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05-06-2010, 06:36 PM
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#1 |
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Olivenhain Bob
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Olivenhain, CA
Posts: 1,122
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King snakes are about as cool as snakes get. They are immune to rattlesnake venom and actually eat rattlers.
I was hiking in Rose Canyon once as a kid and picked up a piece of plywood left over from an old billboard. To my great surprise, there was a rattlesnake inches from my feet. Before I could jump out of the way, a king snake that was nearby attacked the rattler. King snakes are constrictors just like pythons. On this day the King wrapped itself around the rattlesnake and squeezed the life out of him. I did not stay around to watch but I bet the King ate the Rattler. Many people are afraid of snakes. Too bad because they are really interesting critters and most are far from dangerous. Bob |
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05-06-2010, 07:10 PM
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#2 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 175
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05-07-2010, 08:40 AM
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#3 |
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A.T.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ontario, CA
Posts: 146
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That is a nice snake. What did you do with it? I have a Glossy snake right now. They grow about 2-4' in length. The California King snakes grow up to 6' in length.
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05-07-2010, 10:12 AM
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#4 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,385
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We're just letting the snake do its thang. It actually slithered under the fence into the neighbors yard. The funny thing is our dog was laying about 5" from the snake as it slithered by her, I know that had she seen the snake she would have charged at it.
When I told my wife that this is a good snake she felt a lot better about it. We've been having some trees cut down behind our complex so I'm wondering if it was up rooted from its normal home. |
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05-07-2010, 11:48 AM
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#5 | |
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Headshots Only
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 311
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that's a beautiful king.
they make great pets and get real big. a word of warning though, since they do feed on rattlers as everyone has been saying, you will want to avoid the bite of a king, since some of the venom will be left in the jaws of the king if he has recently dined on rattlers.
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05-07-2010, 01:10 PM
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#6 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,385
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05-07-2010, 06:34 PM
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#7 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Coto de Caza, CA
Posts: 155
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Contrary to what Oolie wrote, as snakes do not chew, there is no chance of any of the rattlesnake venom getting on the kingsnake's teeth and you getting envenomated. As snakes swallow their prey whole, the rattlesnake would already be dead (from constriction) with no way to spread any venom prior to being eaten. You and your family (including your dog) are safe from this snake. It is still a good idea to teach kids and other family members to hesitate approaching a snake unless you are with someone who knows the local snakes well; some of our harmless snakes look a lot like rattlesnakes, so better to leave them alone unless you are 100% sure that it is harmless. Also, the kingsnake you pictured has adult coloration; the subspecies in southern Orange County and coastal San Diego County are primarily striped as your picture shows. They are out and about this time of year looking for mates and feeding; later in the year they will be less out an about. We get them and gopher snakes in our yard a lot this time of year. When I was younger I caught and released a lot of them hiking in the hills. Kevin |
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05-07-2010, 07:13 PM
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#8 |
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Olivenhain Bob
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Olivenhain, CA
Posts: 1,122
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Snakes and Fear
Snakes have gotten a bad rap throughout history. Many uninformed people think that all snakes are aggressive and dangerous. The truth is that most snakes are vary docile and perform a very valuable service in nature. Without snakes, our vermin population would explode.
In coastal Southern California, the only poisonous snake found in the wild is the rattlesnake. There are several species but they all look similar. EVERY OTHER TYPE OF SNAKE FOUND AROUND HERE IS NOT POISONOUS! Excuse me for the bold print but it really bothers me when I see some crazed guy taking a hoe or shotgun to a gopher snake because he does not understand that this species and most others found around here are perfectly harmless. Even rattlesnakes are fill an important role in the balance of nature. They may be poisonous but they seldom cause any trouble. They will not chase you down or eat your children. They are, like most snakes, very shy and avoid human contact. The only time humans and rattlesnakes have problems with one another is when someone accidentally steps on one of these snakes or if one of our pets decides to pick a fight. Even then, a rattlesnake bite is seldom fatal. If you get bit, stay calm, call 911 and you will be fine. Antivenin injections are stocked in most emergency rooms and can quickly counteract the affects of a bite. The relationship between humans and snakes is very similar to the ones between humans of different ethnic backgrounds, religions, and economic status. Ignorance often makes people behave badly. The next time you see a snake, marvel at its beauty. If you can, turn the encounter into a teaching moment by letting your kids marvel along with you. If you raise your children to not be unrealistic fearful of snakes, a few may still be around when it is time to pass the lesson on to your grandchildren. Sorry for the preaching but this is important to me. Bob Last edited by dsafety; 05-07-2010 at 08:34 PM. |
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