DISQUS

pete · 1 year ago

You call those snakes? Have a Google of Australian Snakes to learn about some real monsters like the Death Adder and the no-so-scarily-named-but-ridiculously-poisonous black and brown snakes!

Andrew Barbour · 1 year ago

Pete, I don't know if you yourself are Australian, but you came perilously close to sounding like Paul Hogan in Crocodile Dundee:

"Mick, he's got a snake!"
"That's not a snake. THIS is a snake!"

Chris · 1 year ago

Makes me glad I live in the UK. We have (IIRC) only three native species of snake, the largest of which - the Grass Snake - is about 4ft long and non-venomous. The only British snake with a bite fatal to human is the Adder, and they'll avoid people as much as they can.

It's a fine thing to live in a country where the wildlife isn't a major hazard to life and limb. ;-)

pete · 1 year ago

Strewth Andrew

Israel · 1 year ago

This is so ironic. Last nigh I had a dream that my house was flooded with swamp water. In the swamp water there were tons of snakes. I mean huge ones, like the ones from that movie Anaconda. I actually held one of the snakes, it was red and white and orange.

This must have been one of the scariest dreams I have had in a long time.

Kyle · 1 year ago

@Israel

I believe that's "coincidental".

@Chris

Yeah, I live in the prairies of Canada where the wildlife is moderately non-threatening as well. We don't even have dangerous spiders here.

Interesting article so far. I believe you should list the venom effects for all of the snakes though, not just a select few.

Rage Kage · 1 year ago

Love the article. Despite my very unmanly fear of snakes (moving without limbs is just unnatural) I've always been very interested in them.

Josh · 1 year ago

*Shiver* Just looking at those pictures gives me the willies. Nice article... But I hate snakes. Sucks that I live out in the boonies where they abound.

Kevin (ReturnToManliness) · 1 year ago

Black Mamba's have enough venom in one bite to kill 120-140 FREAKING men????!!!!???? Another reason I will never travel to Africa. That is insane...

We are all scared of the Mojave and Sidewinder rattlers here in Vegas, but after reading this, not so much anymore. Besides, I have bigger issues at the moment with scorpions infesting my household.

Bob · 1 year ago

Snakes - love em. We used to catch rattlers when I was a kid. Not only do snakes look cool, and manly - a real man knows how to put them to good use opening beer.

Pat · 1 year ago

I was mountain biking on Friday and my I thought my friend blew a tire. When I went by the same spot I knew it was a rattler right away! Had to high tail it outta there!

Will · 1 year ago

What? No recipes? :)

Jim Nutt · 1 year ago

Kevin, when dealing with scorpions remember that the potency of the venom is inversely proportional to the size of the scorpions. In other words, the big ones aren't much more than a bee sting, it's the little ones that are dangerous. A UV light is fun to use scorpion hunter, it'll make the little suckers glow.

As for recipes, rattlesnake is good batter fried. It doesn't really taste like chicken, but it is a bit similar...

Face · 1 year ago

Actually, the grammatically correct form of the title is "know thy enemy". By analogy, it's "I know my enemy", not "I know mine enemy".

8rustystaples · 1 year ago

Wow, this article is full of half-truths and misinformation. You've given everyone just enough information to scare them shitless when they see any snake (the vast majority of which are not dangerous), but not enough to let them know when they're truly encountering a dangerous snake.

There are over 20 species of rattlesnakes in the U.S., and many of the pygmy rattlers have rattles too small to alert people to their presence. Also, many nonvenomous species shake their tails in mimicry behavior as a warning.
Diamondback Water Snakes are a very common nonvenomous snake in the Eastern U.S., and it has a diamond pattern.
You mention a couple of Asian species like the King Cobra, one African species, the Black Mamba, but fail to mention any South American or Australian species (and Australia harbors the most dangerous snakes in the world). If you're trying to scare the readers, where's the Taipan,? Or the Gaboon Viper, an African species with the longest fangs?

And you fail to mention that snakes play an important role in the ecosystems they inhabit, including (and often especially) the venomous ones. The western diamondback rattler is a very important predator of rodents in their habitats, and large increases of local rabbit populations occur in areas where "rattlesnake roundups" occur under the false pretense of protecting children and livestock. And rabbits wreak havoc on farms. Nature sort of likes to keep things in balance.

I can only hope you did the proper research on treatment of snakebites, because improper first aid can create horrendous problems.

Brett · 1 year ago

8rustynails- If you had read the entire post, you would have seen at the end we discussed how snakes play an important part in the ecosystem.

And I don't see how we put out any half truths or misinformation. The research came from field guides and books on snakes. It just sounds like the post isn't comprehensive enough for you. Had we discussed every dangerous snake in the world the post would have been insanely long. We concentrated on snakes in North America since the majority of our readers live there, but threw in some of the interesting ones from around the world too.

8rustystaples · 1 year ago

Brett

Sorry I missed the disclaimer. I had trouble getting past all the histrionics like "killing machine" and "When a sidewinder sees you walking along, you’re not only lunch, but also a canteen."

And I wasn't asking for a complete list of venomous snakes, just a healthier and less hyperbolic explanation of a very misunderstood animal. Just by reading the comments in the talkback above, it's obvious snakes are the subject of many people's phobias, and many species are endangered due to this fear.

Pet-Snakes · 1 year ago

I enjoyed the spirit of the article (to educate people about these amazing creatures), but I can't help but think you've managed to stir up a little more fear than was once there. Hopefully not.

