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This afternoon Henry and I were out for one of our hikes on the property behind our house. It's about 55 acres of what used to be farmland that's vacant and slightly wooded. Our house is at the top of a hill, and our backyard slopes right down to the property. It's a very pretty valley that leads to a nice walking road. There's a nice little stream that runs through it that Henry loves to play in. After a great walkie we were headed down to the water when I noticed Henry strolling along the water's edge a little to close to something strange looking. I jerked him back before I realized it was a snake. As I pulled him back the snake started to coil up to strike.
I tied Henry to a tree, got a stick, and went in for a closer look. It was a cottonmouth, one of the most poisonous snakes in the US! If Henry had been bitten, he probably would have died unless he got antivenom immediately...cottonmouths are pit vipers and in the same family as rattlesnakes. And the thing was huge. I'd say about 4 feet long and as big around as a pool stick. I'm terrified of snakes but I've also been outdoorsy all my life. I had thoughts of killing the snake, presenting it to Henry, and punishing him for it. (My neighbor has a shock collar for his lab that he uses for training). I know that sounds harsh, but I was so scared to think that he could have been bitten. My aunt and uncle live out in the desert in Arizona; they lost two beloved dogs to rattlesnake bites before they heard of shock training their dogs. There are actually trainers out there who keep rattlesnakes in cages and will let your dogs sniff then shock them, to teach them to avoid the scent. I know it sounds crazy but I was so scared!
Lucky for that booger he got away. But snakes are notorious for occupying certain areas, and that's the only natural water source out there. I really wish I'd been able to kill it because you don't usually get too many clear shots at wild critters. Oh well. Hope nobody thinks I'm a barbarian.
I tied Henry to a tree, got a stick, and went in for a closer look. It was a cottonmouth, one of the most poisonous snakes in the US! If Henry had been bitten, he probably would have died unless he got antivenom immediately...cottonmouths are pit vipers and in the same family as rattlesnakes. And the thing was huge. I'd say about 4 feet long and as big around as a pool stick. I'm terrified of snakes but I've also been outdoorsy all my life. I had thoughts of killing the snake, presenting it to Henry, and punishing him for it. (My neighbor has a shock collar for his lab that he uses for training). I know that sounds harsh, but I was so scared to think that he could have been bitten. My aunt and uncle live out in the desert in Arizona; they lost two beloved dogs to rattlesnake bites before they heard of shock training their dogs. There are actually trainers out there who keep rattlesnakes in cages and will let your dogs sniff then shock them, to teach them to avoid the scent. I know it sounds crazy but I was so scared!
Lucky for that booger he got away. But snakes are notorious for occupying certain areas, and that's the only natural water source out there. I really wish I'd been able to kill it because you don't usually get too many clear shots at wild critters. Oh well. Hope nobody thinks I'm a barbarian.
