> You can see them standing real still and saying the "snake rhyme"
> silently. "Red and yellow kill a fellow, red and black, friend of
> jack." "or is it the other way around."
> "Run, run, run, run."
What silly, silly people!
While it is true that coral snakes can bite and are venomous there's a few
things to know about them and you'll never be nervous about them again.
1. They don't have fangs! They have to mash their venom into you by chewing
on you.
2. They're incredibly docile snakes.
In other words, these snakes are no where near as dangerous as a cobra
(which of course aren't indigenous to the US) or a rattlesnake.
- T.
Are you in Alabama Harry? I can't remember. That's where my folks are. They loved all the square dance folks down there. Said they were the friendliest they had met all across the country. Must be that southern hospitality. At any rate, the opted for spending Christmas in Alabama. Anyone seen that move "Sweet Home Alabama" that just came out. It's a good one! You won't want to miss it!! :)
--
Chat with you later...
-----
Alan Chandler, Arizona Sunset Zone: 13
*** Check out all the new Garden Pics from around the world - "My Friends Gardens" ***
http://www.GardenersCorner.com
Trimmed the Christmas tree, gave it a crew-cut.
Cleaning leaves away from the house yesterday, and found a
small king snake - pretty sure it's a king snake anyway. It
looks most like a Black King Snake, but those shouldn't be
in this part of the South. Closest they should be to me in
northeast Alabama. But I'm not sure what else it might be -
it's not a Speckled King Snake. Yellow belly with black
spots, dark blocked pattern on the back. It's about 12-14
inches long now. Feisty little fellow. I've never seen one
out and about so late in the year, but he's healthy,
obviously he's been finding something to eat. Brought him
to work to see if our resident herp guy could identify him -
he sorta agrees about it being a Black King Snake, but we
can't figure out why it's 300 miles out of it's range.
Anyway, a coworker is taking him home to live in his shed.
And that's the news from Mississippi today.
Harry
Cleaning leaves away from the house yesterday, and found a
small king snake - pretty sure it's a king snake anyway. It
looks most like a Black King Snake, but those shouldn't be
in this part of the South. Closest they should be to me in
northeast Alabama. But I'm not sure what else it might be -
it's not a Speckled King Snake. Yellow belly with black
spots, dark blocked pattern on the back. It's about 12-14
inches long now. Feisty little fellow. I've never seen one
out and about so late in the year, but he's healthy,
obviously he's been finding something to eat. Brought him
to work to see if our resident herp guy could identify him -
he sorta agrees about it being a Black King Snake, but we
can't figure out why it's 300 miles out of it's range.
Anyway, a coworker is taking him home to live in his shed.
And that's the news from Mississippi today.
Harry
Mississippi. We should have kept the Alabama part back in
1817, most of the natural resources went with Bama!!
my folks are. They loved all the square dance folks down
there. Said they were the friendliest they had met all
across the country. Must be that southern hospitality. At
any rate, the opted for spending Christmas in Alabama.
Anyone seen that move "Sweet Home Alabama" that just came
out. It's a good one! You won't want to miss it!! :)
world - "My Friends Gardens" ***
It
> looks most like a Black King Snake, but those shouldn't be
> in this part of the South. Closest they should be to me
in
> northeast Alabama. But I'm not sure what else it might
be -
> it's not a Speckled King Snake. Yellow belly with black
> spots, dark blocked pattern on the back. It's about 12-14
> inches long now. Feisty little fellow. I've never seen
one
> out and about so late in the year, but he's healthy,
> obviously he's been finding something to eat. Brought him
> to work to see if our resident herp guy could identify
him -
Oh my goodness! That sounds exactly like the Mississippi speckled belly
cobra. Not deadly but can make you mark your laundry when you surprise
them. Just kidding of course, sounds like a nice snake. I like king
snakes right well, we have the one that looks a lot like a giant coral
snake and sometimes frightens people. You can see them standing real
still and saying the "snake rhyme" silently. "Red and yellow kill a
fellow, red and black, friend of jack." "or is it the other way around."
"Run, run, run, run."
George
Harry Boswell wrote:
And the total IQ of Mississippi dropped when Alabama became a separate
state. Dropped down to just one point lower than Louisiana. Every time
the educational standings of southern states come out everyone in
Louisiana says, "Thank God for Mississippi."
George
Harry Boswell wrote:
Thanks! I knew there had to be a site with lots of king
snakes, but my Google searches didn't turn up any as good as
this.
Maybe you will find
> yours?
