Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 3 comments | Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Snake handling: shovel or shotgun
Published Tuesday, June 16, 2009
For those of you who are not that familiar with where I grew up, let me explain.
Marlow is located in Baldwin County, and it would be kind to say that it is a “map dot.” It’s even a little stretch to say it’s an “area.”
Growing up in Marlow, on Fish River, I had the advantages offered the Tom Sawyer-kind of growing up. There was fishing, camping, swimming and canoeing.
But, what came with those enjoyable outdoor activities was the occasional snake. Regardless of whether it was the harmless corn snake or the slightly more venomous water moccasin, snakes normally caused my heart to skip a beat.
I oftentimes referred to the old adage that “they are more scared of you than you are of them.” But, that did little to comfort my slight anxiety.
I know snakes have their place and their uses. But, they are among my “top animals/insects we could do without list.” Just for the record, No. 1 on that list is a tie between spiders and indecisive squirrels.
Over the past few weeks, two submitted pictures have taken my mind back to Marlow and Fish River and my run-ins with snakes. These two photos are impressive when you think about their subject matter and the apparent nonchalant demeanor of those in the photo.
For one, Diana Carter, of Verbena, killed a 4-foot, three inch rattlesnake, described as having 14 rattlers and a button. The other, Elmer Powell, who lives on Lake Mitchell Road, killed a 4-and-a-half foot rattlesnake with 11 rattlers and one button. Both used shotguns to kill the snake. Apparently, the button on each snake was just too much for the ever-useful shovel.
These two photos put my mother’s voice back in my head, reminding me to keep an eye out for snakes.
The only problem is that a canoe oar doesn’t really carry the punch of a shotgun.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by Ruckerdog (anonymous) on June 17, 2009 at 6:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tim, you are right when you say that snakes have a place and a purpose here. The reason snakes have such a bad rep is because people like our grandparents and their parents taught their kids that the only good snake is a dead snake. I have been catching snakes since I was a child. Got my butt tore up many times over snakes, but I still find them one of nature's prettiest creations. When I find a snake on the road or in the woods around Maplesville, I generally catch it and put it in a cooler that I carry with me for just that reason. I take it home and photograph it, document where I found it, then take it off somewhere miles from any residences, and turn it loose. Just last week I caught a 3 1/2 ft. Timber Rattler with 8 and a button. He never even coiled up on me, and didn't start rattling until I started my truck. I let it crawl around the back yard while I shot some photos, then I took it off and set it free. If people would educate themselves on snakes, they might get some idea as to how much they benefit us in the long run. But I'm sure that 99.9% of the public feel they have all the education they will ever need on snakes already. So if you are driving down the road and come up on some danged fool catching a snake, or just getting it off the road so the next driver by won't run over it, it's probably gonna be me.
Posted by Ruckerdog (anonymous) on June 17, 2009 at 6:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is a website link for anyone that might want to gain a bit of knowledge on snakes.
www.reptileknowledge.com
Posted by KatherineReece (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The comment about the oar brings a chuckle. I remember going out rowing with the other girls at Girl Scout camp. Our adult leader told us if a snake tried to get in the boat to hit him with an oar. I didn't row a lick, I had that oar up out of the water and ready to smash a snake with it.
I can't stand them, I can't help it, I had a nasty run in with a snake when I was very young and gathering eggs in the chicken pen and that set me on a snake hating path for life.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)