Kids and snakes

[meako]

ok its a python.That being said my kids' backyard is home to some of the most venomous landsnakes in the world.
The Australian Tiger Snake,Eastern Brown Snake,Red Bellied Black Snake,Death Adder as well as other small non "agressive"(an erroneous term for snakes) species.
The Small Eyed Snake-this shy nocturnal hunter is rated 18th in the world for venom toxicity-The Western Diamond Back Rattler is 19th.
My kids can identify & avoid them. Plus they know something that snakes don't -the snake is more afraid than you.
Take your kids to the zoo and look at the snakes you may encounter.Plenty on youtube as well as in books (remember books?).
For every snake you see in the wild there was 15 you didn't see.
Knowledge is power. Have a safe trip.

 

[lmalterna]

Meako,
I am jealous- I have wanted a Woma or a Childrens Python for keeping for years. Just too prohibitive $$ for me. Education is always key, you do kids to expose your kids as much as possible.

Familiarity changes ones outlook. Ironworkers will laugh that people feel like they cannot walk a 10" beam. Lay one on the ground and we can all do it. Put it hundreds of feet off the ground and only a few can do it.

Gators, "one end beats you, the other end eats you "

July in the SW? Drink, then drink some more... no, you did not drink enough. Electrolyts as well, mix in some Gatorade in between bottles of water. Wear a hat and the color light blue, cotton and loose fitting helps to blocks out UVB and to wick away perspiration for cooling. You may already know all this, but as a protective father.. well, there it is
Bill

Bill

 

[amtz.zero]

Actually in July and August in the SW; that is the hottest part of the year and most venomous spps. are only active at night or early mornings during that time of year. They come out of brumation (hibernation for snakes) around late March or April and are most active around then to about early June. In July and Aug. be prepared, it's HOT.

Yep, August SUCKS for finding snakes. I spent hours this year roadcruising at night in August, and in that whole month, I found maybe 2. (I live in Riverside county but I spent time roadcruising near Barstow). I didn't do any actual herping or anything during the day, so I can't say too much about that.

 

[meako]

hey Bill- my son wants a Spotted Python (the more easterly cousin of the Childrens)
not till you start high school says his mum. Meantime we need to sort out a license & an enclosure.
Interestingly the Childrens Python has nothing to do with children -the guy who named it just happened to be named Children-hence Antaresia childreni.
My boy came to me one day asking for a "kids python".

 

[lmalterna]

Aus has some amazing animals- also one of the more poluted ecologies from "introduced species". I would say the Woma would be my #1 most wanted from your land. Beautiful creatures. The US SW down into Mexico also has a number of beautiful- easy to keep snakes.

For a fear of snakes- just like a fear of water, it has to be faced in a controlled manner to overcome the fear.
I HATE spiders, but I used to fear them and killed every one I saw. Was bitten many times as a youngster with a few infections resulting. We have widows and recluse here. I see widows frequently but recluse are secretive and harder to easily identify. I no longer kill spiders unless it is a widow or is inside the house. They have their place, just not in my house! LOL!
Venomous snakes are the same. If it is found in a yard around children, it is a danger and needs to be relocated or eliminated. On the trail or mountains- they are part of the environment and should be left alone.
Bill

 

[hatidua]

Yep, August SUCKS for finding snakes. I spent hours this year roadcruising at night in August, and in that whole month, I found maybe 2. (I live in Riverside county but I spent time roadcruising near Barstow). I didn't do any actual herping or anything during the day, so I can't say too much about that.

Drive out to Indio and find one of the many irrigation canals that have the 3' vertical walls that then slant down to the bottom (canals are about 20' wide). Start at about 3am, but get there before sunrise because every critter in there, no matter the species, is going to get eaten by the birds come daylight.