> http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/Lampropeltis.html
> Then there are ALL kinds on this list, click for pix if
you can stomach it.
> Some are kinda cute, if you keep in mind it's only a 2D
representation.
http://www.kiva.net/~dorsettm/notes.html
> My Bonsai Potato Photos
http://www.suite101.com/topic_page.cfm/253/3890
a
> small king snake - pretty sure it's a king snake anyway.
It
> looks most like a Black King Snake, but those shouldn't
be
> in this part of the South. Closest they should be to me
in
> northeast Alabama. But I'm not sure what else it might
be -
> it's not a Speckled King Snake. Yellow belly with black
> spots, dark blocked pattern on the back. It's about
12-14
That is a good site, didn't know there were that many different
kingsnakes, they're all pretty too.
George
Harry Boswell wrote:
You're mean!!!
(I am NOT responsible for Trent Lott, BTW!! Never voted for
the man)
became a separate
> state. Dropped down to just one point lower than
Louisiana. Every time
> the educational standings of southern states come out
everyone in
in
where
> my folks are. They loved all the square dance folks
down
> there. Said they were the friendliest they had met all
> across the country. Must be that southern hospitality.
At
> any rate, the opted for spending Christmas in Alabama.
> Anyone seen that move "Sweet Home Alabama" that just
came
found a
> small king snake - pretty sure it's a king snake
anyway.
> It
> looks most like a Black King Snake, but those
shouldn't be
> in this part of the South. Closest they should be to
me
> in
> northeast Alabama. But I'm not sure what else it
might
> be -
> it's not a Speckled King Snake. Yellow belly with
black
> spots, dark blocked pattern on the back. It's about
12-14
> inches long now. Feisty little fellow. I've never
seen
> one
> out and about so late in the year, but he's healthy,
> obviously he's been finding something to eat. Brought
him
> to work to see if our resident herp guy could identify
> him -
> he sorta agrees about it being a Black King Snake, but
we
> can't figure out why it's 300 miles out of it's range.
> Anyway, a coworker is taking him home to live in his
shed.
different
> kingsnakes, they're all pretty too.
> George
That's really true. I had no idea there were so many, and
many of them are beautiful snakes. This particular one is
destined to live out life in a nice large shed with lots of
mice. He'll be a happy snake doing a good service.
Harry
There are different ones spread throughout this list. Maybe you will find
yours?
http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/Lampropeltis.html
Then there are ALL kinds on this list, click for pix if you can stomach it.
Some are kinda cute, if you keep in mind it's only a 2D representation.
http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/SoNA.html
Barbara M. Martin
"Baby Needs New Shoes" Mid-Atlantic Garden Report:
http://nationalgardening.com/regional/report13.html
Now at Cottage Garden: "Raking Leaves"
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/253/96737
Co-Owner, Gardens List http://www.kiva.net/~dorsettm/notes.html
My Bonsai Potato Photos http://www.suite101.com/topic_page.cfm/253/3890
Most natives to this area know that and aren't bothered by them. We do
have a large population of oil field folks that come here for a couple
of years and then are transferred again, they don't know one snake from
another and can't be bothered to learn.
George
TeraGram wrote:
Hey, people in Louisiana have to look down on someone and we elected
Mississippi to be the state. After all, we have bad roads, bad schools,
and bad politicians just like you do. Well, we do have the best
politicians that money can buy. Our former governor, two of his aides,
and his son are all in federal prisons at the moment. Our last four
insurance commissioners are in fed prison and now our ag commissioner is
going for trial. Hang around Harry, we'll let you pass us any day now
through our own inaction.
George
Harry Boswell wrote:
A fine bunch of detectives you guys are. 'Tis the season for college
students to come home for Christmas. Some bring pets that Mom won't
tolerate, so she lets them loose...Margaret L
Well, after much searching, we found a picture of a Speckled
King Snake that did resemble this one, so we declared it a
resident Speckled King Snake!
A coworker named it Elvis (what else would a southerner name
a king snake?) and took it home to live in his shed/barn.
something
> that got transported to your region. Or a lumber pile.
> Harmless snakes are pretty. Sounds like a winner.
> I miss being out in the yard poking around, but I just had
> to spend time in the house getting it straightened out for
the
> holidays.
> Finding things out in the yard is one of the best things
about
a
> small king snake - pretty sure it's a king snake anyway.
It
> looks most like a Black King Snake, but those shouldn't
be
> in this part of the South. Closest they should be to me
in
> northeast Alabama. But I'm not sure what else it might
be -
> it's not a Speckled King Snake. Yellow belly with black
> spots, dark blocked pattern on the back. It's about
12-14
> inches long now. Feisty little fellow. I've never seen
one
> out and about so late in the year, but he's healthy,
> obviously he's been finding something to eat. Brought
him
> to work to see if our resident herp guy could identify
him -
> he sorta agrees about it being a Black King Snake, but we
> can't figure out why it's 300 miles out of it's range.
> Anyway, a coworker is taking him home to live in his
shed.
Merry Christmas Harry --
Hmmmm. Maybe the snake was curled up in a tarp or something
that got transported to your region. Or a lumber pile.
Harmless snakes are pretty. Sounds like a winner.
I miss being out in the yard poking around, but I just had
to spend time in the house getting it straightened out for the
holidays.
Finding things out in the yard is one of the best things about
yard work.
Best,
June
Last night while I was trying to catch the big bullfrog that had moved into
my goldfish pond, I found a snake in the pond. It disappeared somewhere in
or around the pond before I could get a good look at it.
Went out on the deck this evening and saw the snake sliding into the
goldfish pond. It was bigger than I first thought, but I still wasn't sure
what it was. I watched it dive to the bottom of the pond and then across and
under one of the slate pieces that line the top. So I grabbed a long dip and
a hoe, and gently lifted the slate, exposing the snake underneath. A quick
sweep of the net and I had a still-unidentified snake in captivity. I had
estimated last night that it was about 18" long. I was off by about 12
inches. It was also thicker-bodied than I thought. With the snake netted, I
went to the front yard, so Biltmore wouldn't try to tangle with it in case
it got out of the net. My plan was to get it inside a large glass jar that
had once similarly held a ribbon snake on it's way to being liberated. But
when I tried to dump the snake into the jar, it got out. I trapped it with
the net on the ground. Was that head triangular? I couldn't tell. The body
had a pattern that was somewhere between banded (water moccasin) and diamond
(diamondback water snake). Both snakes have a yellowish belly, which this
snake had. If it was a moccasin, it was going down. If it was a diamondback
water snake, I was willing to catch and release at a lake a couple of miles
away. I wanted to let it go. OK, if I could have gotten it in the jar, even
if it was a cottonmouth, I probably would have let it go. So, I have the
snake pinned with the dipnet (although not in the net), I'm trying to figure
out how to get it in the jar - and at that point, it got loose and headed
straight for the garage. Did I mention that I had also brought out my kaiser
blade? The snake had made it's decision, I made mine. Kaiser blades are hell
on snakes. One swing. End. of. snake.
Harry B
****************************************
My garden wasn't socially exclusive, however--
anything pretty was allowed in.
~~Frances Partridge
****************************************
Hi Harry,
So be it, Snake.
Good thing you had your blade. All in all, that was
a pretty exciting. Glad he didn't get you.
June
****************************************
My garden wasn't socially exclusive, however--
anything pretty was allowed in.
~~Frances Partridge
****************************************
> Did I mention that I had also brought out my kaiser
> blade? The snake had made it's decision, I made mine. Kaiser blades are hell
> on snakes. One swing. End. of. snake.
> Harry B
I'm not fond of snakes, but have no idea what a Kaiser blade is...Margaret L
****************************************
My garden wasn't socially exclusive, however--
anything pretty was allowed in.
~~Frances Partridge
****************************************
In a message dated 29/07/2005 04:28:26 GMT Standard Time,
hboswel1@BELLSOUTH.NET writes:
One swing. End. of. snake
Good for you Harry, can't stand snakes at any price. We get a lot of adders
round here and they are poisonous, they like living on the sandy cliff top
but I don't like sharing their space with them. Would run a mile if I met one.
Mary in England
****************************************
My garden wasn't socially exclusive, however--
anything pretty was allowed in.
~~Frances Partridge
****************************************
adders
> round here and they are poisonous, they like living on the sandy cliff
top
> but I don't like sharing their space with them. Would run a mile if I met
one.
I feel kind of bad about killing it. But I knew I couldn't let it get to
the garage, which is connected to the house.
Harry B
****************************************
My garden wasn't socially exclusive, however--
anything pretty was allowed in.
~~Frances Partridge
****************************************
hell
> on snakes. One swing. End. of. snake.
> Harry B
> I'm not fond of snakes, but have no idea what a Kaiser blade is...Margaret
L
Some, maybe most, people call it a sling blade, but I grew up hearing it
called a kaiser blade.
****************************************
My garden wasn't socially exclusive, however--
anything pretty was allowed in.
~~Frances Partridge
****************************************
