Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Z
That is the best way to handle it, Andy. Heck, I've been around snakes nearly all my life and this one gave even me pause trying to figure out what it was. A kid around here got bit by a pygmy rattlesnake a while back because he thought it was a harmless hognose snake and reached down to pick it up. And he has been around snakes all his life.
Besides simple misidentification, any species of snake can have genetically induced aberrant colors or patterns, making accurate ID difficult. Especially if you have to do so in a hurry. Many snakes are not going to stand still waiting for you to figure out what it is. Which works out fine for those people who go one way and the snake goes another.  |
I almost stepped on a big cotton mouth once while hunting. That snake was not gonna move. I was about 6" from stepping on him.