I am both fascinated by #snakes and, if I’m honest, a little scared of them too. Perhaps more than a little.
I know this 4’ central rat snake is non-venomous, and many people would just snatch it up and relocate it. I could not do it! My courage repeatedly faltered at the critical moment.
I eventually discouraged it from climbing up the house. I might have even shrieked when it turned & let go of the brick wall, plummeting 5 feet to the ground.
@mlawton Lots of people are (very cautiously) afraid of snakes. Young wild animals show this fear from the time they can see things. Nothing to be ashamed of. I am not keen - although like your daughter ours is very happy around them (she had a Corn Snake for 10 years) but I think that is a learnt experience…
I’d like to take a moment to share a CT scan of my favorite specimen in the entire UMMZ - - a 100 year old mama Massasauga rattlesnake with 12 little pups perfectly coiled inside. I love her. 🐍💜. #umicheeb#ssar2024#ctscan#snakes
In his ECR Spotlight, Jarrod Petersen tells us about his research, which showed that ingesting a large meal does not affect how #boaconstrictors move, and that you can always learn something, even from failed experiments
Japan's bullet trains are known for their speed, safety and punctuality, but the "shinkansen" service saw a delay this week thanks to an unwelcome animal passenger.
A commuter traveling on a train between Nagoya and Tokyo spotted a 40-centimeter snake on board.
While dogs, cats and even small animals like pigeons are allowed to accompany passengers, snakes aren't, and it is not clear how the serpent found itself on the train. #snakes#Japan#trains
Baby garter snake sunning itself on the paved portion of #ClearCreekTrai.
Got lots of gardening to do this week between searching for more spring wildflowers. So will likely be on Mastodon sporadically.
If you're able and weather permitting, may I suggest you take some time to get outside or even sit next to an open window for a bit. Best mood elevator ever👍
(04/08/24)
Here’s one of the calico snakes (Oxyrhopus formosus) from the rain forest of NE Peru. This species almost seems to self-illuminate :) #herps#snakes#nature#naturephotography
Deadly Snake Venom Is No Match for This New Synthetic Antibody.
Scientists have created a treatment that targets a toxin produced by cobras, mambas and kraits, laying the foundation for a future universal antivenom against snake bites, according to new research
Some background. Yrs ago, we were given a snake b/c my brother-in-law’s wife didn’t want the snake around. I was thinking, great, I’m not sure I want a snake either. I quickly learned they are solitary, clean, & very low maintenance creatures & I grew to love these qualities. Several yrs later we ended up giving the snake away when we moved to a new city. We had a new baby & we just weren’t handling the snake that much. Skip ahead, 2 kids later & they were fascinated by the snake story. My husband built an aquarium, then we purchased a baby snake (same breed as before). Lars is 8 yrs old now & is still the quiet little creature he’s always been. It’s easy to see a snake & be frightened (I don’t recommend messing with snakes you aren’t familiar w/), but sometimes things you are afraid of aren’t so scary when you give them a chance & take the time to learn. #snakes#fediverse#photography
I'm grateful for some amazing opportunities this year, including a return to Thailand. Here's a Green Cat Snake (Boiga cyanea), observed in Phuket. #herps#snakes#nature#naturephotography
@MsMerope LOL seems like a movie scene, plus they bulldozed the scene. I'd suspect either arson (someone didn't like the store?), something highly flammable involved, or somebody accidentally summoned an evil spirit which caused the place to burst into flames 😂
Close-up of a Neotropical Snail-eater (Dipsas indicus) from Peru earlier this year. These serpents are viper mimics, flattening their heads into a triangular shape when threatened. Hiking at night, I most often see them in bushes and small trees, but I've also seen a few larger adults on the ground. #herps#snakes#naturephotography#nature
A portrait of a Pope's Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum) observed in southern Thailand. A little flat b/c it's starting a shed cycle but the eyes look nice. If you like piercing ruby orbits on a dangling pit viper that is. #snakes#nature#herps
Can any non-Australian know the terror of accidentally running over a deadly venomous snake and knowing it’s going to slither through the engine block and out the air vents into the front seats?
Or is that just something my mother told me to terrify me for the next thirty years?
Our Tiger Snake is still here and our neighbours Copperhead is always around. Our local snake guy is flat out keeping up with removals this spring and he reminded me that removing one snake will often leave an opportunity for another snake to arrive.
So we might have to be friends with Jake The Snake. He's quite friendly. We just have to be careful where we tread...
I normally call this a black rat snake, but after trying to look it up I ended up more confused... Any help with the ID? I'm in Northeast Ohio. I encountered it in a creek but it soon began climbing up the ravine back into the woods. It was very sweet though, even gently inching closer as I crouched down.
