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Guarding the chanterelle patch.


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They are awesome,venomous and beautiful and I too am very glad I didn't get bit. I always try to leave the snakes alone except where they pose a real danger to people and can't be relocated.

They are ridiculously easy to relocate. I have three stacked up in my house right now; two can keep hanging out as they are a nice pair and make good house decor in a locked cage. The third I need to pack up and relocate after it chows a few more mice. Relocating is stressful and the extra meals will help.

While it is always better to just move them a short ways, if they are found in an area with a lot of kids and pets, you'll need to translocate a greater distance. Or pass them onto a herp professional, either way. Feel free to drop me a line if you need help with venomous snake rehab; it's no problem.

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I'm not too sure I would want to work with it. Lol

I'm sure that has lots to do with the fact that we were raised with people putting stigmas on them.

I've never had a bad run in with them. I'm quick to remind friends and others that we are invading their territory and there's no need to show aggression towards them. They are beautiful creatures and harmless unless harmed.

Is it true that they cannot bite under water ?

Or is that just a myth here in South Louisiana !'

Seems to me if it really wants to bite you, regardless if it's under wai, it'll bite ya if harmed.

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In that particular spot no luck. They are starting to pop up though. I've just had had bad timing. I work nights so week days are out the question for foraging. . I've noticed a pattern in the chants here in south Louisiana. Majority of my finds are are the edge of wooded areas and along the edges of ditches and canals that are also wooded. That would explain the water maccasin photo.

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Good on you for not harming them. They are nearsighted and can be spooked easily, and likewise they enjoy nibbling on anything their senses tell them is warm, but they are really pretty nice snakes and calm down super quick in captivity or even after a few minutes of gentle handling (with proper safety equipment of course).

To answer the question of whether they can bite underwater, the issue isn't so much whether they can as whether they will. In most cases they won't bite at all unless you are a right idiot and attack them first, or unless you actually step on the snake. I have gone in the water after them and simply waited when they ducked under the surface without a lot of concern that they were coming to bite me or whatnot. It's not their style. This said, had I stepped on one I'm sure it would have bitten defensively, whether this occurred underwater or on land.

Cottonmouths are pretty heavy fish eaters; that's what 'piscivorus' means. Since fish are not inclined to hurl themselves out of water so that snakes can conveniently consume them, you can probably figure out that they are fully capable of pursuing and chomping on fish, frogs, crawdads, etc, underwater. They do seem a lot less likely to bite defensively in water - not that they are really bad about that on land either - but again I wouldn't advise grabbing or stepping on one regardless of the moisture level in your situation.

I'm not too sure I would want to work with it. Lol
I'm sure that has lots to do with the fact that we were raised with people putting stigmas on them.
I've never had a bad run in with them. I'm quick to remind friends and others that we are invading their territory and there's no need to show aggression towards them. They are beautiful creatures and harmless unless harmed.

Is it true that they cannot bite under water ?
Or is that just a myth here in South Louisiana !'
Seems to me if it really wants to bite you, regardless if it's under wai, it'll bite ya if harmed.

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Pretty impressive Chef!!

Top Chef, Herptologist and a well rounded with mycology ?!?! ?

I've always wanted to do some snake handling myself. I've got way too many hobbies as it is though! I know who I need to contact for any snake questions. Thanks !!

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I'm not a chef so much as someone who brings chefs to the wild and vice versa, but thanks! Though nobody seems to complain much when I run a wild foods pop-up dinner, which I do mostly for wildlife charity. I can put some tastiness on the table.

Herpetologist would be correct however. :) Primary specialty is with venomous species.

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