There is a place for wildlife killers

Tango · #41 08/04/03, 07:03 AM

Some of my pets.... their cages are 8 feet long and 30 inches deep. I keep reticulated pythons and Burmese pythons. As adults my females can weigh more than 200 pounds and measure over 20 feet long. They are gentle enough to be handled by one woman. A relationship with a wild animal is a special one between sentient beings that can communicate beyond words.

There is a place for wildlife killers - Homesteading Questions

MicheleMomof4 · #42 08/04/03, 09:28 AM

Tango,
I admit I said ewww at your pictures lol But my son COOOOOOLLLLL !

In His Name,
Chele

Tango · #43 08/04/03, 10:50 AM

If your son wants to play with a giant, he is welcome to come by

My snakes are used to handling. They are far from "tame" in the sense of a dog, but they are very well-adjusted.
Most of our visitors, though fearful of snakes, are overcome by curiousity and have to go into the snake room. Once in there, the questions start. The largest snakes, those that could be potentially dangerous in the public view, are in locked cages, btw.

Sedition · #44 08/04/03, 01:57 PM

The bad part is that he wasted the meat. To use grandpa’s quote, rattlesnake is good vittles.

Venomous snakes are dangerous – even if they are secretive. If one is stupid enough to get “caught out”, then it is too aggressive to let live – just like coyotes. I kill both on sight, to protect my children and my livestock – neither of which has enough sense to leave wild critters alone.

There are plenty of places in this world for venomous snakes. Zoo’s come to mind.

Mattie · #45 08/04/03, 02:17 PM

:!:

MOgal · #46 08/04/03, 02:30 PM

Play with a big python, etc? Not on your life, nor would I allow a child to do so. If you want to know why, I'll see if I can find the name and address of the western Illinois parents whose pet boa decided their little boy might be a tasty tidbit. I'm sure they no longer think big snakes make good pets. I don't remember if involuntary manslaughter were among the multitude of charges they faced

Tango · #47 08/04/03, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOgal

Play with a big python, etc? Not on your life, nor would I allow a child to do so. If you want to know why, I'll see if I can find the name and address of the western Illinois parents whose pet boa decided their little boy might be a tasty tidbit. I'm sure they no longer think big snakes make good pets. I don't remember if involuntary manslaughter were among the multitude of charges they faced

That was an 8 ft. African Rock Python whose cage was left open by partying friends at their house that evening. It was a tragedy that shocked everyone who heard about it. And one I still remember keenly even today- just mentioned it a few weeks ago actually. I've not forgotten that little boy, nor have many others who keep giant constrictors. The parents were exonerated in court of manslaughter charges and I found that just- they will have to live with the death of their young son for the rest of their lives and that is more punishment than a court could ever dish out. But don't worry about my snakes, I didn't invite you to my house. I don't think they'd like you.

My Mamabug · #48 08/04/03, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Some of my pets.... their cages are 8 feet long and 30 inches deep. I keep reticulated pythons and Burmese pythons. As adults my females can weigh more than 200 pounds and measure over 20 feet long. They are gentle enough to be handled by one woman. A relationship with a wild animal is a special one between sentient beings that can communicate beyond words

Though you DON"T ever handle the large ones alone, do you? Do you always have someone there with you? I always heard that no matter how friendly they may be..never to say "never'.

Nice looking snakes...Very COOL!

I don't kill snakes either..but I haven't seen but a small black one..Maybe because I have too many kids, cows and dogs, and horses around.

My Mamabug · #49 08/04/03, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Some of my pets.... their cages are 8 feet long and 30 inches deep. I keep reticulated pythons and Burmese pythons. As adults my females can weigh more than 200 pounds and measure over 20 feet long. They are gentle enough to be handled by one woman. A relationship with a wild animal is a special one between sentient beings that can communicate beyond words

Though you DON"T ever handle the large ones alone, do you? Do you always have someone there with you? I always heard that no matter how friendly they may be..never to say "never'.

Nice looking snakes...Very COOL!

I don't kill snakes either..but I haven't seen but a small black one..Maybe because I have too many kids, cows and dogs, and horses around.

