What should be done about dangerous snakes? Should people be allowed to keep or import them?
Snakes
Fear or dislike of snakes goes a long way back: to the story of Adam and Eve, at least. Cleopatra used an asp to kill herself. Egyptians also used snakes for assassination, and worshipped them (particularly the Nile Cobra). They are also worshipped in India. We call a deceitful, treacherous person a snake in the grass. The Mexican flag has an image of a snake in the talons and beak of an eagle. The Snake River is a major river in the Pacific North West. Some people "charm" them with music that they cannot even hear, but the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 is bringing an end to that tradition. Others make a living out of catching them (in some instances releasing them first). One thing we don't do is ignore them.
Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles. They have no legs. They are closely related to lizards, some of which also have no legs and resemble snakes. Snakes like to live on the edges, where they can choose whether to be in sun or shade. The study of snakes is called ophiology (herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians).
Snakes are carnivorous, and will eat other snakes and lizards, other small animals, birds and insects. They have a flexible jaw which enables them to swallow the food whole. Some snakes kill their prey with a venomous bite; others use constriction to strangle prey. Snakes tend to be very sluggish after a meal, and warm up while digesting. If threatened at this stage they may regurgitate their meal. Most snakes are either harmless to humans or will only attack when startled or hurt, but some have been known to eat babies.
A snake's skin is covered with scales, including transparent scales that cover the eyes all the time. The scales underneath are designed to grip for movement. Snakes periodically shed their skin in one piece, along with external parasites. All snakes can move by undulating laterally or by concertina movement. Some move in different ways, too, like the sidewinder. They can climb trees and swim. Some even live in shallow tropical seas.
Snakes can see well enough to detect movement, and some can detect infra red. They have no ears but are well able to detect vibration. Smell is achieved using the tongue, which is forked to give some sense of direction.
Most snakes lay eggs, and most of those abandon the eggs almost immediately. Some snakes bear the eggs until almost hatching and some actually rear live young; these strategies are useful in cold climates so the female can regulate the temperature of the young.
Snakes can be deadly, but most people are far more likely to be struck by lightning. For instance, only one of the 1,245 rattlesnake bites in the USA in 2003 proved fatal, and about 15 people die in America from snake bites per year. About 25% of snakes are venomous. If you are bitten (check for puncture wounds, swelling and pain), move away from the snake and head straight for medical attention where you can get anti-venom. But do not exert yourself as that will speed up the damage and put you at greater risk. Keep the wound below your heart if you can.
In some cultures snakes are eaten, and are said to taste like chicken. There is a risk of death due infection to from rare parasites from eating snakes, however.
Once in a while a snake is born with 2 heads, like the late "Thelma and Louise" at San Diego Zoo. The 2 heads disagree, and do not co-operate; each struggling to be the one to eat.
A number of snake species are endangered around the world. Often this is because of habitat loss, but also because humans try to eradicate them. This is because they are perceived as being dangerous to humans or to their animals, whether or not this is true. On the other hand, some people keep very dangerous snakes in their homes, and occasionally they die as a result.
Copperhead Snake
Photo courtesy of NPS
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Man Still Critical After Four Snake Bites
A man in Oklahoma was bitten four times, by a pygmy rattlesnake and a copperhead snake, in a garage close to his home. He is still critically in hospital, where he was rushed and treated with anti-venom. He had had no problem with the snakes on the property in the past 20 years during which time he had left snakes alone.
The pygmy rattlesnakes, timber rattlers and copperheads that live in patches of Oklahoma don't usually bite unless threatened. Naturalist Neil Garrison advised, "Don't put your hands and feet where you can't see. If you venture out in the yard at night, take a flashlight."
Please see the following message for the remaining stories. Sue [sysop in NewsForum, World Issues, All Animals forums] | 
