BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 08:51 AM

There have also been reports of sea serpents in Maine waters, from reliable sources dating back to the early 19th century. I haven't seen any adult ones but I certainly ran across a lot of immature ones that hung out in their burrows in the mudflats. I could hardly go wading, when I was a lad, without being nipped by one.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 10:18 PM

my vet tech daughter says probably a garter snake -- there are green snakes, milk snakes and garter snakes in Miane and she says most likely a garter snake......I trust her opinion in such matters.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: open mike
Date: 07 Jul 08 - 10:51 AM

Rap--it wasn't sticking its tongue out at you, it was smelling you.

They do not use the same type of olfactory organs that humans do, we smell by using our noses, snakes use something completely different to detect odor particles in the air. Snakes use highly specialized organs in the roof of their mouths to collect particles from the air. The Jacobson's Organ is named after the individual who discovered this unique organ. A snakes' tongue will move in and out rapidly to pick up particles floating in the air and deposit them on the roof of the mouth where the organ is located.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Jul 08 - 04:36 AM

Segway , for those who don't know. I want one, I've always wanted one ever since I first saw one. I wanted one even more when GWB fell off one, but they are not legal for use on the public highway in the UK.
In typical British overkill, it was decided they should be classified as a 'road vehicle' so require number plates, lights, and insurance.

G

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 06 Jul 08 - 09:20 PM

I'm in DC for the end of a miniwacation and Mim (my snake fanatic) is off with her dad and sister, cousin and future brother in law riding Segways (I think that is what they are called......mini scooters) round the city. I'll run this all by her and get her expert vet tech opinion later..........

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: ranger1
Date: 06 Jul 08 - 05:41 PM

LOL, Becca! Good thing I'd swallowed that mouthful of cola before I read it!

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 08:16 PM

Ahhhhhhisssss... hehehehehe

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 08:15 PM

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha..... hehehehehehehe.... Becca... hahahaha...

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Becca72
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 12:12 PM

Alice, they can tell by the other snakes' accents.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Alice
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 11:56 AM

Mr. Google says Alaska, Maine and Hawaii are the 3 states without poisonous snakes. How do the snakes know where the border of Maine is???

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Bee
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 11:44 AM

Hawaii only poison snake-less state? What's Alaska got that's poisonous?

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 10:46 AM

In all those woods, not a single Timber Rattler? I don't know Kendall.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: kendall
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 08:09 AM

The first song made in America was titled, Springfield Mountain. It's about a young man who was bitten by a pizzen sarpint and he died. The species is not mentioned.

I do believe that if there was a timber rattler in Maine, someone would have noticed, and they would have mentioned it.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Becca72
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 07:23 AM

according to this website we here in Maine only have one type of poisonous snake. If what Joe says is true and they haven't been around since 1901 then someone needs to update the site..

click me

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 05:07 AM

Up at the old camp, along the north-south edge of the woods east of the camp, in the "front" and "back" yards, I constructed "snake pits". Just a square of timber eight inches tall with the east side about two inches above the ground and a piece of tin roofing on top with stones on top of the tin. I had dozens of snakes on my property. NO mice or squirrels in my camp.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 08:21 PM

In parks where I've worked we had a long-handed trash pickup thing for grabbing snakes that were then dropped into a large trash can and it was closed up until you got to where the snake was being relocated and then opened and tipped over.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 08:19 PM

Joe, I know how to skip stones, but how do you skip a rattlesnake?

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 07:50 PM

Ya' done good Amos.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 07:42 PM

Amos, this is California. You can't kill snakes here. You're likely to get sued by a snake-hugger....

-Joe, happy not to have found a snake here yet-

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 07:30 PM

I was up on the ladder mending a gutter a year back, and when I came back there was a young diamondback soaking up the warmth on the concrete about three feet from the foot of the ladder. So I called my wife and I sez, "This here is a diamondback rattler, innit?" Well she looks, and then runs inside to look it up on Google, and comes back to confirm, yes it is. I was problemated about what to do, but I realized if I chased it off, it could show up in a neighbors yard and bite their dog or somp'n. So I reached over for a shovel I had nearby, and clipped its head off. I was orful sorry, but ya know, ya gotta think of the people...




