magnumtmp said:
12f Mane said:
Copperhead from Thanksgiving
How can something be so pretty and vile at the same time?
Normally I'd have snake pics at the deer lease, but I think they all evolved flippers and swam away this year.
Depends on how you view them. They are beautiful creatures using the adaptations they possess to kill their prey and protect themselves. Their venom, after all, is designed to immobilize or start digestion (depending on the snake), not to defend (although they will defend if necessary).
I've interacted with tons of venomous snakes as well as non-venomous ones, and found 99.9% of them to be very calm and unagressive as long as I was acting in kind.
Something like 90-95% of people who get bitten pick up or touch venomous snakes, and the majority of these involve alcohol (presentation from lead Herpetologist at t.u.).
I've rarely had venomous snakes even strike when moving them, but I always try to be calm and careful not to harm the snake.
They're actions a lot different if you actually spend time interacting with them as opposed to those who don't.
