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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?
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Showing posts 1 - 25 of 45, (reverse)
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05/28/2008 12:23:57 AM · #1
Fortunately I don't suffer from the same phobias as Indiana Jones. While hiking along the C&O Canal in Potomac, MD, I came across a fairly sizable black racer that was making its way back to the water. Not able to let an opportunity go to waste, I got down to eye level and snapped a few shots. Well, actually, close to 100, but I've narrowed it down to a few keepers. As you can tell from the forth shot, it was starting to get a bit annoyed with my blocking its path. Rather then temp fate, I let it scurry off.



The departure...
05/28/2008 12:25:56 AM · #2
in my case i would
step back
telephoto lense
click click
run away!

Great pictures! I love the fourth one
05/28/2008 12:29:24 AM · #3
I will fess up that these were taken at 250mm, yet still within 4 to 5 feet away.

The fourth one is also my favorite. I would have prefered it if he wasn't perched up on a dry leaf. However, I sure as hell wasn't going to reach in there and remove it.
05/28/2008 12:29:30 AM · #4
Great shots! Thanks for sharing.
05/28/2008 12:32:43 AM · #5
Originally posted by Trinch:

I will fess up that these were taken at 250mm, yet still within 4 to 5 feet away.

The fourth one is also my favorite. I would have prefered it if he wasn't perched up on a dry leaf. However, I sure as hell wasn't going to reach in there and remove it.


That's what you get when you work with an untrained snake! You could try coloring the leaf to match the grass or even clone it out. We won't tell.
05/28/2008 12:34:29 AM · #6
levyj413, in response to your comments, the snake was hanging out near the restrooms by the tavern. Don't know how far they roam, but that may be a start. Also, for your Girl Scout trip, just past the side trail to the overlook, there is another trail that heads down to a small beach. From there, I was able to see many herons. Including this ambitious eater...

[thumb]682215[/thumb]
05/28/2008 12:38:26 AM · #7
Originally posted by MaryO:

You could try coloring the leaf to match the grass or even clone it out. We won't tell.


I thought about it, but it wasn't worth the trouble. I'm not planning on submitting this. It's just for my personal portfolio (and for posting/gloating on DPC Forums).

Besides, that shot pales in comparison to what I have for the free study. ;)

(And no, it's not a snake)
05/28/2008 12:41:18 AM · #8
I take it these Black Racers are poisonous. Nice shots.
05/28/2008 12:46:01 AM · #9
Originally posted by Jac:

I take it these Black Racers are poisonous. Nice shots.


I may be adventurous, but I am not crazy. They are not venomous. Worse case scenario, band aid.
05/28/2008 12:50:07 AM · #10
Originally posted by Trinch:

levyj413, in response to your comments, the snake was hanging out near the restrooms by the tavern. Don't know how far they roam, but that may be a start. Also, for your Girl Scout trip, just past the side trail to the overlook, there is another trail that heads down to a small beach. From there, I was able to see many herons. Including this ambitious eater...

[thumb]682215[/thumb]


Thanks! I love that heron shot.
05/28/2008 01:08:44 AM · #11
This might be a wives tale but in my experence a snake is non-venomous if it has round pupils and poisonous if it has slit like pupils.

THE ABOVE IS INCORRECT, BE AFRAID, BE VERY oooh shiny thing!...

Originally posted by Trinch:

Originally posted by Jac:

I take it these Black Racers are poisonous. Nice shots.


I may be adventurous, but I am not crazy. They are not venomous. Worse case scenario, band aid.


Message edited by author 2008-05-28 01:19:34.
05/28/2008 01:12:48 AM · #12
Originally posted by togtog:

This might be a wives tale but in my experience a snake is non-venomous if it has round pupils and poisonous if it has slit like pupils.


I don't know if that is true or not... however, by the time you check the pupils, it may be too late. ;)

ETA: Coral snakes have round pupils and are quite venomous.

ET also A: Pardon my peeve, but there are no poisonous snakes. In fact, some are quite tasty. Snakes are venomous. Difference being that poisons are ingested and venoms are injected.

Message edited by author 2008-05-28 01:18:13.
05/28/2008 01:17:07 AM · #13
Originally posted by Trinch:

Originally posted by togtog:

This might be a wives tale but in my experience a snake is non-venomous if it has round pupils and poisonous if it has slit like pupils.


I don't know if that is true or not... however, by the time you check the pupils, it may be too late. ;)


regardless I picked up what looked to be a garden snake once and thought i was being cool.... until it literally tried to bite off my finger... ended up with a thumbnail that was completely split in two. and I still have a scar from where it bit flesh.
05/28/2008 01:18:45 AM · #14
Thanks Trinch!
05/28/2008 01:22:50 AM · #15
Racers are not venomous. The only venomous species found on the east coast are cottonmouths, coral snakes (florida) copperheads and possibly an occasional rattlesnake.
The most obvious way to tell a venomous snake is a triangle shaped head in most species.

Those are some fantastic photos BTW. Racers may not be venomous but they are known for having a really bad attitude problem! That one looks like a fairly good size specimen too!
05/28/2008 07:50:26 AM · #16
Originally posted by Trinch:

Originally posted by togtog:

This might be a wives tale but in my experience a snake is non-venomous if it has round pupils and poisonous if it has slit like pupils.


I don't know if that is true or not... however, by the time you check the pupils, it may be too late. ;)

ETA: Coral snakes have round pupils and are quite venomous.

