Outdoors time can often lead to snake encounters

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IS THAT THING POISONOUS? Dean Clark of Milledgeville with a 54 inch timber rattler he killed in the edge of his yard last week. Contributed photo

July 21, 2010

By Bobby Peoples Lake Oconee Breeze Lake Oconee Breeze Wed Jul 21, 2010, 08:00 AM EDT

LAKE OCONEE — Most people will probably never come into contact with a snake during their lifetime except maybe at a snake exhibit.

However, if you spend much time outside and especially in wooded areas you will increase your chances of coming in contact with a snake.

Even then, your chances of seeing a venomous snake versus the non-venomous variety are not very good.

You are much more likely to be bitten by a wasp or bee and have a serious reaction to those bites than to be bitten by any type of snake.

Snakes pose very little threat to humans but nothing seems to frighten us more than coming into contact with a snake.

Somewhere close to eight thousand people are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United Sates but fewer than ten people will die from being bitten.

Most snakebite victims were actually handling the snakes when bitten. If you happen to come into contact with a venomous snake, the best thing to do is just move away from the snake and you will reduce your chances of being bitten.

Most people immediately want to kill any snake that they encounter and this is an extremely bad way to feel about snakes.

The vast majority of snakes are not poisonous, pose no danger to humans and have a purpose in nature.

Snakes need to be left alone and certainly not killed when at all possible. Some types of snakes have seen their numbers greatly reduced to the point of near extinction due to man’s obsession with killing them.

My wife Wanda is one of those who agree with the theory that the only good snake is a dead one. I do not have to worry about her killing one because she quickly puts as much space as possible between her and any snake she encounters.

Our son Dean Clark had an encounter with a venomous snake recently in a wooded area next to his yard. His small dog had run into the woods and he had to go get the dog. While in pursuit of the dog, he reached down and broke a small twig off a bush and ran the dog back into the yard.

Five minutes later the dog again ran into the woods. As Dean once again entered the wooded area, he noticed a timber rattler coiled up not six inches from where he had placed his hand to break off the twig.

Why the snake did not strike I do not know but normally a snake is not interested in striking something as large as a human unless he is cornered or provoked. The only real choice Dean had was to kill the timber rattler since it was so close to his house and family pets.

One activity that greatly increases the likelihood of encountering a snake is hunting but any activity that takes you repeatedly into wooded areas will increase the chances of an encounter with a snake.

Even then any encounter will likely be with a non-venomous snake.

The single most important precaution when in the woods is to watch where you put feet and hands. Snakes generally hide behind or under rocks, logs and tree limbs, so be careful when stepping over these objects.

Snakes have excellent camouflage and can often blend into their surroundings and even the best eyes may not spot them.

Outdoor Columnist Bobby Peoples can be contacted via e-mail at brpeoples@windstream.net.

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