Can we even talk snakes here?!

[crtreedude]

I can see it now, you will come down and visit your dad, and then YOU won't be leaving, either....  ;)

[Teri]

I don't think so!

[etat]

Teri, last time I BEGGED Fla. to load everybody up and come and stay here for awhile.  You hear of another big storm coming don't pay him any attention and just load up and head this way.  We got plenty of room, live on high ground, and got a extra strong built house.,  and you'd be more than welcome.

[Teri]

Thanks CK. I just might take ya up on that offer. The storms wasn't  bad it was the loss of power and the heat.

[crtreedude]

Okay all, just got back from Finca Leola Monte Cristo - the new place and had a really interesting chat with a neighbor and our peon (don't get riled up, this is what they call themselves, just means a living on the place worker)

Anyway, I asked them about the boa that you saw at the beginning of this thread. The said, yes, it is a small one - they told me we have a larger one on the finca.  My heart nearly stopped when they told me how big - you see, to me, a 8 foot long snake is big. Nope, for a Boa, it is small.

They said there is a boa on the property more than 6 meters long! (about 20 feet long) About 18 inches thick, or more.  They know it is there because they saw it eating something once - and my jaw dropped when they said what it was.

Now first, before I tell you, let me explain that these critters it was eating are smaller down here, but they aren't THAT small - it was eating a deer! 

I can't wait to get a picture.... Jeff will have fits. ;D

[VA-Sawyer]

Crtreedude,
I wouldn't worry too much about Jeff when you post the picture of that big Boa. I figure he will already be dead of a heart attack after getting TR's gift.  That picture of his really gave me the hebee jebees.
VA-Sawyer

[etat]

All's I can say is I'm glad we ain't got no 20 foot snakes around here.  Cause if my dad told me he had a snake that big in his chicken house or barn, I'd BURN the dang thing clear down to the ground!!

[Texas Ranger]

guys, if Jeff is that serious about snakes, opening a box with the hide of a six foot rattler aint gonna help his dispostion.

[crtreedude]

I don't think I could afford to ship a twenty foot boa...

[Minnesota_boy]

I don't think I could afford to ship a twenty foot boa...

How about if you shipped it in 5 foot chunks?    :D

[Faron]

My 16 year old nephew works with us some, and like lots of kids that age, isn't always as aware of his surroundings as he should be.  The other day I saw a big black snake (chicken snake) crossing the drive where I was working.  I sent Ken up the drive to get a tractor I didn't need. He walked right past and didn't even see the big feller.  When he got about 30' past him, I called out and told Ken maybe we needed the pickup instead, bringing him past the snake again.  When he got about 3 feet from the snake I called out "Stop!"  He did, with a puzzled look on his face.  "Now look around you!"  He looked around, finally saw the snake at his feet, and did the cutest little two-step dance! 8) :D :D :D  Ken mentioned something about an evil old man.  I informed him I was not old. ;)

[Jeff]

O.K., my monthly snake thread check and now I know who to watch and who to add to my list. >:(

;)

[crtreedude]

Shoot Jeff,

I was thinking of changing my avatar to a closeup of the boa's head.  :D

Thank way I figured you won't look to closely at my postings....

[ARKANSAWYER]

 
CK  Did the demon from the barn look like this little 63 inch chicken snake?  Went to the barn last night to put the birds up and they were all in the yard.  Past dark so I knew something was up.  Went in and checked around but saw nothing.  Went out to drive the birds in and none would go but the rooster.  I go in with him and he is flying above the roost and then to the floor.  Making alot of dust.  On the third trip up I see this little darling hanging from the rafters about a foot above my head.   I knocked it down with a sticker and the rooster gives it a good spurring.  Got to love them Rhode Island Reds.

  Teri you can always come back to the hills when the stroms blow in.  It was Hugo who ran me out of SC and back to these hills.

[Texas Ranger]

Arky, I reckon that is what we called a black snake up in Missouri.  May have told this story before, but, my uncle and aunt raised chickens for a spell, then got out of the business, but the old houses were left.  Long, low and narrow, they became a home for rats and mice.  I was visiting one day, and my uncle invited me into the barn for one reason or the other.  we stopped.  He said look up.  I did, and there was a black snake that was stretched out for a good 6 feet or better, on a rafter.  We had a talk where I described my uncles lack of breeding.  And then left the barn.  Seems like he left them there undisturbed to keep the houses relatively free of vermin.  There was a pair, and they reared younguns.  You would have thought by my aunt and uncles raves that the younguns was human.

