Everything You Shouldn't Do When You Find A Snake

I was just reading this article and it reinforced the need for people to read information like that provided on the Working with Wildlife website.

Two boys come across a Cottonmouth snake and start trying to kill it by hitting it with an oar - little wonder it raised itself up and started hissing at them!!!

They eventually drown the snake in a bucket - here's a question - why?

Just a thought - is it possible that the snake might have been frightened and hurt because it was being battered by a lump of wood and the only means of defence it had was to hiss at whatever was battering it?

It was reassuring to read the comments by Mr Booth of North Carolina State University who advised that simply avoiding snakes is the best way to prevent yourself from being bitten.

Could I ask readers to take part in a small experiment - have a friend tie your arms by your side so you cannot move them - then get them to tie your legs together so you cannot move them - then get them to lie you down on the ground (gently) - then get them to start hitting you with a lump of wood - then get them to stick your head into a bucket of water - I suspect that there will be a bit more coming out of your mouth than just a hiss!!!!

Please take some time to read the information provided on the Working with Wildlife website and consider purchasing our e-Book - at the very least you will begin to get an understanding of why snakes do what they do when they come into contact with people and we hope that through having a better understanding of snakes people will stop killing them simply because they come across them in their travels.

What Not To Do When You Find A Snake

I am just reading this article where a lady has been bitten by a baby copperhead snake when she picked it up to show her children!!!!

Please have a read of the information available on the Working with Wildlife website - this bite could have been easily avoided simply by leaving the snake alone.

The Importance Of Education

Yesterday my family and I visited The Grand Canyon (what a magnificent sight) and during the day I saw something that proved you can never get enough good education.

While looking at examples of housing that were used over the years by native Americans, several nearby tourists became very animated and started running around one of the "tents" that had been made using branches of trees draped over a timber frame.

I wandered over to see what the commotion was about and one guy was running around the structure yelling that he had heard a "rattle" and thought there was a snake inside the tent.

I stood there and watched while this same guy then starts to stick his hand inside the branches trying to part them!!!!

I commented "Don't you think that is a bit dangerous?" and his response was "I have never seen a rattlesnake up close!!!"

I could not believe what I had just heard - this guy is miles away from anywhere, with limited medical services and he is sticking his hand into branches where he believes a rattlesnake is hiding because he has never seen one before!!!!!

This is why good education is so important - if this guy had looked at the Working with Wildlife website, perhaps read the FAQ About Snakes information, or better, read the e-Book, he would have known just how crazy what he was doing was.

There is, however, a happy ending to this story - the "rattle" the guy had heard turned out to be nothing more than a cricket clicking its wings!!!!!!

The guy might have been disappointed but at least he never ended up in hospital!!!

Extra Dangers Caused By The Mississippi Floods

Just been reading this article about the Mississippi floods where residents are being warned to take care because the water has displaced venomous snakes.

Now, more than ever, would be a good time to check out the Working with Wildlife website and if nothing else download a snake bite first aid sheet - it costs you nothing and could save a life if someone is bitten and help is not at hand because of the floods.

It would also be a very good idea to consider buying the e-Book, or doing the online course because both will provide you with strategies that could reduce your chances of being bitten.

Also remember that you can always Contact Us with any questions you have on this topic and we will be happy to provide you with any information we can.

A HUGE Apology!!!!

It has just come to our attention that the payment facility for the Online Snake Awareness course went "missing" from our website!!!!

We have no idea what happened but the issue has now been rectified.

For anyone who has recently been considering doing the course and has gone to our website to enrol only to find they cannot do so, we sincerely apologize.

With snakes coming out earlier than usual this year, now might be the right time to consider doing the course, or at least have a read of our e-Book, so that you know what to do if you come into contact with a snake.

The USA e-Book Is Now Available!!!!

Long time readers of this blog and people who have been to the Working with Wildlife website would be aware that we have been working on an e-Book to give people a better understanding of snakes of the USA and their actions when they come into contact with people.

Well, after hours of work and a fantastic effort by all the Working with Wildlife team, the Snakes & Us In The USA - A Sensible Perspective e-Book is now available for sale.

It is a fascinating read and we are sure that by the end of the book you will have a better appreciation of why these creatures do what they do and will learn strategies that will greatly reduce the chance of you being bitten by a snake.

There are snake bite first aid sheets at the back of the book that can be printed off to keep with you while you travel and there are also many references to other information if herpetology is a subject that interests you.

Check it out - it is well worth the read.

The e-Book Is Almost Here!!

Long time readers of this blog and those of you who have visited the Working with Wildlife website would be aware that we have been working on an e-Book for people interested in snakes of the USA and the way they react when confronted by humans.

Well, the book is in the final stages of production and will be available to purchase shortly.

We are very proud of the book - it is an easy to read publication that will be an invaluable source of information on snakes and their behaviour.

It also contains Snake Bite First Aid instructions that can be printed off and kept on hand in case you, or anyone you know, ever gets bitten by a snake.

With the warmer weather now here and the likelihood that you could some across a snake greatly increasing, it is well worth having a quality reference source like the Working with Wildlife e-Book on hand.

We will keep you up to date on the e-Book's release as the date gets closer - in the meantime, if there is anything you would like to know about snakes of the USA please ask us via this blog, or if it is easier, Contact Us via our website.