Large amount of water moccasins

I was swimming in the creek behind my house when a I decided to sit on a fallen log like a moron, I look over and about 7 feet away from my is a big fat angry-looking water moccosin, because I was in the water I didn't have a camera with me but that's not why I've made this thread
I live next to a creek and there are water moccasins all around here, I keep the grass trimmed down because I've come across them in my yard and I have my 3 year old brother in law that love to play around in the yard.

My goal is not to kill them, but understand their habits, when they like to bask areas they like to hang around, ect so my family can be safe around them and avoid coming across them.

So far I have told everyone that if you come across one, don't poke it with a stick or Steve Irwin-it and just leave it alone.
I've been told they have a nasty temper.

My family want to hire someone to kill them, which not only makes me sick to my stomach but doesn't make any sense since more will just show up from traveling in the creek.

Their aggressiveness is usually over exaggerated they flee/stand their ground about 50/50 (Different species are different though).

When it's a cool morning they usually bask in the sort of places you would expect, rocks, logs etc. And when it's hotter out they hang out in the shade.

If you keep a close eye on the kid and try to teach him that the snakes that you keep (if you have any) may be nice, but the ones out there shouldn't be touched and he should tell someone if he finds one you should be okay. If you can keep him away from tall grass and other places where he might not be able to see one before it strikes that would be good as well.

Deaths are rare as a result of a bite when treated, with the young, old and sick at the most risk. And you didn't meantion, how many is a "large amount"?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/7...c95dbdc3_c.jpg

They are not all bad tempered. . . as said above, they generally flee and rarely stand and fight. Temperature plays a big part of that. The colder a snake is, the more likely it is to stand and defend itself which is usually just the typical display . . .

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4033/4...6802de7f_z.jpg

Just make sure you let people know how to tell who's who, and appreciated from a safe distance as you seem to be. These guys are invaluable to our ecosystem!

Cheers

It's already been pretty much covered. but I will add that although in my experience the "agressive" attitude often associated with cotton mouths is over exaggerated, that all agkistrodon's I have ever worked with are among the most unpredictable snakes I have any experience with. And to say that free handling one is a very bad idea! is putting it very mildly. Generally if you just continue to keep your property well groomed and free of clutter and make sure everyone exercises caution when in the yard you shouldn't have any problems.

Is it just me, or is that photo with a person handling a moccasin look to be a very poorly done photo shop job? The snake looks fake; there are no shadows; the lines between the snake and the handler, snake and surrounding vegetation, and the handler and vegetation are way too sharp. I showed the pic to my wife, who is very proficient with photo shop, and she agrees - the pic is fake.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bowshooter52ga

Is it just me, or is that photo with a person handling a moccasin look to be a very poorly done photo shop job? The snake looks fake; there are no shadows; the lines between the snake and the handler, snake and surrounding vegetation, and the handler and vegetation are way too sharp. I showed the pic to my wife, who is very proficient with photo shop, and she agrees - the pic is fake.

---

It is just you.
Look at all the other shadows, they all follow the same plane of light and also maintain sharp edges.
Also, after taking enough photos myself and working with light you find that you can get sharp shadows, soft shadows and even coloured shadows depending on your light sources.

If you want a poorly done PhotoShop of a snake look up the "700LB Anaconda from Iraq" as if the title wasn't enough of a tip-off that it is a fake.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bowshooter52ga

Is it just me, or is that photo with a person handling a moccasin look to be a very poorly done photo shop job? The snake looks fake; there are no shadows; the lines between the snake and the handler, snake and surrounding vegetation, and the handler and vegetation are way too sharp. I showed the pic to my wife, who is very proficient with photo shop, and she agrees - the pic is fake.

---

X2 It's definitely you guys. This photo is obviously real, all the shadows line up if you pay any attention, really... And I'd trust all information or photographs coming from reptile experts any day of the week.

Zoom in. The shadows are there. Cool to know about these animals.

This may be a silly question, but since I don't know your personal experience with snakes, I have to ask, are you sure it was a water moccasin? I know in my area, one is much more likely to see a watersnake than a cottonmouth, yet people kill them all the time and claim it was a cottonmouth.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bowshooter52ga

Is it just me, or is that photo with a person handling a moccasin look to be a very poorly done photo shop job? The snake looks fake; there are no shadows; the lines between the snake and the handler, snake and surrounding vegetation, and the handler and vegetation are way too sharp. I showed the pic to my wife, who is very proficient with photo shop, and she agrees - the pic is fake.

---

What motivation do you feel he would have to do that? It's called high definition. It's what the kids are doing these days with the cellular telephones and the personal computers and stuff and their new age internet-film tape.

Actually it's called high quality camera took this picture. . . Why photoshop a free handling shot?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptileexperts

Actually it's called high quality camera took this picture. . . Why photoshop a free handling shot?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

I think the better question would be why take a free handling shot? Or even more important, why free handle any hot?

More body support than hooks, and no stress on the tail even when you are grabbing tha back half properyl. More humane than tongs IMO . . . as long as safety was cautioned, it was ok. Not to advocate free handling hots in the LEAST.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptileexperts

More body support than hooks, and no stress on the tail even when you are grabbing tha back half properyl. More humane than tongs IMO . . . as long as safety was cautioned, it was ok. Not to advocate free handling hots in the LEAST.

---

Get a wide hook made if you're that concerned about support. Using two hooks is more than sufficient.

Showing pictures of you free handling I just irresponsible, how many impressionable youngsters are on this website?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crotalids

Get a wide hook made if you're that concerned about support. Using two hooks is more than sufficient.

Showing pictures of you free handling I just irresponsible, how many impressionable youngsters are on this website?