A

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 07:28 PM

Now, it's my understanding that Hawaii is the only state without poisonous snakes - although that may no longer be true since some of those brown ones immigrated from Guam.
So, are there poisonous snakes in Maine - Mississauga Rattlesnakes, perhaps? There used to be Timber Rattlesnakes in Maine - but the last one sioghted was in 1901.
-Joe-

---

Rattlesnake Skipping Song by Dennis Lee

Mississauga rattlesnakes
Eat brown bread.
Mississauga rattlesnakes
Fall down dead.
If you catch a caterpillar
Feed him apple juice;
But if you catch a rattlesnake
Turn him loose!

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: kendall
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 07:25 PM

Two snakes eyeballing each other, one says, "I'll come back to you, but I won't crawl."

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 06:54 PM

All the snakes left Maine...the primaries are over there!

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Alice
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 02:19 PM

Gary Larson cartoon: snake pit, one snake says to the other, "This place gives me the creeps."

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 01:49 PM

Green snakes remind me of bamboo vipers. Sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 11:44 AM

I'm glad you have faced up to your problem, Spaw. ;-)

Yeah, Bee, Green snakes are gorgeous. I haven't seen one in some considerable time, but I did see a big, beautiful Garter snake a few days ago in the backyard.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Bee
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 11:19 AM

We only have cute snakes in Nova Scotia - probably the same ones as in Maine. We have garter snakes (I have a big fat old one living in a rockpile here), Ring snakes (incredibly cute little things with red collars) and green snakes. Green snakes are my favourite. They are small, delicate and the most brilliant grass green you can imagine. They like to curl up and sun themselves on old stumps. My favourite thing about garter snakes is that they eat slugs.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: jacqui.c
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 09:56 AM

TRUBRIT's daughter has a number of reptiles, including four snakes. I love going to their house and being allowed to 'play' with the corn snake. It is a beautiful creature and very relaxing to hold.

Another good reason to come to Maine, Liz. I'm sure that you would be allowed to make friends with Mim's snakes. My grandson was fascinated by them this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Becca72
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 05:49 AM

The only good snake is a pair of boots as far as I'm concerned. But I'd never actually get close enough to one to kill it myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 05:19 AM

She didn't kill it, she's not into that sort of thing, but she doesn't like them.

If it were me, I'd be on the ground trying to make friends with it. I love snakes.

Spaw - you owe the British Government a new keyboard and me another cup of fruit tea!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 04:39 AM

I have a screw loose.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 01:56 AM

Snakes? They're beautiful creatures. Specially Garter Snakes. People who go around wantonly killing them have got a screw loose as far as I'm concerned.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: frogprince
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 12:27 AM

Yep, Stilly; picture number 14,327 is the one!

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 09:18 PM

Any of these look like it?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 09:07 PM

My grandma used a hoe or the edge of a shovel, whichever was handy. One time she killed a copperhead in our front yard, something that my mother was quite happy with.

As long as they're not bothering me I'm at peace with 'em. Last summer I was walking along the trail down at the Cherry Springs nature walk, my wife about 50 feet ahead, when a little ol' rattler, maybe two feet long, crawled out onto the trail between us. I stopped, the snake looked at me, stuck out its tongue, and crawled off into the grass on the edge of the creek. My wife was forging on ahead and never saw the snake.

Of course, 25 feet away is close enough for me...especially for pit vipers and other things like that.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: kendall
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 08:47 PM

I'm not fond of snakes, but I never kill them because they eat mosquitoes. Trouble is, if they ate enough of them to make a difference, they would all be the size of Anacondas.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 07:25 PM

So my Ol' Man hated snakes about like I do and was known to be pretty fair with a 5-Iron in chopping their heads off. The 5 has the best angle.   It was one of his earliest golf lessons to me as snakes were pretty common along the fifth hole down by the creek.

So one day a few years before he married and post WWII he and his buddy Dick drive up to Fort Wayne to see Dick's parents who had recently moved their for some reason beyond my personal comprehension. Ever been to Fort Wayne? Yeah.......that's about it............Anyway, they arrive and walk up the driveway between beautiful flower beds, Dick's Dad being an avid gardener. Having gone only a few feet they see a snake. My Dad runs back to the car (a '47 Olds) and gets a 5-Iron out of his bag in the trunk. He no sooner kills this snake when another appears and then another! First thing you know, he and Dick are killing snakes right and left.

