03-07-2023, 04:47 PM
Sadly, man is far more dangerous to local wildlife than vice versa...in most cases. Even though many species of snakes are on the endangered or at least protected list there are some folks who just say "a snake is a snake is a snake" and kill every one they see. I have always had a fascination with snakekind and would rather study them than kill them. I have gone out of my way in several states...with several poisonous snake species...to help the snake get away from me without harm. And even though I carried a pistol with snake loads while tubing in some areas I never fired it. Although I did have to use my "snake stick" to relocate a few curious cottonmouths in Louisiana and even some swimming rattlers in Arizona.
Also, being in a boat is no guarantee you will be free of reptilian interactions. Have had a couple of cottonmouths drop into my boat while going under an overhanging tree branch. That creates some excitement. And have had to delay getting back in a beached bass boat when I found a 7 foot long eastern diamondback curled up under the console. Didn't bring their own tackle and lunch so they got (gently) evicted.
Also, being in a boat is no guarantee you will be free of reptilian interactions. Have had a couple of cottonmouths drop into my boat while going under an overhanging tree branch. That creates some excitement. And have had to delay getting back in a beached bass boat when I found a 7 foot long eastern diamondback curled up under the console. Didn't bring their own tackle and lunch so they got (gently) evicted.