to a pretty little snake thinking it's non venomous because of it eyes but oh wait it's actually a Black Mamba… Remember you are on an international forum

I see your point, but that's pretty sad to hear a local from South Africa who would make such a comment. I've watched numerous episodes of "Snake City", a reality-based show that chronicles Simon Keys whose occupation is a snake catcher in downtown Durban, South Africa. Where it seems both adults and even small children know better than approach any snake in that particular part of the world. And yes, it would seem that many of their calls do indeed involve the black mamba. Absolutely lethal.

But the OP lives in North Carolina, and referred to a "black snake". The Eastern Coral snake is one of the most distinctive snakes you can find in North America. Striking in fact, with bright yellow, black and red narrow stripes. I'd think if this was the case, she would have pointed that out in her original post.

Even a non-poisonous snake is still a wild animal that can bite. Growing up in Virginia I remember any number of kids getting bit by them...in particular bull snakes. Nasty creatures that grow to a pretty hefty length. And when I lived on the island of Guam, we had to deal with brown tree snakes. Technically venomous, but not particularly dangerous to humans. Though as a child I was sternly told to stay away from them. In that habitat it was the stone fish in shallow waters that concerned my parents the most.

No, even if you encounter a non-poisonous species in your house I'd still say to contact either animal control or a trained pest control person to come and remove the snake. I never meant to imply you should handle them just because they may be a non-venomous species.

Personally I've seen just too many kids bitten by snakes to want to handle them like pets. Living in the Pacific Northwest as well, I've even seen garter snakes that could act aggressively and bite. Racers too in the South. And living in the high desert, well...rattlesnakes reside only a matter of yards from where I live. But they're more likely to confront your pet than any human being. Our community usually loses a few puppies this way every year.

Don't get me wrong. I find snakes fascinating. But only from a distance. Much like bears.

 

[Judge]

Pit vipers are among the most aggressive snakes in the world - they will come after you whereas most snakes just want to avoid you. We don't kill them if at all possible and let them go about their business. But I still hate them all and they freak me out every time I encounter one.

Oh yeah. My brother and I had a similar experience in the Great Dismal Swamp in Southern Virginia back in the 70s. A cottonmouth came straight at us from the water. We skeedaddled in the opposite direction and never looked back! My father always laughed about that as he's encountered them a number of times in his youth.

 

[Mary Terry]

Oh yeah. My brother and I had a similar experience in the Great Dismal Swamp in Southern Virginia back in the 70s. A cottonmouth came straight at us from the water. We skeedaddled in the opposite direction and never looked back! My father always laughed about that as he's encountered them a number of times in his youth.

The moccasins in our lake will go for fish on the stringer. I've pulled up the stringer from the water to find huge snakes swallowing the fish I just caught. Nowadays, I use a big bucket in the boat, lid on top, for fish I catch. It's my "live well" for my rusty, leaky old john boat that I like to fish in. I always keep an oar close at hand, too, because the snakes will swim up to the boat and rear up out of the water like they want to get in the boat with me. Creepy!

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

@Judge while I was there a man in the next town was killed by a Black Mamba that had got into his house after deciding to catch it in a bowl. He didn't realise he'd been bitten until the paralysis made itself known and it was too late to get to a hospital. A Darwin Award for him...

I adore snakes (I'm doing my PhD on them), and the amount of ignorance and misinformation going around about venomous snakes in particular is endlessly irritating to me.

 

[Judge]

@Judge while I was there a man in the next town was killed by a Black Mamba that had got into his house after deciding to catch it in a bowl. He didn't realise he'd been bitten until the paralysis made itself known and it was too late to get to a hospital. A Darwin Award for him...

I adore snakes (I'm doing my PhD on them), and the amount of ignorance and misinformation going around about venomous snakes in particular is endlessly irritating to me.

I see. Fair enough, point taken.

Reminds me as well of those people who are so interested in venomous snakes that they lose perspective of them as wild animals. Where despite the fact that they are very much scientifically aware of the snakes in their charge, that they become so attached to them that they begin to treat- and handle them as pets. And inevitably get bitten. Gruesome story I once watched on tv about a woman who kept multiple exotic- and venomous snakes. Where a Gaboon viper killed her. She never made it out of her home to seek medical attention. Warning: Tragic story as shown:

But then OMG...some of the non-venomous snakes are pretty intimidating. Like people with Burmese Pythons...and all their teeth they leave behind if they should bite you. A species not native to Florida that has become quite invasive as well.

True, there's a lot to be said about snakes in general. Interesting creatures, but to me only from a distance if I can help it. Though you have to respect those working in research who in particular collect venom for medical purposes. However such a job can never, ever be routine. Where a single mistake can be life-threatening.

Another thing I find alarming is the economics associated with anti-venom. Shocking to learn just how expensive a single dose can be, even for a rattlesnake bite. Though that seems to parallel the cost of pharmaceuticals in general pertinent to the US market alone. For instance with Mexican equivalents in the hundreds of dollars and domestic ones in the thousands.

Reptiles and totalitarian systems. Love them...but only from a distance.

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

@Judge yeah working with venomous snakes is always a dangerous business. One of my supervisors is an ecologist specialising in reptiles in Australia he's been bitten 3 times, lucky for him they were all dry bites! I chose the humble grass snake as my main study species for good reason.

 

[Judge]

@Judge yeah working with venomous snakes is always a dangerous business. One of my supervisors is an ecologist specialising in reptiles in Australia he's been bitten 3 times, lucky for him they were all dry bites! I chose the humble grass snake as my main study species for good reason.

Dry bites. Indeed, that's like "Manna from Heaven" for those trained folks working with venomous snakes.

Though I've heard of some individuals where such luck eventually ran out...along with a loss of a finger or two.

 

[Mary Terry]

I saw my first Fer-de-Lance snake in Puerto Morelos, Q.R., Mexico a couple of weeks ago at a small zoo and conservation facility. They found it on the premises (jungle) where visitors walk and put it in an aquarium for display. Fortunately, they are active only at night. The zoo rescues crocodiles, snakes, and all kinds of birds and animals in the Yucatan including hairless Mexican dogs (which feel like pigs when you pet their skin and are the sweetest, most gentle dogs).