Their shouts of "Here's another one," and "Christ they're all over the place," are heard by Dick's father who runs out screaming, "YOU'RE KILLING MY SNAKES!!!!" Avid gardener that he was, he had imported as many garter snakes as possible to kill the bugs and these guys were wiping out his pest killers. He explained all this to them and both Dick and my dad apologized and felt bad about it. Years later Dad would occasionally tell this tale but you always knew by the look in his eyes that bug eaters or not, to the Ol' Man, the only good snake was a dead snake.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 05:16 PM

No dangerous reptiles in Maine!? There's the Black Racer, which will chase you down, wrap itself around you, squeeze you to death, and then swallow you.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 05:05 PM

Most likely a garter snake, whose only defense if picked up is to pee on you. Smells awful but other than that no permanent harm. Actually the larger ones will also try to bite you but other than a few scratches they really can't chomp off a finger or a thumb.

Some of the larger milk adders can be scary. They look a little like rattle snakes but they are harmless as well.

Your friend was probably more in danger from human predators in Baxter Park. There are cannibals encamped there.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 04:50 PM

I didn't realise she was going to be in Portland or I would have done... I told her this morning that if I'd known I would have given her Kendall's address where if she presented herself with the words 'I know Liz the Squeak' she would have been treated with tea and sympathy!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 12:25 PM

You ARE living danerously John !!

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 11:55 AM

The most dangerous reptile in Maine is probably the notorious one-eyed trouser snake.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 11:46 AM

If Ranger 1 had been around, you could have made a Snake and Pygmy Pie.

G



(I'm here; under the table)

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: jacqui.c
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 10:04 AM

Yep - mosquitoes are definitely things to avoid.

We had a snake in the back yard a while back - I scared it away coming out of the cellar one day. Kendall has seen them sunning themselves on the front step quite often. Beautiful creatures.

You should have let us know that your manager was here - we could have extended some hospitality.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Becca72
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 10:00 AM

Ah yes, the mosquito. That's the Maine state bird, ya know...

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 09:17 AM

I guessed it might be a garter snake, but really, 'yellow with markings' - that's all she told me. When she eventually stopped and looked back up the hill, her partner was there calmly photographing said reptile so when she brings the photos in, we'll be able to see.

As for dangerous critters - given the size and number of her mosquito bites, I think my manager would disagree.

Thanks chaps.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: kendall
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 08:20 AM

As far as I know there are no dangerous critters in Maine. (If you don't count republicans)
Mother bears will attack if you mess with their babies. (So will human Mothers)

Moose will attack if you wave your antlers at them.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 08:09 AM

Garter snake would be my guess too. They are everywhere and harmless. One year at the maritime museum, I was closing up for the season as a cold front came in. I opened the door and there sat a tiny garter snake looking for a warm place to hide. He was only about 6" long.

They sun themselves on warm days.

No rattle snakes here - at least thjat's what the natives say.

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: maeve
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 07:04 AM

I'd guess garter snake, Liz. No timber rattlers here to the best of my knowledge. They're rare even in New Hampshire.

Garters are harmless, even if you annoy them enough to provoke a bite.

Can your friend provide any of the info Ref mentioned? Why not send a PM to ranger1?

maeve, in Maine

Subject: RE: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: Ref
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 06:08 AM

How long was it? How thick around? You haven't given us much to work with. Could be anything from garter snake to Timber Rattler.

Subject: BS: Reptile question for the Maine-iacs
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 06:02 AM

My manager has just returned from a fortnight in Maine (she loved Portland) and tells us of an encounter with a snake, in Baxter Park?

It was yellow with some markings and that's all she registered before she screamed and broke the 4 minute mile downhill over rough terrain. She doesn't like snakes... but she's interested to know what it might be, and so am I.

If anyone herpetologists out there can help please?

They were walking up towards a waterfall, so the terrain would have been hilly with undergrowth.

LTS