Why Mark Ray & Others Wear Snake Boots in the South

[Southpaw]

Oh they are probably there but are largely nocturnal and pretty shy, as I have been told. No snake expert but understand the coral snakes are like grandaddy long legged spiders, very toxic venom but mouths on spider are too small to even bite and teeth are so small on coral snake they have to chew on you some to envenomate. Pretty sure not letting one hang around me long enough for that to happen. I think most bites are when kids pick this things up

[TxHuntermn]

Originally Posted by Todd Poer

Oh they are probably there but are largely nocturnal and pretty shy, as I have been told. No snake expert but understand the coral snakes are like grandaddy long legged spiders, very toxic venom but mouths on spider are too small to even bite and teeth are so small on coral snake they have to chew on you some to envenomate. Pretty sure not letting one hang around me long enough for that to happen. I think most bites are when kids pick this things up

Im not an expert either, with the exception of experience and exposure. I have encountered a couple dozen coral snakes over the years, and those I have bumped into that were no where near dwellings or structures, have been admired and sent on their merry way. I can tell you that when aggravated, they can be quite aggressive, and they “strike” just like any other snake. On the “chewing” that is sort of accurate, when they bite, they clamp down HARD, then grind their jaws to distribute the venom. I have taunted them with sticks, and can vouch that they will hang on to a stick, and dangle their entire body weight.

Ones that have a real chance of encounters with people or pets are dealt with more severely. I have two good friends that narrowly escaped death from coral snake bites. Both bites could have been avoided by excercising more caution.

[Mills]

"Only come out at night"

Boy that makes me feel better.

[davidboyles]

Mark I have killed 2 corals at my house while in the yard away from house. One was about 14" other about 18". 40" is a B&C snake. I hope you saved him for several colorful hatbands!! Would be great in the dove field.

[TxHuntermn]

Originally Posted by davidboyles

Mark I have killed 2 corals at my house while in the yard away from house. One was about 14" other about 18". 40" is a B&C snake. I hope you saved him for several colorful hatbands!! Would be great in the dove field.

Kinda messed it up with the hoe!! I have four of these guys, including the “subject snake” in the deep freeze though. Unlike other poisonous snakes though, the coral snake has a very powerful neurotoxin that can work transdermally (through the skin). SO, if your buddy ever gets bitten, dont go all “John Wayne” and suck the poison out, or you will be dead faster than your buddy. A taxidermist friend told me he wears two pair of latex gloves when he skins one, and constantly reminds himself not to scratch himself.

[Southpaw]

Thanks for the heads up about Roundup. I used the stuff for years and have had it all over me a few times. Had not heard of the latest info about roundup. There is so much information out there pro and con supposedly coming from experts, it is just so hard sometimes to decipher what is real or smokescreen info.

Btw Mark I had not heard about getting the toxin from their skin as well but makes sense. Probably means they don't have a lot of predators either.

Sister and her husband are stationed in San Antone and was talking with her since they just got new lab pup. Brother in law is out of town so she goes to let dog out late to do business. Big old coral snake was on patio and freaked her out. She is not liking Texas too much since only a week before the snake a swarm of killer bees were trying to nest behind the wall and they had to have someone come in the middle of the night to get rid of them. Heat and pestilence are taking a toll.

[Victor Wasylyna]

Originally Posted by Todd Poer

Nuff Said.
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2018/...oes-viral.html

That gal would make a nice pair of snake (skin) boots!

-Victor

[Setter Man]

Growing up in central Indiana I never really worried about running into poisonous snakes BUT last summer some one filmed a rather large timer rattler about 3-hours from my hometown. I had no idea they could be this thick. https://youtu.be/dbJpV3VGK7o

[Dean Romig]

Jay, something about that “snake” doesn’t ring true. They don’t crawl or slither with their body straight like that - and they don’t generally crawl that slowly either.






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[Setter Man]

I'm no herpetologist but it seems legit to me. Here is another from the general area: https://youtu.be/kKLPNZ-pxKg