A Horse, a snake, and the Darwin Awards.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238306)
Walnut Creek, California
December 28, 2020 1:01pm CST
The other day, my friend and I were out hiking. He's a bit more anxious about wildlife than I am, and I had just assured him that the rattlesnakes were all sleeping, when a rattlesnake-like critter crossed our path. It was about two feet long.
I looked at the snake's tail, girth, and eyes, and determined that it was a gopher snake. But its markings were almost exactly like those of a rattlesnake. Rattlesnake-like markings are one of the gopher snake's defenses. They also will rattle their tails in the grass to imitate the sound of a rattlesnake.
Once the snake slithered off the trail, I bent down for a closer look, to make sure my assessment was correct. At that point, I thought of the Darwin Awards, given to people who do really stupid things and eliminate themselves from the gene pool.
Do I qualify for the Darwin Awards? Or do I just know local snakes and trust my own judgment? I would give the award to the gopher snake. Ironically, they're more aggressive than rattlesnakes, but they are completely non-venomous.
17 people like this
14 responses
@RasmaSandra (98004)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Dec 20
At least you know something about snakes I know nothing only that it's time to move on when I see one and hopefully it's not poisonous,
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (98004)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Dec 20
@TheHorse then I was lucky because there was only one poisonous snake in Latvia and I never met it
You are here: News Viper - the only venomous snake in Latvia 07 • 06 • 2016 Viper - the only venomous snake in Latvia Every year nature friends are reminded to be careful when in the forest and be aware of snakes, especially during the mushroom- and berry-
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
31 Dec 20
@RasmaSandra Interesting. It looks like an American rattlesnake. I hope not too many people get bitten.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
28 Dec 20
Well, they have to be more aggressive if they're not poisonous.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Dec 20
@TheHorse And you pretend to be ..?
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Dec 20
@BarBaraPrz Human. Very aggressive.
2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Dec 20
That snake must have been sleep walking 
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I think you have enough outdoor experience to know what to do or not to do when a snake is around. We'd probably do the same. The snake would probably be more afraid of us . . . so if you just keep your distance and not startle it, should be ok 
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I think you have enough outdoor experience to know what to do or not to do when a snake is around. We'd probably do the same. The snake would probably be more afraid of us . . . so if you just keep your distance and not startle it, should be ok .3 people like this
Another day in Outdoors, CA 
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
2 Jan 21
You can share your findings with JJ and may be he can guide or help with regards to these awards !!
@FourWalls (86707)
• United States
30 Dec 20
No, but the snake might have in case your curiosity got the better of you and you wanted to see if snake meat really tastes like chicken.....
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86707)
• United States
2 Jan 21
@TheHorse -- ew. I'm more in agreement with my dear mother of blessed memory: cook that sucker until you KNOW it's not gonna be looking back at you. 
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jan 21
I HAVE eaten rattlesnake. There was one in our campsite on a river trip. The guide decided we'd better kill it, as it might seek the warmth of a sleeping bag later at night. He and I fixed it up in an olive oil, lemon and garlic sauce. But I think we undercooked it, so it was more like squid (or something) than chicken. Oh well.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135756)
• Marion, Ohio
28 Dec 20
I will give it to both of you Most snakes wont bother you if you dont bother them
Most snakes wont bother you if you dont bother them2 people like this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
30 Dec 20
I think you know your local wildlife.
I maybe qualified for Darwin award when my girls were young. We went hiking in the mountains (bear country). Complete with their salmon sandwiches, orange, juice box, and granola bar in their backpacks. . I can shake my head and laugh now.
. I can shake my head and laugh now.1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
29 Dec 20
I think you know what you are doing. Unlike me that wants to see all nature close at hand. I wanted to get out of the car once and take a better look at a copperhead. My husband made me stay in the car.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jan 21
@LindaOHio Had I a wife, I would kindly request that she not play with copperheads either. I remember the big ol' horseflies we had in the Midwest. Their bites hurt!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
30 Dec 20
@TheHorse He was right in front of the car. I took a pic. I wanted to get out; but they have these 1" flies in VA (no joke); and I didn't want to get out of the car because they were buzzing around the windows. Plus my hubby wanted me not to play with the copperhead.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
31 Dec 20
Glad you are still in the gene poolWe don't want to loose gems.
And you are really brave. I would never dare to do that. Mention of snake would make me run away
We don't want to loose gems.
And you are really brave. I would never dare to do that. Mention of snake would make me run away2 people like this
