Reel Lines, Issue Number 22, July 2007 Page: 7
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I l
STEVE CAMPBELL
Aquatic Education -
North Texas/
PanhandleMost venomous
snake bites occur
during one of the
two following
activities-
trying to kill it or
trying to catch it.SNAKES!
After two years of drought, the skies have finally opened up and renewed the parched earth with a bounty of rain.
Good for our lawns, good for our lakes, good for our fish and good for our snakes.
Did he say "snakes"?!?
Yes, he did!
Reports of increased snake sightings across Texas have begun to pour across my desk. This is good news to me,
but then I am a herpetologist-one who studies reptiles and amphibians.
When water becomes scarce, so do snakes and other wildlife. Many reptiles and amphibians, when faced with
extended hot and dry conditions, opt for a subterranean lifestyle. They will retreat as deep into the earth as they
can reach-places that are much cooler than the surface. There they enter a "summertime" state of hibernation
known to science as aestivation (ess - tee - vay - schun).
Just as in hibernation, or some herpetologists might prefer the term brumation (brew - may - schun), aestivation
brings on a reduction in heart and respiration rates. Metabolism is also decreased, which prevents the loss of
much-needed fat reserves.
Some fish have found very interesting ways to either survive prolonged dry periods or at least ensure that the
species will survive. A species of African lungfish, with ancestral roots dating back to the Devonian Period, can
survive up to three years by generating a cocoon of mucus around its body.
Snakes either adjust to a pattern of nighttime stalking of prey or simply find a cooler place to hang out.
Texas is blessed with 73 species of snakes-130 if subspecies are counted. Of these varieties, 11 (about 20 per-
cent) are venomous, and only about eight have either venom or a venom delivery system capable of causing death
in humans. I consider that a comforting statistic when compared to the number of fatalities caused by automo-
bile accidents each year.
Did he say "blessed"?
He sure did!
Snakes seek out and consume prey that varies from invertebrates, fish, amphibians, other reptiles (including their
own species), birds and their eggs to small mammals. For the most part, many of their prey items have been
deemed harmful to humans in one way or another. Sometimes it is not the species consumed that is beneficial as
much as it may be the individual organism. Water snakes, for instance, cannot capture healthy fish. Instead, they
catch those that are sick or dying and prevent further contamination of fish populations. Unfortunately, the worlds
of angling and water snakes collide. Water snakes are not aware of bag limits, and a stringer of fish is just too
easy to pass up.
Ominous encounters with snakes may happen around our homes. These ill-fated meetings are actually our fault.
We provide places for snakes to live and/or unintentionally attract species (rodents and birds) they prefer to dine
upon. You cannot blame the snake; it's just doing what a snake does. We are the intruders.
What should I do if I come across a snake?
That depends on what the two of you are doing at the time. If you are out walking in the woods or in a field, or
if you are fishing, just leave it alone. Most venomous snake bites occur during one of the two following activities-
trying to kill it or trying to catch it.
The severed head of a pit viper can deliver a venomous bite hours after its decapitation, so take care not to leave
it around for someone to handle. More often than not, nonvenomous, beneficial snakes are put to death need-
lessly. It is akin to the ultimate case of identity theft. However, I would by no means suggest that a venomous
snake present on your front porch should be overlooked. It presents a clear and present danger to your family and
should be removed carefully.To quote an over-quoted movie, "Can't we all just get along?"
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Texas. Parks and Wildlife Department. Angler Education Program. Reel Lines, Issue Number 22, July 2007, periodical, July 2007; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth576095/m1/7/?rotate=90: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.