A snake on the porch

[loCAtek]

I relocate spiders and snakes, if they're in a dangerous position. The poor snakes sunning themselves on the trail are unawares speedy cyclists may not see them, or think they're just sticks. So, I stop and shoo them off the asphalt. My most spectacular rescue nearly had me arrested, as attested in 'Happy Trails'.

[@meric@nwom@n]

There are only 4 venomous snakes in Indiana, Sean. They are fairly distinctive in their appearance, versus the common garter snake that @w's likely was a specimen of - the venomous snakes also are very unlikely to be seen in populated areas.

You live in a very different ecosystem, much more abundantly populated by potentially lethal critters. Should a venomous, potentially lethal snake end up on your porch, I can see you wanting to protect your children from it. Is it always necessary to kill it? Can it not be relocated? That is up to you to decide, of course.

My point, and I assume @w's, is that far too many people are inclined to kill a harmless snake than to just 'live and let live'.

God, or evolution, made snakes and mosquitos and spiders and lots of other creepy crawlies we wouldn't care to cuddle, because they serve a vital function in the web of life. We should not feel as humans that we have the right to kill anything we find distasteful - but of course because that mindset IS so prevalent, our environment and the critters within it find themselves in constant peril.

Actually it was not a garter snake it was a black snake.
The only venomos snake around here would be a copperhead which are now very rare and quite distinctive.

We no longer have timber rattlers nor cotton mouths. People killed them off.

[Aard Vark]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPriOQkKd6k&NR=1

Well someone had to put this on

[oldr_n_wsr]

The snake was looking for a warm place, be it the garage or the engine of the car. Snakes (reptiles in general) need to be warm in order to move effectively (fast). And snakes do hunt at night as most rodents are nocturnal and birds go back to their nests to sleep. Much easier to get a sleeping bird than one up and hopping/flying.

Black racers are cool snakes as are milk and corn snakes. Big rodent hunters.

[SisterMaryFellatio]

Anything that dosn't have legs deserves to die!


They are vile and they scare me and I have recently learned there are some sorts with horns....so therefore I am right. They are the work of the devil and should all be slaughtered!

[Sean]

Anything that dosn't have legs deserves to die!

Douglas Bader only just managed to escpe from our house!

[oldr_n_wsr]

Anything that dosn't have legs deserves to die!

I believe there are more creatures on this earth without legs than those with.

[Sue U]

Yes, but by definition they don't have opposable thumbs -- which makes us better than them.

[@meric@nwom@n]

As a creature with no arms and legs once pointed out, "we can get along very well without mankind ,however mankind would not last long without us".

Our opposable thumbs and big brains have not taught us proper respect for other creatures.

[alice]

As a creature with no arms and legs once pointed out, "we can get along very well without mankind ,however mankind would not last long without us".

Our opposable thumbs and big brains have not taught us proper respect for other creatures.

[oldr_n_wsr]

As a creature with no arms and legs once pointed out, "we can get along very well without mankind ,however mankind would not last long without us".

Our opposable thumbs and big brains have not taught us proper respect for other creatures.

and I double that

[Timster]

I love ALL critters! Great and small. Period.

[dales]

Especially if they're good eatin'!

[Timster]

PETA!

People Eating Tasty Animals!

Hell Yeah!

[@meric@nwom@n]

Declaring myself to being omnivous and no fan of peta, i no less feel a respect for those animls which are used for my sustainance and those which are not with only a couple of hypocritical exceptions.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I love ALL critters! Great and small. Period.

So much so that you (and I) spend money supporting conservation initiatives (aka hunting/fishing licenses) that make sure the critters are there for our great grandkids can enjoy.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I love ALL critters! Great and small. Period.

So much so that you (and I) spend money supporting conservation initiatives (aka hunting/fishing licenses) that make sure the critters are there for our great grandkids can enjoy.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I love ALL critters! Great and small. Period.

So much so that you (and I) spend money supporting conservation initiatives (aka hunting/fishing licenses) that make sure the critters are there for our great grandkids can enjoy.

[loCAtek]

Well, I respect other critters right to life, by trying not eat'um.

I 'm weak in the fish and occasional chicken department.

[Lord Jim]

I 'm weak in the fish and occasional chicken department.

I'm strong in the beef, lamb and veal departments....