Watch your step (snakes)!

[Geo]

Went for a run last night just after 7...

We were just past the Draper Lake bridge heading east on the bikepath when my running partner jumped backward in midstride...

About 4 feet in front of him was a 2-3 ft. rattlesnake- I believe a Diamondback coiled up with its mouth open looking like it was ready to strike. My buddy is lucky he saw the snake cuz it surely would have got him if he continued his forward stride...

We kept a distance and watched this beautiful creature. It grew tired of waiting for us and slithered away into the foilage on the right...

Be careful out there!!!

[AAbsolute]

Over the past 10 years working in construction here we have come across many, many snakes and most times they are not harmful, however...

I have caught and released 2 Pygmy rattlesnakes in Seacrest Beach. 2 Pygmy rattlers in Cypress Breeze. 2 Water moccasin in Watercolor. The biggest poisonous snake I have ever seen was a Water moccasin during the drought in 2001 cruising along the tops of some scrub oak in Rosemary Beach. There was a Mocking Bird harrasing the heck out of it as it moved around, I assume looking for water.

Those Water Moaccosin or Cottonmouth are the only snakes I have ever encountered that will actually chase you aggressively if you get to close. It seems to me that all the others would just assume curl up defensively and move away at their first chance.

Thanks for the interesting post.

[Smiling JOe]

snakes like to hang out on trails because their prey also use trails. Speaking of looking out for wildlife in your path, yesterday, I had wildlife in my sandal. I was walking in the yard, and thought I got a stick in my sandal. I shook my shoe, loosely on my foot, but the stick never came out. I waited until I got back to the porch, then tried to shake it out again. It was lodged under my toes. I slipped my foot out of the sandal and what do I see? I big@ss Wolf Spider! I shook him out, and he was still alive, but I noticed some "juice" in the bottom of my shoe. Not sure if he tried to poop on my or whether I squashed him a little. Either way, that part was gross. I got pics for RiverOtter, but still in camera.

[AAbsolute]

I saw a girl in Santa Rosa Beach kill what we thought was a huge wolf spider ( I really don't know ) and when she hit it with her shoe about 100 little spiders took off running in every direction. It was a horror

[Geo]

snakes like to hang out on trails because their prey also use trails. Speaking of looking out for wildlife in your path, yesterday, I had wildlife in my sandal. I was walking in the yard, and thought I got a stick in my sandal. I shook my shoe, loosely on my foot, but the stick never came out. I waited until I got back to the porch, then tried to shake it out again. It was lodged under my toes. I slipped my foot out of the sandal and what do I see? I big@ss Wolf Spider! I shook him out, and he was still alive, but I noticed some "juice" in the bottom of my shoe. Not sure if he tried to poop on my or whether I squashed him a little. Either way, that part was gross. I got pics for RiverOtter, but still in camera.

:eek:

WOW! Post the pics, please. I leave shoes outside the door when they have sand in/on them. I need to start performing a thorough inspection before I put them back on...

At least it was a wolf and not something else...

I don't believe they are harmful but they do look scary!

[Landlocked]

I saw a girl in Santa Rosa Beach kill what we thought was a huge wolf spider ( I really don't know ) and when she hit it with her shoe about 100 little spiders took off running in every direction. It was a horror

:leaving: Thank you so much for sending that chill down my spine. Now my entire body is itching.

[ASH]

Need to always check your shoes, especially if you leave them out in the open. Guess where scorpions like to hide.......?? :yikes:

[aggieb]

brown recluse spiders like mr. aggb so much he's been bitten 3X.

[pgurney]

Yes, watch your step, your shoes and where you are about to put your hands too!

I have one of the garden hose thingees, where you crank the handle to roll up your hose..it has a hinged top so you can get to the hose if needed. It sits outside the door and we use it to hose off our feet prior to entry. The shoes usually get left out beside it when they are sandy.

A couple of weeks ago I saw the hose needed to be replaced, unwound the hose, flipped open the lid and reached down to disconnect the old hose. When my hand got about 6 inches away from the coupling I see a black widow resting on the side of it. Scary stuff when you come close to grabbing a black widow, or leaving your shoes right next to its home.

