Watch your step....

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pxatim
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2008/05/22 22:36:20 (permalink)

Watch your step....

Out fishing Little Clearfield creek in Clearfield County the other week and came within a foot of stepping on this guy... I slowly backed away, got a couple pics and we both went our seperate ways.



#1

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    MuskyMastr
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/22 22:40:30 (permalink)
    That's Cool!!!

    Better too far back, than too far forward.
    #2
    Inukshuk
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/22 22:41:01 (permalink)
    Copperhead??
    #3
    pxatim
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/22 22:46:42 (permalink)
    Yup... I was just walkin along and I went to step and something didn't seem right. You know how you get that feeling then I saw him right where I was about to step next. I had hip boots on so I don't know what would have happened if I got him mad... got my heart going for a little bit. I freakin hate snakes.
    #4
    Inukshuk
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/22 23:29:12 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: pxatim

    Yup... I was just walkin along and I went to step and something didn't seem right. You know how you get that feeling then I saw him right where I was about to step next. I had hip boots on so I don't know what would have happened if I got him mad... got my heart going for a little bit. I freakin hate snakes.

     
    I love snakes, think they pretty cool creatures.  Dont want to get bit by a copperhead though!
    #5
    woodnickle
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 05:59:28 (permalink)
    As a kid , I had one for a pet. It was a small one but when my dad saw it he freaked and threw the jar  , snake, and all over the hill.

    #6
    nut
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 06:16:56 (permalink)
    i know a guy 6foot 4 inches tall weighs 255 lbs. who squeals like a little girl when we come across a snake afield. was this in the dhalo part?
    ORIGINAL: pxatim

    Yup... I was just walkin along and I went to step and something didn't seem right. You know how you get that feeling then I saw him right where I was about to step next. I had hip boots on so I don't know what would have happened if I got him mad... got my heart going for a little bit. I freakin hate snakes.

    the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

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    #7
    outdoorman
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 07:39:17 (permalink)
    these two type of snakes live ones and dead ones and i hate them both !!!!!!
    #8
    jon_e_si
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 09:19:39 (permalink)
    American Copperhead

    Pictures above-COPPEHEAD
    BELOW WATER SNAKE-LOOKS TO ME TO BE A WATER (PREGNANT??) SNAKE!Nonvenomous; adult size 30 - 60 inches. Basic color varies from reddish-brown to pinkish-purple, with brown to black bands. This common NC snake prefers a wet environment, but during rainy weather may travel a long distance from water. Feed on frogs, toads, and fish. These aggressive snakes will vigorously defend themselves by biting and discharging a foul-smelling musk. Note hatchling snake picture beneath adult pictures.










     
    Northern water snake in Umstead State Park, Wake County, NC - photo provided by Betty Anderson.

     


    This photo of a northern water snake's head provided by Rich Stevenson, taken in Umstead State Park.

     
    #9
    maxlikes2fish
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 09:20:39 (permalink)
    I found a skeleton of one years back at the Union City dam that was about 5 feet long. Glad I didn't find any more.....

    220, 221. Whatever it takes....
    #10
    Inukshuk
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 09:34:16 (permalink)
    The only reason why I thought it was a copperhead and not a northern watersnake is because the head seems to be more triangular than round which is indicative of a poisonous snake.  Sometimes the patterns are not discernable enough to positively identify.   Copperheads, watersnakes and milksnakes SOMETIMES appear similar.
    #11
    SilverKype
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 09:38:25 (permalink)
    I was waiting for someone else to ruin your fun.  Pxatim.. that's a northern watersnake.  The scales on the body and the distance they travel up the head is a dead give away.  Thanks for the pics!

    My reports and advice are for everyone to enjoy, not just the paying customers.
    #12
    Wally Cat
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 09:58:27 (permalink)
    Was trout fishing a couple of weeks ago and was standing in the water adjacent to some brush and vines hanging over and into the water. I started to move and reached for the brush to support myself when two snakes fell out of the entanglement with one hitting my arm. Shook me up for a few seconds until I realized they were water snakes. When I was younger I used to hunt them along the creeks and kill them but today I would rather observe them and let them go on their way. Too valuable of a resourse to destroy.

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    Author..... Wally Cat
    #13
    Wally Cat
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 10:05:26 (permalink)
    A few years back I was at Idlewild Park when a few people started to gather looking at a very large Black snake. One man ran to get a park attendent who came back with a shovel to kill it. I caught the snake and put it into a garbage bag the attendent had with him and then I took it out into the woods and released it. I ended with my picture in the paper and a write-up about the incident. They are very beneficial to the enviornment and deserve to live. About the worse thing they do is give a few people a rush when then see them.

    Enjoy Life, Be Happy, Go Fish - Often!

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    #14
    fish12
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 10:28:12 (permalink)
    /quote]

    I love snakes, think they pretty cool creatures.  Dont want to get bit by a copperhead though!

     
    Me to.
    #15
    Inukshuk
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 10:41:30 (permalink)
    I looked up some pictures on the internet of copperheads, I definitely think you guys are right about it being a watersnake. 
    #16
    dozer
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 10:52:54 (permalink)
    ya when you see a copperhead fore some reason you dont foget them,or a timber rattle
    #17
    Over the Hill
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 11:17:03 (permalink)
    Water snakes--- still hate them. They are the toughest snake I've come in contact with in PA. They stand their ground on land. When I was swimming in lakes and came face to face with them, they would just go their own way, no problems of aggression. Had to change my shorts a few times... Every year they would live in our swim float.

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    #18
    bigbear2012
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 11:17:11 (permalink)
    yep a water snake, but they are much more agressive than copperheads
    i've had both as pets and i've gotten bitten so amny times by the watersnakes....they do not make a good pet
    #19
    crappiefisher
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 11:44:10 (permalink)
    Be careful if you pick up the watersnakes. Had too many squirt white milky stinkin' slime stuff on my arm
    The stench is hard to get rid of  
    #20
    theyjustswimup
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/23 13:41:49 (permalink)
    ew man i hate snakes


    Why walk on water when we've got boats?
    #21
    FiveMilePete
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/24 04:41:02 (permalink)
    Definitely not a copperhead. I learned in Va. what they looked like,
    close up. Pictures are posted at state parks. I saw several on the South Fork of Shenandoah. Never saw one in Pa.
    #22
    avidangler
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/24 15:15:09 (permalink)
    If your willing to get close enough venomous snakes pupils r not round they vertical slots.  Non venomous have round pupils.  Copperheads are generally easily recognized by their color.  While I do not like snakes as long as they don't take me by surprise i'm fine with them.  The old theory works for me, they are more afraid of you then you are of them.

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    #23
    pxatim
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/26 21:09:29 (permalink)
    My bad... like it was said I only thought it was a copperhead was because of the shape of it's head. But the markings didn't appear to be like that of a copperhead. I just assumed because it's head looked pretty triangular...
     
    Anyways.... still big enough to give me a little adrenaline rush haha
    #24
    pxatim
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/26 21:12:14 (permalink)
    And yes.. it was in the dhalo area
    #25
    BillyLittler
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    RE: Watch your step.... 2008/05/27 16:16:51 (permalink)
    Doesn't matter to me what that is, I'd $h1t myself the same way!!!
    #26
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