Brett & Kate McKay · 1 year ago

@8rustynails- The killing machine bit was mainly for comic relief. We try to be serious on this site, but we don't take ourselves too seriously.

james jay · 1 year ago

ok just the pictures got me freaked out...i pulled my legs from under my desk...
i live in arizona and grew up on the reservation so im used to seeing rattlesnakes walking out your front door and hey there is a 5 foot rattlesnake siting there...

I even worked as a archeologist and we would go out in the early mornings on summer because of the heat and see this damn rattlers laying out on the ground trying to take in the morning cool... i hated those mohave ones they are like green and nasty looking...

damn snakes...
(shivers)

Horizontal Mamba · 1 year ago

Fun article, but why so much bold text? It was distracting.

Danny X · 1 year ago

We dont have snakes in IL :(

JetClarke · 1 year ago

No snakes in Illinois? You have at least one poisonous one, the Mississauga Rattler, as specified on this quick Google'd website: http://dnr.state.il.us/LANDS/EDUCATION/SNAKES/s...
These live around my grandparent's cottage. Fairly large critters.

Danny X · 1 year ago

I stand corrected, Im going to the libreary tonight ill look it up.
There is alot i dont know about snake

Crazy Eddie · 1 year ago

"If you were a Boy Scout, you were probably taught an old mnemonic to help you identify venomous snakes: 'Red and black, friend of Jack. Red and yellow, kill a fellow.' Or in other words, if a snake has adjacent red and black colors on its skin, it’s not venomous. If red and yellow are adjacent, that snake is venomous."

And if you really learned that rule as a Boy Scout, your Scoutmaster should get a good smack upside the head. The "red-on-black" rule is only a mnemonic for separating coral snakes from mimics (e.g., the milk snake) - it is not, and was never intended to be, a rule for separating poisonous snakes from nonvenomous snakes.

Mark · 1 year ago

Check out the Australian Snakes for sure...

Taipan for one... And its even more poisoness (although shyer) relative the Western Taipan.

Browns and King Browns are pretty poisonous as well and then theres the Tiger Snake as well....

Richard · 1 year ago

The best advice anyone can give is: Stay away. A wild snake is a dangerous thing no mater where you are. Pet snakes are breed and raised by people. But a snake in the wild is another storl. Remember if you see a snake in the wild. STAY AWAY.

mariam nasr · 1 year ago

I liked what was wriiten about snakes but I would like to know how to save them and how to save animals rights

Nick · 1 year ago

I just wanted to mention one thing you got somewhat wrong in this article. It's not something that most people seem to be aware of but many rattlesnakes have stopped rattling. It's evolution at work.

The ones that rattled were able to be located and killed by people, those few that didn't managed to stay hidden and alive. So the quiet ones passed on their genes while the rattling rattlers didn't so much. Because of natural selection it is becoming increasingly common for rattlesnakes to not make any noise.

I'm not trying to make people more afraid of snakes or anything. I just want to make sure people know that you can't trust a rattler to warn you before you step on it every time. In other words, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN. Stay alert in areas that have poisonous snakes and you will be alright.

ben · 1 year ago

hi......I was really amazed after reading the above info about snakes..... it was a bit shoking to hear but also intresting to hear......... i also enjoyed those snake stills.............

Robert Brockway · 11 months ago

Do not try to identify a snake species by colouring. I have been told by doctors in Australia that (as a result of reducing populations) snakes have been interbreeding resulting in hybrids that may visually identify as one species but have the venom of another. In Australa (and I presume elsewhere) if you are bitten by a snake first aid is to treat a snake bite as dangerous until proven otherwise.

siri · 11 months ago

snakes are just so beautiful. i luv them. though they are dangerous ,they strike only when they are threatened. so guys tread carefully. never get your step on a snake. becoz thats probably the last thing youdo. but please dont hate snakes .they are awfully good. HELP CONSERVE SNAKES...

Sachin · 11 months ago

The content is good.....I am a snake lover.thanks for the content and the photographs.

suellen · 11 months ago

amo cobras

DIANE · 11 months ago

HI.

SHOULDN'T IT BE:

RED ON BLACK
FRIEND TO JACK

WHITE OR RED ON YELLOW
THIS CAN KILL A FELLOW

CUZ AFTER LOOKING UP
COLORS OF SNAKES, I
FIND THAT THE ARIZONA
CORAL SNAKE IS SOMETIMES
WHITE ON RED INSTEAD OF
YELLOW ON RED

I'M BEGINNING TO HAVE A BETTER
LIKING OF SNAKES
DUE TO THEIR AMAZING COLORS
AND PATTERNS

THANKS, DIANE

SAGAR · 11 months ago

I AM THE SNAKE CATCHER, SEND ME THE IMAGES OF SNAKES.

lindon · 10 months ago

thanks Diane am also javing a better understanding about the colours of the coral snake
i was bitten by a carol snake before but i think am very bleddsd by the lord to have witnessed this drama

aquilino erfe · 9 months ago

woow im scared thank you for the information that you gave to us may you continue on what you doing THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Anthony · 8 months ago

It is amazing that the country with the most venomous snakes in the world is not mentioned here. Australia has the top 11 most venomous snakes in the world. Starting with the Inland Taipan or Fierce Snake which is 49.5 times more poisonous than a Cobra. (LVD) The most dangerous snake in the world has to go to the Coastal or Eastern Taipan. Australia has a good percentage of elapid snakes in the world and the common ones are point blank deadly. Check out the Death Adders. Fast striking and poisonous. Check out the Mulga Snake or King Brown as it is known here. Actualy a very large Black Snake with a massive venom load.

josh · 7 months ago

wow creepy i hate snakes