06-11-2008, 12:32 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Over the years, I have received uncounted pictures and stories of TRUE STUFF...that never happened...or at least did not happen the way it said in the emails I got. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most common these days are pictures of fish, birds or animals that are unusual in size or situation, with captions that are designed strictly for sensational appeal. I especially love the ones of the big wels catfish, from Europe, that are touted as "world record flatheads" from the US...or even as fish that were caught by noodlers in Oklahoma.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also like the pictures of the dolphins surfing with human surfers...but labeled as great white sharks hunting for prey.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I was also amused by the picture of a guy in a Kayak, being followed by a big shark, and the story about how the guy had once befriended the shark and it forever followed him around like a puppy.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]What set off this tirade is a picture I just got that shows a guy holding a huge dead rattlesnake. (see attached picture) Here is the copy that was included in the email.[/#0000ff]
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[b][font "Times New Roman"][red][size 2]THEY GROW 'EM BIG IN[/size][/red][/font][blue] [/blue][red]Tooele County UTAH [/red][blue] [/blue][/b][size 2]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]This snake was recently found at the old[/font][/b][/size][b][font "Times New Roman"][blue] [/blue][/font][black]Wendover Military Base in Wendover Utah Tooele County.[/black][blue] [/blue][/b]
[b][size 2][#000000][font "Times New Roman"]A reminder that these creatures are actually out there and no matter
[b][b]what you believe, sometimes they should get not only prescriptive[/b][/font]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]rights to be there but the full right of way![/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]9 feet, 1 inch - 97 lbs.[/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]No matter what anybody else tells you, kill the snake before you try to do anything else to it! [/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]It's the safest way for you and the snake doesn't care anymore.[/font][/b][/#000000][/size][/b][/b]
[#0000ff]I have been an amateur herpetologist for many years (study of reptiles). And I have spent a lot of time in the southeastern part of the US. I recognized the snake as an EASTERN DIAMONDBACK. The only way it could have been found in Utah was if someone brought it here just to scare the locals. Another fine example of internet hoaxes and fake photos.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]But...a big dang snake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Most common these days are pictures of fish, birds or animals that are unusual in size or situation, with captions that are designed strictly for sensational appeal. I especially love the ones of the big wels catfish, from Europe, that are touted as "world record flatheads" from the US...or even as fish that were caught by noodlers in Oklahoma.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also like the pictures of the dolphins surfing with human surfers...but labeled as great white sharks hunting for prey.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I was also amused by the picture of a guy in a Kayak, being followed by a big shark, and the story about how the guy had once befriended the shark and it forever followed him around like a puppy.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]What set off this tirade is a picture I just got that shows a guy holding a huge dead rattlesnake. (see attached picture) Here is the copy that was included in the email.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[b][font "Times New Roman"][red][size 2]THEY GROW 'EM BIG IN[/size][/red][/font][blue] [/blue][red]Tooele County UTAH [/red][blue] [/blue][/b][size 2]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]This snake was recently found at the old[/font][/b][/size][b][font "Times New Roman"][blue] [/blue][/font][black]Wendover Military Base in Wendover Utah Tooele County.[/black][blue] [/blue][/b]
[b][size 2][#000000][font "Times New Roman"]A reminder that these creatures are actually out there and no matter
[b][b]what you believe, sometimes they should get not only prescriptive[/b][/font]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]rights to be there but the full right of way![/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]9 feet, 1 inch - 97 lbs.[/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]No matter what anybody else tells you, kill the snake before you try to do anything else to it! [/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]It's the safest way for you and the snake doesn't care anymore.[/font][/b][/#000000][/size][/b][/b]
[#0000ff]I have been an amateur herpetologist for many years (study of reptiles). And I have spent a lot of time in the southeastern part of the US. I recognized the snake as an EASTERN DIAMONDBACK. The only way it could have been found in Utah was if someone brought it here just to scare the locals. Another fine example of internet hoaxes and fake photos.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]But...a big dang snake.[/#0000ff]
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