[crtreedude]

When my parents used to take us to Missouri to visit relatives for vacation, I would sometimes catch snakes. Bull snakes and blacks snakes were pretty common. I actually put them in my suitcase to take home.

Mom never would open my suitcases when I returned from a trip.  :D

[ARKANSAWYER]

  Many, many springs ago one Saturday morning my Pa told me to mow the yard as he had to go to the job till lunch and then we would go fishing.  About the time I got done mowing I pushed the mower under a bush to get some grass and there was a pile of worms wiggling around in there so I picked them up and put them in the pocket of my jeans.  Pa did not come home till pert near supper time and we did not go fishing.  I had to bath since church was in the morning so I stripped down and got into the tub.  Ma came in to fetch my clothes and started screaming.  Pa could not understand what the deal was till he saw my jeans a laying in the floor.  These baby copper head snakes were crawing out of my pockets.    To this day I can not understand how them night crawler worms turned into copper heads.  ???  Just one of them mysteries of life I reckon.

[tnlogger]

 :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
I wont say a word nope not me no way no how  ;D

[Texas Ranger]

Why  pilots let the co-pilot do the pre-flight inspection.

[crtreedude]

And why I have chopperos go ahead of me in the fields....

[Murf]

Sounds like some of you folks need a snake catchin' pooch.  ;D

My faithfull sidekick, who many have heard of, Deputy Dog comes from a long line of them, seriously.

The bloodline he comes out of in the UK, is also the place that provides dogs to the USDA who have been having an on-going battle to keep Guam snake free. So far they are winning the battle thanks to some very devoted helpers, a whole mess of JRT's (Jack Russel Terriers).

The program has in fact been so succesful that they are now using dogs, Beagles in this case, to track down Burmese Pythons in the everglades of Florida that people have released when they became to big to keep as pets. Beagles are one of the original 4 dogs cross bred to create a JRT.

Have a look.  http://www.ngnews.com/news/2005/02/0203_050203_everglades.html

I'll pack up Deputy Dog and his little sister and head striaght down there.  :D

[crtreedude]

Sounds like a plan!

We have a dog on the finca but recently he nearly got himself killed. We have a 3 month old filly and the mutt decided it would be fun to chase her.

Daddy ( my horse Toro) didn't think it was funny at all. Every see an angry stallion? 

I think the dog is still hiding...

Toro really isn't a stallion anymore - but he was 7+ years old when the change happened, so he really didn't change much - except he doesn't chase the mares now.

[Larry]

I'm in the shed this morning sticking walnut through the planer when Max, our doberman comes in on three legs.  Take a look at the bad leg and don't see nothing wrong with it...he has had tendon problems with the leg in the past.  Let Max in the house and he heads for a dark corner to lay down.  Back to the planer dressed in my normal summer attire of shorts and sandals (steel toed of course).  Tripped over something and looked down to find this uninvited visitor.  42" long with 10 rattles.  Think most of ya can figure out the species.




Back to the house to check on Max...the swelling and pain has started.  Yep...snake bit.  By the time I get Max into the vet the leg is three times the normal size.  Vet puts him on steroids and rubs the leg down with DMSO....first time I've heard of that.  Anyhow Max gets to spend the night at the vets place.

Hope this is my last snake story for a good long time.

[crtreedude]

You always have to watchout for uninvited quest in the woodpile. This weekend this feller showed up. My wife Amy can look at snakes, no problem, but not these things.

[sprucebunny]

So I shot it.
I took a picture but I was so anxious to get it off my computer that I threw out the optimized and original files before I could put it in this post and I'm not going to go get another pic ...... YICK

Oh...... did you know that I really, really don't like snakes ???

I don't care if it was harmless or eats mice. It's definately harmless now.It was in my "garden" and coming towards me

Hopefully a coyote will eat it tonight. Or maybe a racoon....I don't care . I really hope it's gone when I get back from Michigan .

Do they make snake repellant I could spray out there ???