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.
Mmm, snake meat. As a protein source it's even more efficient than harvesting crickets!
I suppose MAYBE ... conceivably ... a factory farm swarming with hundreds of thousands of pythons could pose some risk to the neighborhood. But: say bye-bye to your rat problem.
Credit to @clive 's latest Linkfest. I always learn something.
Massive invasive snakes are on the loose and spreading in Puerto Rico.
Vox reports: "Runaway pets — and possibly some zoo escapees — have fueled the spread of invasive snakes across the island. It’s an environmental catastrophe in the making."
More than five million people are bitten by snakes every year, resulting in thousands of deaths and permanent disabilities. Those chilling statistics didn’t stop one PhD student, João Miguel Alves-Nunes, from stepping on deadly and dangerous vipers more than 40,000 times. Alven-Nunes tells Science about putting himself in danger for a scientific experiment, what happened when one snake’s fangs broke through his protective boot, and why even that harrowing experience won’t diminish his love for "working with these animals." https://flip.it/zRaVCF#Science#Animals#Snakes#Health
It's definitely snake season in Ventura County, just heard one on the scanner (and ran across one the other day in the back... striped racer. Nicknamed "Mr. Snakee" back in the day by the kids, or one of its parents.). (Edit: make that TWO calls for snakes in the last 5 min) #snakes#VenturaCounty
I had a close encounter with what I believe to be a rattlesnake yesterday and I'm still a little freaked out every time I think about it. I was getting some macro shots of a candy barrel cactus and when I turned around it was right there, maybe 3ft from me. I have no clue if it snuck up on me (probably unlikely???) or if it was there the whole time. #reptiles#snakes#herps
First backyard snake of the season! (Striped Racer - no photo, there's a reason they call them "racers" -- need a SLR with a fast lens and zoom). #snakes#ConejoValley
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)
Australian hospital staff plead with bite victims to stop bringing snakes to emergency departments (www.rnz.co.nz)
Snake bite victims are endangering medical staff by bringing the reptiles with them to hospital, doctors say....