MicheleMomof4 · #50 08/05/03, 12:37 AM

Tango,
We'd love to come for a visit! How about I stand outside the door while my son & you visit the snake room?? LOL
Just before I get accused of child neglect or something worse...I think if you ever took the time (such as I have) to check out Tango's website then you'd know her experience with these animals speak clearly.
In His Name,
Chele

MTNwomanAR · #51 08/05/03, 01:20 AM

Off topic, but moonleaf, where in Booger county[madison] do you live?? I live in the very southern corner of Washington county, close to the Crawford/Madison/Washington line, out by White rock.
On topic, I live over an hour away from the nearest hospital, so being bitten by a poisonous snake IS a valid concern for me too. That being said, I won't knowingly kill ANY snake, unless it's close to my house. If I'm out in the woods, they are ok.... I have lots of road runners, and they kind of help balance things out. A couple of years ago, I killed a four foot timber rattler, that had 7 rattles. After I'd killed that rattler, I did some research, and unless you are younger, or older, or especially allergic to the venom, timber rattlers aren't as dangerous to MOST people as most other venomous snakes are. Still, I don't want to get bit by one!!! Today, I don't know if I would kill one, but it would just depend on the situation. I DID tan the hide out, and it's GORGEOUS!!!

I don't understand how ANYone could handle any snake...let alone let one crawl over their body...Several years ago, my boyfriend at the time and I were at a bike show in Fayetteville. There was this girl walking around wearing a halter top, and carrying a HUGE snake. She was letting that snake crawl between her boobs.....YUCK!! Scott wanted to bring that girl over to talk to us, and I told him if she came over to me, I'd do my best to hurt ALL 3 of them!!

Tango · #52 08/05/03, 07:23 AM

Hi My Mambugs,
Regular maintenance (spot cleaning, changing water) for snakes that are over 40 pounds and 10 feet in length is handled by me alone when someone else is in the house. My snakes have been with me since their birth and they are used to me handling them all the time but for safety I never handle them when I'm alone. Intensive maintenance such as cage cleaning is done when two others are at home because I let the snakes roam the room for exercise as I clean. I take safety precautions such as wearing clean clothing- no scent of chickens or rabbits on me- Sometimes, on any given day for no particular reason, the snakes want to be left alone and I respect that. Being able to "read" them is very important. They communicate like dogs and cats do and the keeper has to be able to understand their body language. It is always as they allow and not wnat I need to do that day. I have two imported snakes that I do not handle at all unless absolutely necessary. When I take them out I have two other people in the room with me. These two are for serious collectors and will be sold later this year after breeding.

Tango · #53 08/05/03, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicheleMomof3

Tango,
We'd love to come for a visit! How about I stand outside the door while my son & you visit the snake room?? LOL
Just before I get accused of child neglect or something worse...I think if you ever took the time (such as I have) to check out Tango's website then you'd know her experience with these animals speak clearly.
In His Name,
Chele

Thanks Chele,
Your family is always welcome- whether you want to see my snakes or not is entirely up to you- they are out of sight unless you enter their room. Most of my family is afraid of snakes but their curiousity seems to overtake them when they come to my house

I've yet to encounter a child afraid of snakes when given the chance to look at and touch a small one- and I have small ones too

Though I have very large snakes I am seldom bitten and the only snakes I've ever been bitten by are the ones I mentioned to My Mambugs which I do not handle unless necessary and one male I no longer own because he was too territorial.

Tango · #54 08/05/03, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTNwomanAR

I don't understand how ANYone could handle any snake...let alone let one crawl over their body...Several years ago, my boyfriend at the time and I were at a bike show in Fayetteville. There was this girl walking around wearing a halter top, and carrying a HUGE snake. She was letting that snake crawl between her boobs.....YUCK!!

I hope you can understand that any one person displaying questionable behavior in public is not representative of everyone who keeps a snake. I do not let my snakes crawl all over me and I don't know anyone who will or even take their snakes in public unless it is an educational show that has been planned in advance for the community. There are hundreds of thousands of unfortunate snakes sold to the public every year that do not make it to their first birthday due to neglect or abuse. Seldom will you see a serious keeper take a snake outside unless it is to his private yard for some photographs. We follow AFH guidelines that prohibit actions that will offend or upset others.

