kai

was camping at palmetto SP over the weekend, and managed to see my first copperhead snake (yup..it was copper colored) and had a suspicious bulge in its 'belly' (i don't know my snake anatomy)... also heard some owls, some distant singing coyotes and saw my very first tree frog that wasn't in a zoo. He snuck up on us at the campfire- he was on one of those permanently installed grills they have at each side. Just like in the zoo... green, long toes with suction cup balls at the end, and big eyes...

the group i was with wasn't real nature seekers... this stuff just kind of happened to find us - imagine if I had gone actively looking

vettech2112

Congrats! I hope my trip next week is as successful as the wildlife is the main reason I hike. As far as your "anatomy" assumption, I'd be happy to see a well-fed copperhead. That means its on its way back to its den to sleep off the meal and won't be roaming about while I am. I was bitten by one when I was a teen and 'twas not a pleasant experience, for either of us.

So, you have photos of your new friends to share with us?

ploddinTod

Ed, Tell us a little more about your mishap with the copperhead so that others may beware. I've heard that they like fallen magnolia leaves to crawl around in. Of course, their coloration gives them a distinct advantage in blending in with their surroundings.

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PloddinTod

vettech2112

Actually, they go where the food is, regardless of it being magnolia leaves, oak leaves, or pine needles. I've seen several dozen in my lifetime and in varried environments. Even saw one swim across a small stream and most of the books will tell you they avoid water. A common phrase in medicine applies to zoology: Life rarely reads the book.

As far as my mishap, it was my own fault. I was on property we owned up near Ren Fair (near Navasota). We typically saw 2-3 copperheads on the property per year so I should have been more careful. I was walking barefoot (mistake #1) and wasn't watching where I was walking (mistake #2) and I stepped on the copperhead's tail. It expressed its displeasure by biting me about 1/3 of the way up my calf. We placed a tourniquet on my leg then I was taken to a hospital in Tomball where they cut the wound, flushed it and gave me a shot of antivenin. Most of the hospital stay (1/2 day) is blurry as is the next 24-36 hours. I'm not sure if that is due to the stress, the venom, or the antivenin.

Dispite my accident, I still think the copperhead is the prettiest of the snakes we have in these parts.

Advice regarding snakes - 1) never put your feet our your hands anywhere you can't see. The applies to your own woodpile, even if you live in the city. Copperheads and Coral Snakes have been found in Memorial Park so, just because you're in the city, don't assume there are no snakes. 2) be very careful when walking where there is a thick layer of leaves or pine needles. Often snakes will travel through, rather than over, such piles. 3) If you get bit, tourniquet the limb above the bite and get medical attention quickly. Most of our Texas snakes can't kill an adult but the venom can cause quite a bit of necrosis (dead flesh).

Anyone else get got besides me? I've also been the recipient of a scorpion sting (at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, while in basic) and a Brown Recluse bite (in Florida). I guess I've got a knack for angering venomous critters. No Killer Bees or Jellyfish yet though (knock wood).

jeff parker

Never been bit, but I had a small copperhead in my closet in Florida. Not on the floor either, it was up in the clothes. Caught it and released in the woods across the street. Saw the only coral snake I've ever seen in the wild last summer here in Bastrop SP.

OutdoorPhoto.com

Kai,

Palmetto SP is a great place for experiencing wildlife. It was the park where Shannon and I heard our first Barred Owl whose call is almost haunting. We also heard coyotes when we were there as well. The lush vegetation and swampy heritage of the location make for a ripe environment for all those critters!

Glad you had a great time!

kai

Unfortunately, no photos. I had left the camera in the truck, for no other reason than I was grumpy at the people i was with and didn't want to have to talk to them about it (i've been told i'm an 'alpha female' , and i think my non-peopleness kind of just goes with that territory)

thanks for the advice on snake bites. i'm not used to poisonous snakes at all, and i was kind of wondering what to do... now i know.

that brown recluse bite must have been fun. i've only heard what I saw on the internet (if you google 'brown recluse' there are some really nasty pictures of bites out there), but man- nasty, nasty.

I got got by a jellyfish pretty good last summer off the coast of mississippi. I was playing football, of all things (on the beach)- i ran into the water to catch the football and a jellyfish wrapped its little tentacle things around my leg. It took me a little while (a few seconds i guess) to shake it off- its almost like they got knotted around each other and my leg- and as soon as it was off, i started thinking... hmmm.... that was weird...what was that?.... it kind of...burns.... then i realized what had happened. not a big deal, really- foot and leg turned bright red, kind of looked like an allergic reaction (which, i guess in a way, it is). It was bearable, but i kind of had a long day after that. it was hot out, my leg burned, and i had to wait a couple hours for the ferry ride back home. I found scrubbing the stung area with sand was a good temporary relief. probably the wrong thing to do, but it seemed to make it feel better and it didn't kill me

Shannon

Well, aside from getting bitten by a stray cat last month, I'm pretty much incident free.

Wait... Does being almost impaled by a hummingbird while gardening count for anything?

I didn't think so...

Pretty boring, really. I've never been stung by a wasp, and have only been stung by a bee once -- in middle school, and during a standardized testing day (so the test is timed, and I had to complete the test before they'd dismiss me to the nurse's office for a bandaid and checkup!) I've never experienced a scorpion or jellyfish sting, though I've seen the effects of both first hand (scorpion's worse, apparently). Never been anywhere near close to getting bitten by a snake -- any photos you see of snakes are courtesy our zoom lenses... well, except for the diamondback rattlesnake Justin photographed before he read how far away they could strike.

I did get a pretty good scar while out hiking as a teenager, but we're not comparing battle scars (yet), so I'll save that disclosure.

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Shannon

I spoke too soon. While carrying a metal ladder to my backyard this morning, I stirred up a full nest of yellow jacket wasps that had built a nest on our gate. They got at least three strings into my right temple and another two or three next to my left ear before I managed to drop the ladder and run away. Of course, I managed to sling my glasses off my face and STEP ON THEM in the process, so now I'm out one pair of glasses.

At least I know I'm not allergic to yellow jacket stings, because one stung me on the hand about a week ago while I was pushing the mower into the backyard, through the same gate they got me at today. That was just a glancing sting -- only hurt for 1 day and left no sign after that except for a tiny red dot... wasn't even worth mentioning to my husband, except for a teensy weensy bit o' sympathy ("See what I got while mowing the lawn?")

Anyway... it's definitely insect season, so it just goes to show you -- they're out there, man! OWWWW!

The stings hurt like hell right when I got them (about an hour and a half ago), but after putting some cold water and "Afterbite" on them, they only hurt in a dull ache sort of way, unless I try to make a facial expression, in which case it's a sharp, wincing pain.

Interesting Fact (From SurviveOutdoors.com):

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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal