I don’t think python…
There is a picture of what may be a python in my photobucket that I took around Myrtle Beach, but I truly believe this was one of those ever feared cottonmouths. I saw another one of the same on the same day. But I saw mostly banded water snakes. But, no snakes came after me. And, no kayakers were injured taking these photos.
If you want to see snakes, go to Congaree Nat. Park. Nice variety.
Mike McCord is a pretty well known guide
and paddler on E. texas and central Texas rivers. His advice on how to treat snakebites is good as are his comments on the nasty bites that even non-venemous snakes can deliver. For fishermen on rivers, if you see a snake, cast behind it, sometimes there may be a bsss waiting for the snake to make a mistake.
and when people read this post
they will understand the ramifications of how pathetic our educational system is.
Yup, what you describe
is undoubtedly Elaphe obsoleta, the Black ratsnake. An extemely beneficial species in terms of its proclivity for rodents. Also a cousin to the famously popular Corn snake (Red ratsnake).
I applaud your efforts to alleviate the serpent phobia so often found in youngsters and ignorant adults. People always fear that which they do not understand.
Interestingly, the fear of snakes is not necessarily a learned behaviour. Theories regarding genetic ‘memory’ have gained credibility subsequent to studies involving newborn/hatched primates and avians that react with a typical prey response when visually exposed to a serpent shortly after taking their first breath of air.
Pleasant waters to ya.
Holmes
Control of venom injection
– Last Updated: Jun-22-06 12:43 PM EST –
You say "Because of the physics involved in its venom delivery system, if its fangs penetrate into flesh the impact of the head forces the venom out of the sacs (glands located behind and below each eye) and into the flesh of the victim." Actually, muscles must squeeze the venom from the venom glands. Impact has nothing to do with it, in fact, the venom must be injected under very high pressure just to penetrate the tissues of the victim. Snakes most definitely CAN control how much venom they inject, and there's loads of published info out there to this effect.
As far as common watersnakes following boats, this has nothing to do with aggression either. In fact, all the watersnakes I've seen have been very quck to run for cover, unless they were sound asleep. HOWEVER, their eyesight is poor enough that they often won't recognize a boat as a threat, but only as an object they can go sun themselves on. I've had a number of them head for my boat, but try approaching that same snake on foot and he's outa here as fast as he can go!
So glad to see yet another non-snake-phobic person out there, though. It can be discouraging to see how much snakes and some other animals are hated and wantonly killed.
Spot on…
the snake has full control of the venom delivery and specialised muscles are involved in the transport of the venom from the gland through the ductal passageways and into the fang network.
Both fangs can be utilised independently of each other so the old ‘two holes = venomous’ doesn’t necessarily hold true. I’ve treated two field bites (Prairie rattlesnake), where only one fang made delivery.
The snake also has control of whether or not to deliver venom. In a natural bite, e.g., stepping on or near an unseen snake, the serpent will often opt against envenomation. A provoked bite will get you the whole pharmacy!
Viperine venom delivery is very efficient, nearly as effective as a medical injection. (Viper fangs are the origin of the modern hypodermic syringe, BTW) This efficacy is why devices such as the Sawyer Extractor have little or no effect on snake bites in terms of venom removal. This has been demonstrated quite clearly in several studies now. The tool may work for insect stings but forget it for snake bite first aid.
Cottonmouths, copperheads, and the like are seldom life threatening unless the vic is an infant, immuno-compromised, or is allergic to the cocktail of that specimen. The venoms are primarily haemolytic and cytolytic. Localised damage is the greatest issue and treatment needs to be administered by a doctor well versed in venomous snakebite protocol. All too often I still see the quick jump to a fasciotomy which is seldom indicated in current protocol.
All bites are different and should be treated as an individual scenario. Conspecific snakes may well have a variable toxin assay given different regional locations. Its all about the predominant prey animals in that area.
First aid administration for all North American snakebites is really quite simple but a person should have a basic understanding of what the venoms are and how they work. Etyology will determine action and this why some basic knowledge is required. Once the fundamentals are understood, anyone can manage a field bite while transporting the vic.
I usually avoid these snake threads as they often become emotional and anecdotal ‘knowledge’ runs rampant. If the p-net folks would like, I could put together a bit of an overview regarding venomous snakebite and the various concerns of first aid management.
I’ll be paddlin’ this weekend so forget it until Sunday night!
Pleasant waters, all.
Holmes
Ever seen “Lonesome Dove”?
– Last Updated: Jun-23-06 10:39 PM EST –
There was a good snake scene in it when they were crossing the Red River
Of course they weren't in a canoe.