Huntress · #55 09/12/04, 12:02 PM

Well, as far as Rat Snakes go I have finally decided to keep mine after various experiences with them over the last three years or so of homesteading in the way, way out. I read up on the rat snakes, realized how much of a benefit they can be and decided to let "Reggie" stay. I no longer have mice, (or other snakes). He actually lives under my chicken house beleive it or not, and shows up very three or four days looking for a couple of eggs to eat. I solve his egg eating by keeping three or four 'store-bought' eggs on the floor of the chicken house. He would rather go for the easy stuff laying around then fight my Barred Rock hen for the ones she's setting on. I also made little snake proof cages out of hardware cloth, and fiberglass window screen to keep baby chicks and setting hens safe when he's around.

As the saying goes, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer"

Huntress (newbie)

P.S. Anyone have any advice on dealing with brazen bobcats (he has twice taken a chicken no more than 30 feet from where we were standing) and owls? They are the real problem aorund here.

EricG · #56 09/12/04, 12:27 PM

Alaska..the land with no snakes.

Eric

gearyb · #57 09/12/04, 01:03 PM

Question. I've eaten rattlesnake and thought it tasty. Is there a difference in snakes? I've killed black rat snakes after killing adult hens and fed them to the hogs, but now I curious if any one has eaten them?

southerngurl · #58 09/12/04, 02:29 PM

Quote:

My son and I just witnessed the killing of an adult Eastern Diamondback. It was in the middle of a dirt road. A driver in front of us stopped, got out, got a shovel from the back of his truck, then cut the snake's head off and threw it in to the brush! Why on Earth did he feel the need to kill a creature that was not posing an immediate threat?

Probably because it or its offspring will end up biting someone at some point. Nonpoisonous snakes eat rodents also.

My dad caught a rattlesnake once, my cousin kept it for a while, then dad let it go way off in the woods. It was neat to see one.

ginnie5 · #59 09/12/04, 03:45 PM

snake killer **** too! I hate those things. My skin crawls just to see one. T****'s a reptile shop close to us and one day they were standing out at the side of the road(grand opening I think) and trying to get people to come in. Each of the two people had a huge snake wrapped around their necks. I almost reaer ended the car in front of me trying to get away from them. I remember as a child sitting on my grandparents steps and a copperhead coming right up on the steps beside me. Luckily my grandpaw was right t**** with a hoe and quickly dispatched it. Also remember him killing a HUGE snake that was killing chickens. Half of it was up the tree and half on the ground. When my oldest dd was about 3 we were outside and she kept asking me what something was. I had checked the area before I put her down. A copperhead had crawled right beside her and was curled up around one of her toys. I grabbed her and called the dog. He would kill any snake he found. All I had to do was point and say snake and he wouldn't give up till he found it and it was dead. It was a sad day when he left us. yet to find another dog like that though I suspect my lab now would kill them. As long as they stay away from the yard and I don't SEE them they'll live. If I see them they're goners. I've watched that show on animal planet about the snake er enough times that t****'s no way I believe they are harmless critters.

65284 · #60 09/12/04, 04:59 PM

About 5 years ago I lost a young bull that was the end result of several years of careful breeding. I had spent a lot of time and money on researching specific genetics, buying cows with those bloodlines. I bought semen, in some cases from bulls that are deceased, to achieve my goals. In short that bull was irreplaceable, some of the cows had died and semen from some of the bulls used in his breeding were no longer available. I was in the barn and heard a commotion out behind, I ran out the back door and found him with a huge rattlesnake still clinging to the side of his face. The bite was on the cheek above the corner of the mouth. I called my vet and he advised me to take him to the vet school. In a short time the flesh on the side of the jaw, the jaw muscles, and part of his tongue became necrotic, and sloughed off exposing his jaw and teeth. He finally lost control of his jaw and couldn't eat or drink. They even tried surgery to save him but it didn't work. After seven weeks and several thousand dollars worth of treatment he had to be put down. Sadly, I had not yet had him collected, so I lost everything I had in him. Care to guess what happens to EVERY ---- POISONOUS SNAKE I SEE AROUND HERE? And not just the ones I find by chance, I diligently search for them. I am just thankful that it wasn't a grandchild, other family member, or any other person. It is my opinion that anyone with children, livestock, or pets, that fails to kill any venomous snake they encounter on their property is at the very least negligent and more than a bit daft.