---

Heh as to the point to post it here is was clearly a statement to their attitude. Yes there are kids on here who are impressionable. No doubt. While they should not copy what I've done they should be nle to see that these snakes are not out to get you just because they are venomous.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptileexperts

More body support than hooks, and no stress on the tail even when you are grabbing tha back half properyl. More humane than tongs IMO . . . as long as safety was cautioned, it was ok. Not to advocate free handling hots in the LEAST.

---

I'm sorry. And I'm not trying to pick a fight. But it is important that people who are not expierienced with hots (and unfortunately some people that are) understand that people must respect and take every available precaution when working with venomous reptiles. You in no way observed safety protocols by using your hands to pick up a venomous snake regardless of how calm and not inclined to bite you believe this specimen was. And regardless if you intended to or not, by posting a picture of you free handling a hot you have advocated the free handling of hots. Remember even ball pythons bite sometimes.

Lol again the purpose is to show they are not aggressive monsters they are made out to be. I have been working with hots for about 13 years now. Experience does matter. . .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptileexperts

Lol again the purpose is to show they are not aggressive monsters they are made out to be. I have been working with hots for about 13 years now. Experience does matter. . .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

I understand what your trying to show. And I agree people need to understand that just because and animal is venomous does not make it a more aggressive animal. But free handling a hot is not a great way to make that point. The fact that you've been working with hots for 13 years just tells me that you should have the expiernce to know better. I've been keeping hots for 17 years. I've (knock on wood) never had a bite. And big part of that is I always observe proper safety protocols and don't take risks like putting myself within the strike range of venomous animals simply because I believe I have the experience to know that animal isn't going to bite me. I have however seen a very competent keeper with over 20 Years of expiernce take a bite in the face from a large puff adder because he was trying to show someone how docile and trustworthy that animal was. I hope you don't have to learn the hard way that free handling hot's for any reason is a bad idea. And I really hope that your actions don't inspire any less expiernced keepers to make the same bad choices that your photo displayed.

Mine was a personal choice. Bad is your opinion not the fact of the matter. While It may look bad to some it's eye opening to many many many others because it crosses that line in their minds. These are the intended audiences for images of free handling wild hots. And while this was the last time I free handled I actually do things much Much differently now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

At some point I do plan to move to a state where we can keep hots. I thanked Cody's original post because it shows that these animals aren't bloodthirsty killers looking for any excuse to tag you. While I may be a bit more mature about researching then some of the impressionable folks you (Jason) are talking about, this in no way made me think that I would free handle these animals. I understand that it could give some folks the wrong idea but Cody did already say that he in no way advocates people handle hots this way.

I feel the same way when I see folks on youtube handling their large constrictors 12+FT alone. On the one hand I don't like that type of video to be widely available to folks who don't do the research. On the other I like them because they show that these animals aren't looking to make you a meal just because they can attempt to.

Can't really add much more to what Jason has said, he speaks sense.

An easy way to show they aren't out to bite you, is by placing it on the floor and walk 2 meters away and see what the snake does. Simple, no ridiculous free handling heroics.

This is a reptile forum, anyone with half a brain cell understands that reptiles (and animals) in general aren't aggressive by nature. But they're defensive when they feel threatened, differs between species and individuals.

It's like all these shows that have disclaimers saying 'don't try this at home'. Kids will try it, because they've seen it been done by someone else and think its safe for them to do the same thing. The same applies here, free handlers can say 'don't try this' all they want, but the damage is already done once they post pictures - irresponsible behaviour.

Just a while ago on Instagram, a teenager was tagged by a cottonmouth after engaging in free handling. Which I have no doubt, he would've picked up from pictures like you have demonstrated.

I know I'm a little late to the party, but I found Cody's demonstration very educational of the fact that they are not out to chase us down and gobble us up. Do you really know Cody and his experience? Or the numerous trips he has taken to educate us all on snakes of the world and other species? He is one of my main go to guys if I ever have a question...especially when it comes to my retic and he is always more than happy and unselfish to take his valuable time to help myself and others learn...the way they did for him. I only hope to have half the knowledge he does as it pertains to these beautiful animals.

I have no problem with him posting a picture of him free handling a venomous. I have two pre-teen boys. Kids will always be kids and their lack of fear and true understanding will always feed them into doing stupid things regardless of pictures or what they see on the Internet. When I as growing up we didn't have the Internet, cell phones, XBox, or computers...and we still made poor decisions; we were kids...that is was kids do. WE are here to TEACH THEM. And if they live in an area that has venomous, more than likely they have been taught NOT to go near them. If they choose to tempt fate knowing a venomous could end their life, it has nothing to do with what they see on the Internet. That's like saying kids are going to be more violent playing violent video games. Hundreds of millions of kids play violent video games and are growing up to be normal, productive members of society. Yet one or two people go on a shooting rampage and he just happened to be a fan of some specific violent video game and now everyone who plays that game is demonized. I call BS!

My point is this. Education leads to understanding. We have done so much to educate our family, friends, co-workers, and strangers about how each species interacts with and are vital to our ecosystem; debunking myth after myth with real information. We need to continue to do so, venomous or constrictor. Colubrid, boa, or python. With each and every chance we get, we can demystify the irrational fears no matter what family or genus they come from. Without education, we can kiss the all goodbye.

Off my soap box now. Thanks Cody!

Sorry for the delay on this - but thanks Willie! It's good to hear those kind thoughts.

Free handling is not something that should be done. In fact in the last 2 weeks I've been traveling in San Diego working with sidewinders and free handling never happened... In fact I handled them with tongs or hooks ... And only when I had to manipulate or move them. No boastful showmanship, or stunts.

However, I do and will stand by the power of free handling when done proper. But it does come at a huge risk!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/27/a3uvagyn.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk