High Drama with a Big Black Snake

Warning. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO WATCH. Scary.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Big black snake
• long snake
• high drama
• scary video
• black snake
• scary to watch
• difficult to watch
• South Jersey nature
• fish pond

[shecky308]

The reason why snakes bite is they sense heat from your skin and limbs when approached. The bite from pythons,or boas is very painful and would take a little while to heal. But the rat snakes become docile with a little time,Ive encountered nasty rat snakes in my 40 years of field work in the states.

[wworldp]

@shecky308 I would think any snake that bits is doing so to be defensive. Can't blame them.....the world can be a hostile place for creatures especially one that has no hands with arms or legs. They are welcomed at my place but I don't like to see them in my fish pond where they can get caught in the netting. It can be fun to see them going up trees!

[shecky308]

Oh yes,one more thing. When AT FIRST you pick up the Black Rat Snake(obsoleta,elaphe} he will be pugnacious for a few moments at first,then shortly will be allowing you to get familiar with you.Each snake might act a little differently.

[wworldp]

@shecky308 YIKES....pick him up????? I don't think I will get to that stage. I like snakes more from a distance...no doubt that is what they would prefer too. But good that you are able to get on a more friendly basis with such creatures.

[shecky308]

Hi,this is OBSOLETA,harmless.

[wworldp]

@shecky308 It is not poisonous but it can bite. The poor creature was understandably upset; it would not have been a good idea to get too close to it's head. I don't think that it could process the thought that we wanted to help - not harm it.

[4thedefense]

That was a beautiful act of kindness, in a very difficult, challenging situation. Yes, these black rat snakes are great rat-catchers (logically!), and non-venomous. They are good pets, but this one was obviously distressed by being trapped, and very likely wd bite if you got too close to his head. But you saved him anyway--Good for you!

[shecky308]

Hi,this is known as a Black Rat Snake.The more of these on your property means better rodent control to a certain extent. It can reach 10 feet in length. It can lay up to 28 eggs in one clutch. Notice the white belly,and thanks for the reply!

[wworldp]

@zzxxwwvv I don't think this snake was poisonous but that doesn't mean that it can't BITE - that is what I was afraid of. But at the same time I knew that it deserved to live. Too often people are unkind to snakes just because they are snakes. It is tough for any creature to survive even under the best conditions; add people into the mix and survival becomes even more challenging. I didn't want to feel responsible for it dying. I am not familiar with your snake. Good that you came to the rescue!

[zzxxwwvv]

A BRAVE LADY.WAS IT A POISONOUS VARIETY OF SNAKE ?. I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME EXPERIENCE WHEN A TIMID FRIEND CALLED ME TO GET A SNAKE OUT OF THE NETTING ON HIS FISH POND. THERE ARE ONLY 3 TYPES OF SNAKE THAT ARE INDIGENOUS TO THE BRITISH ISLES, ADDER, GRASS SNAKE, AND WATER SNAKE, AND THIS ONE DID NOT LOOK LIKE ANY ONE OF THE 3.THIS ONE WAS 5 FEET LONG AND SAND COLOURED ALL OVER WITH A BLACK V ON BACK OF ITS HEAD. WAS IT POISONOUS? I FREED IT AND DROPPED IT OVER A FENCE TO FREEDOM THEN I FAINTED.