[ckhagen]

I know of at least 4 people who've found rattlers in their yards in the past couple of months. Is that normal? I mean, I know they're around, but this summer seems to be different from the past in the numbers.

I found a huge spider right outside my door yesterday. We uh... took care of it this morning when it was still there because we were unable to determine what kind of spider it was and it was very close to being able to just waltz right in my door. With little kiddies in the house, that's so not cool.

[NotDeadYet]

brown recluse spiders like mr. aggb so much he's been bitten 3X.:eek: I recently had the plumber, and he found three brown recluses living in the bathroom. :eek:

[NoHall]

:eek: I recently had the plumber, and he found three brown recluses living in the bathroom. :eek:

Did they put the seat down?

[aggieb]

:eek: I recently had the plumber, and he found three brown recluses living in the bathroom. :eek:
he was bitten once, working in the yard, that same day he was weed eating and a small rock flew up his nostril (:lol: sorry i know that's not funny, but it sorta kinda is now), went to the emergency room so both were treated then. the next bite i've forgotten, i'm thinking it was when he was at his golf course, and the next time he was checking the water source for irrigation and he saw the spider after the fact. they are scary looking bites, really gross. thank goodness he had it checked out in time before it got really bad. he has scarring, but it could have been alot worse.

[Geo]

I can deal with the thought and sight of snakes. Spiders on the other hand...

:yikes:

This thread is giving me the willies!

[DD]

snakes like to hang out on trails because their prey also use trails. Speaking of looking out for wildlife in your path, yesterday, I had wildlife in my sandal. I was walking in the yard, and thought I got a stick in my sandal. I shook my shoe, loosely on my foot, but the stick never came out. I waited until I got back to the porch, then tried to shake it out again. It was lodged under my toes. I slipped my foot out of the sandal and what do I see? I big@ss Wolf Spider! I shook him out, and he was still alive, but I noticed some "juice" in the bottom of my shoe. Not sure if he tried to poop on my or whether I squashed him a little. Either way, that part was gross. I got pics for RiverOtter, but still in camera.

Can't wait to see the pics. This (almost) same thing happened to my friend Summer. She lives in "the country". Her dog got out and ran to the neighbors. She ran out and slipped on some house shoes of her husband's that were on the porch and chased the dog. She said when she got to the neighbors, she felt something in her shoe, but decided to wait til she walked back home to check it out. She got home and shook the shoe. A big toad fell out and hopped away. :shock:

he was bitten once, working in the yard, that same day he was weed eating and a small rock flew up his nostril (:lol: sorry i know that's not funny, but it sorta kinda is now), went to the emergency room so both were treated then. the next bite i've forgotten, i'm thinking it was when he was at his golf course, and the next time he was checking the water source for irrigation and he saw the spider after the fact. they are scary looking bites, really gross. thank goodness he had it checked out in time before it got really bad. he has scarring, but it could have been alot worse.

Wow. I'd say he had a bad day that first time. :eek: Sorry, but I did sorta laugh too. :lol:

[dmarie]

My girl always alerts me to snakes by a very distinctive bark. I heard it yesterday and sure enough, it was another pygmy rattler. I know they're around here but I generally only see maybe one a year. To date, this is the third.

[AAbsolute]

Yes, watch your step, your shoes and where you are about to put your hands too!

I have one of the garden hose thingees, where you crank the handle to roll up your hose..it has a hinged top so you can get to the hose if needed. It sits outside the door and we use it to hose off our feet prior to entry. The shoes usually get left out beside it when they are sandy.

A couple of weeks ago I saw the hose needed to be replaced, unwound the hose, flipped open the lid and reached down to disconnect the old hose. When my hand got about 6 inches away from the coupling I see a black widow resting on the side of it. Scary stuff when you come close to grabbing a black widow, or leaving your shoes right next to its home.

Did I see in another thread somewhere that you sold your Seacrest home?

About the Black Widows. I bet I have seen 20 Black Widows, but always in the same place, inside those black boxes that contain the water meter. There has got to be something to the darkness and the water source. This is in line with your post exactly.