ET also A: Pardon my peeve, but there are no poisonous snakes. In fact, some are quite tasty. Snakes are venomous. Difference being that poisons are ingested and venoms are injected.


Next you're going to tell us they taste like chicken. There aren't snake farms raising them for food, are there? Gawd, what a concept!

BTW, my Boy Scout spouse says that you can tell a, uh, venomous snake from a non-venomous snake by picking it up. If it pees, it's not venomous. I pointed out that by the time you figured out it wasn't a submissive urinator you'd be in serious trouble. So now I apparently need to pick it up AND gaze into its eyes ... I might win a Darwin award for that ;-)))
05/28/2008 07:59:08 AM · #17
Yesterday I saw a crow pecking at a dead snake on the footpath (or sidewalk, if you prefer. I reversed the car to get a closer look, but no photos)). Today I had to stop my car to let a live snake move put of the way.
05/28/2008 08:55:29 AM · #18
Nice job reacting and getting the photo. :-) I like the 4th one also, although I think it may be raising up in reaction to it's reflection on the lens.

Kind of like this ==> .

We have all kinds of snakes around our property. Usually we like black racers as they take care of mice. Last encounter in which I grabbed a couple of photos, the snake had climbed up the rain gutter and snatched some eggs from a wren's (I think..., it may have been a house sparrow) nest, then it went to the roof.



Other snakes encountered have been copperheads, ringneck, and even a timber rattler. The most exciting visitor was this Eastern Hognose snake. It really put on a show (flattening it's head like a viper, raising up like a cobra, etc...).



In the end, if you leave the snake alone, it will find it's way along and usually leave the area.
05/28/2008 09:00:13 AM · #19
if you get salmonella poisoning from a non-venomous snake bite,wouldnt that be "poisonous" since it wasnt injected ? lol,i only say that as alot of reptiles carry salmonella,just a reminder to all those wannabe Steve Irwins out there...
05/28/2008 09:06:43 AM · #20
Originally posted by jonnienye:

if you get salmonella poisoning from a non-venomous snake bite,wouldnt that be "poisonous" since it wasnt injected ? lol,i only say that as alot of reptiles carry salmonella,just a reminder to all those wannabe Steve Irwins out there...

Very good point. I know when reading up on various lizards, there were pretty strong warnings about NOT having them in households with young children (under 6 I think it was).
05/28/2008 09:09:57 AM · #21
Originally posted by ArpeggioAngel:

Racers are not venomous. The only venomous species found on the east coast are cottonmouths, coral snakes (florida) copperheads and possibly an occasional rattlesnake.
The most obvious way to tell a venomous snake is a triangle shaped head in most species.

Those are some fantastic photos BTW. Racers may not be venomous but they are known for having a really bad attitude problem! That one looks like a fairly good size specimen too!


Just as a fair warning to other photogs/hikers, I live in upstate SC, and here (and in the rest of SC), we have an abundance of rattlers - Eastern Diamondbacks, Timber Rattlers, and Pygmy Rattlers (of several color variations).

Copperheads are also quite populous, and I've seen a few cottonmouths in my time as well. We do have Coral snakes in SC, though they are typically found more toward the coast where it is warmer.

Sara
05/28/2008 09:18:22 AM · #22
Originally posted by MaryO:

Originally posted by Trinch:

Pardon my peeve, but there are no poisonous snakes. In fact, some are quite tasty. Snakes are venomous. Difference being that poisons are ingested and venoms are injected.


Next you're going to tell us they taste like chicken. There aren't snake farms raising them for food, are there? Gawd, what a concept!


I don't believe they are farm raised, but yes, they are edible. I have had rattlesnake when visiting Colorado and it was rather good. Didn't taste anything like chicken. I don't know what other species are commonly eaten, but I would imagine there is a wide selection available across the many cultures populating this earth.

Sample Recipes
05/28/2008 10:55:20 AM · #23
My Dad found a HUGE blacksnake in his driveway. Whipped out the tape measure (as it was just hanging out) and measured ~6 ft!!!! Needless to say, we had no rats, mice, chipmunks, OR venomous snakes around while it was alive.

My idiot Aunt ran it over with her car (about 20x) and then called and said, "I KILLED A RATTLESNAKE ON THE ROAD BY YOUR HOUSE!!!" Duh.

We were depressed. :(

Now we have to watch much more carefully for copperheads and cottonmouths :(

ETA: Congrats on the shots!! They look great!

Message edited by author 2008-05-28 10:56:08.
05/28/2008 11:33:38 AM · #24
Originally posted by jonnienye:

if you get salmonella poisoning from a non-venomous snake bite,wouldnt that be "poisonous" since it wasnt injected ? lol,i only say that as alot of reptiles carry salmonella,just a reminder to all those wannabe Steve Irwins out there...

While a genuine threat to those handling reptiles, infection by Salmonella sp. is not the same as being "poisoned."

Message edited by author 2008-05-28 11:34:00.
05/28/2008 11:48:36 AM · #25
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by jonnienye:

if you get salmonella poisoning from a non-venomous snake bite,wouldnt that be "poisonous" since it wasnt injected ? lol,i only say that as alot of reptiles carry salmonella,just a reminder to all those wannabe Steve Irwins out there...

While a genuine threat to those handling reptiles, infection by Salmonella sp. is not the same as being "poisoned."
good point,but if given the infection by way of an attack? seems more like a poisoning to me,lol
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