Tag Archives: snakes

Burmese Python Invasion

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python

Burmese python in the Florida everglades http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast/6888340967/

Chances are, you’ve heard mention of the growing problem of Burmese pythons in Florida.  This massive, exotic species kind of makes the snake problems the rest of us face pale in comparison.  Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia but have become a problem in Florida as a result of individuals owning them as pets.  When these snakes either escape or are released by their owners, they make their way into the wild where they reproduce and wreak havoc on the local wildlife. There are now estimates that tens of thousands of these invasive reptiles exist in southern Florida.  As a result, there have been significant reductions in populations of raccoons, deer, certain species of birds and even some crocodiles in this area.  Continue reading →

Is There Such a Thing as a Good Snake?

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non-venomous snakes

Eastern garter snake-a non-venomous snake found in the eastern United States http://www.flickr.com/photos/7147684@N03/1054559796/

To save you from the guesswork, the resounding answer is yes! Snakes get a very bad reputation as creepy, slimy, lethal predators.  Whether this comes from ancient references to them as evil and satanic, their unusual means of transportation or the fact that the worst of them are incredibly dangerous, remains unclear.  The phrase “the only good snake is a dead snake,” is quite common in popular culture, but that’s actually not the kind of good snake we’re referring to.  Even though most people associate all snakes with deadly, flesh eating bites, the number of non-venomous snakes in the US far outweighs the venomous ones.  There are approximately 12 snake-bite related deaths in the United States every year and many of these occur as a result of humans handling or owning venomous snakes.  Wanting to avoid close encounters with snakes is understandable, but we have a few enticing reasons why you should generally leave snakes alone.  Continue reading →

Copperhead Caution

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copperhead snake

copperhead snake http://www.flickr.com/photos/ga-kayaker/7236330594/

As I was walking along a neighborhood sidewalk today, I stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed something slithering along a few yards ahead of me. Having some knowledge of snakes in the area, I immediately recognized it as a copperhead and knew to stay back until it was out of sight.  Because this snake is so common and responsible for a large number of snake bites in the US every year, it’s important to be aware of them and know how to recognize and avoid these critters. Continue reading →