[sowalgayboi]

:eek: I recently had the plumber, and he found three brown recluses living in the bathroom. :eek:

Do you really want to put that out in public? :biggrin::funn:

[barefootguy]

This must be the time of year for wolf spiders. They've been hanging out right outside our doors after dark, and I've been finding at least two a day inside. They're all about the size of a quarter.

I've noticed that black widows like to hang out on either side of the garage door (in the garage), under lawn/pool chairs, and on aluminum ladders. The first thing I notice is the really strong web, then I find the spider.

[Smiling JOe]

I have spiders everywhere. The biggest are the Golden Silk Spiders, and I have two which are over 4" in diameter (including legs). They are my door guards. There are Wolf Spider holes all over my yard, so it isn't too weird that one slipped into my sandal while walking in the yard. At night, you can wear a head-mount flash light and see spider eyes reflecting all over the place. It is like going into a small animal zoo. Praying Mantes, Lubber Grasshoppers, Skinks, Eastern Fence lizards, spiders of all types, crabs, etc, and plenty of those biting bugs.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/1/6/p8100139_sm.jpg

door guard (Golden-Silk Spider)

[Smiling JOe]

http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/1/6/p8090124_sm.jpg

Spider Juice in the shoe



http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/1/6/p8090122_sm.jpg

Wolf Spider escaping my shoe, off to safety.

[2bohemians]

I saw a girl in Santa Rosa Beach kill what we thought was a huge wolf spider ( I really don't know ) and when she hit it with her shoe about 100 little spiders took off running in every direction. It was a horror

This reminds us of a recent event .... we won't share the details ... but it involves sleeping, a spider, an ear and of course the horror that you speak of !

[Smiling JOe]

Have any idea of the number of spiders the average person eats in their life? I've seen the number -- scary!

[sunspotbaby]

You're never more than 6 feet from a spider at all times.

[Ocean Lover]

brown recluse spiders like mr. aggb so much he's been bitten 3X.


Yikes, aren't they deadly? I have a friend that is a Naturalist and she moved out of her house b/c they were found there.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/1/6/p8090124_sm.jpg

Spider Juice in the shoe



http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/1/6/p8090122_sm.jpg

Wolf Spider escaping my shoe, off to safety.

On the willy scale that is probably a 9 1/2. I used to think we had wolf spiders HERE. I'm not so sure I can call them that anymore after seeing this pic. EWWWWWWWWWWWW.

[scooterbug44]

Have any idea of the number of spiders the average person eats in their life? I've seen the number -- scary!

Urban legend! If we eat spiders they are typically IN our food or ON our food.

I don't think I'd mind snakes if they were dead and in my food in minute portions - but rattling around in the yard - :yikes:

[Miss Kitty]

That does it. SJ...I'll see you anywhere but at your place. :biggrin:

[Dune-AHH]

Have any idea of the number of spiders the average person eats in their life? I've seen the number -- scary!

:eek: SJ, You are a Font of some of the kookiest most obscure information... Thankfully!:clap:.
NOW: where can I obtain one of those head mounted flashlights (besides Gynecologists-R-Us) ???
I always thought a strap on headlight would be just the ticket for reading in bed (as well as being a real ice breaker party accessory!).

[Smiling JOe]

Warning for headlamp wearers: If you wear your headlamp outside at night, bugs will be attracted to your head, and enter your mouth, nose, ears and eyes.

[scooterbug44]

I prefer the mini Maglite w/ a head strap to a headlamp. It puts the flashlight next to your ear instead of atop your head so it is better for reading. :wave:

[Smiling JOe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp3WEEoIxNQ

[Landlocked]

Warning for headlamp wearers: If you wear your headlamp outside at night, bugs will be attracted to your head, and enter your mouth, nose, ears and eyes.

Another warning for headlamp on the beach wearers: Every time you take a drink of your beer, the light shines straight up in the air, alerting everyone around of just how thirsty you are. Remember to use the red filter thing, too.

[AAbsolute]

I like to show the snakes around here to my kids so they know which ones are which. I found this Water Moccasin/Cottonmouth in my back yard in Watercolor tonight. This is the 3rd one I removed from this little pond. They must be pretty prevalent.