#152831 - 10/22/08 02:38 PM
Re: Snake bite: Another reason why we homeschool.
[Re: Blast]
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Addict
Registered: 11/24/05
Posts: 478
Loc: Orange Beach, AL
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Yikes! I hope the kids are OK. I tried to open the article but the page timed out.
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"There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother." -Theodore Roosevelt
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#152866 - 10/22/08 07:01 PM
Re: Snake bite: Another reason why we homeschool.
[Re: ]
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Paranoid?
Veteran
Registered: 10/30/05
Posts: 1341
Loc: Virginia, US
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Cottonmouths/Water Moccasins are pit vipers and have a very noticeable sensory pit organ between their eyes and nostrils.
Pit viper's heads are "triangular" and wider than the neck because of the large venom glands and muscle for squeezing the gland.
Pit vipers have vertical pupils.
The triangular head is really the most noticeable way to identify a pit viper at a distance... Unless of course it's a Rattlesnake and making noise or it's a Cottonmouth showing the threat display of a wide open mouth (which a few snakes mimic).
Edited by Nicodemus (10/22/08 07:11 PM)
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"Learn survival skills when your life doesn't depend on it."
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#152867 - 10/22/08 07:10 PM
Re: Snake bite: Another reason why we homeschool.
[Re: Nicodemus]
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Rapscallion
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 02/06/04
Posts: 4020
Loc: Anchorage AK
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All I know is I give snakes one chance to seek life elsewhere, and then I get out the snake bashing club. When I discovered a rat snake behind the board I put up over one of my windows this hurricane season, I found me a stick, picked him up, and put him in the bushes where he belongs. He showed no inclination to do me harm, so I helped him on his way. Had he turned on me, I'd have splintered his carcass, and given him what Marv calls the hard goodbye.
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The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
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#152868 - 10/22/08 07:16 PM
Re: Snake bite: Another reason why we homeschool.
[Re: Nicodemus]
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Member
Registered: 03/24/07
Posts: 111
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Yeah, the triangular head/wider than neck characteristic is pretty noticeable from a safe distance in the field if you get a good look at the snake.
Getting down eye-to-eye to verify location of the sensory pit organ between the vertical-pupiled eyes and the nostrils can give more definitive identification as can the intense pain, swelling, maybe blurred vision and vomiting after it bites. Confirmation!
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#152884 - 10/22/08 10:08 PM
Re: Snake bite: Another reason why we homeschool.
[Re: Blast]
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Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
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There are three kinds of snakes in my book.
The ones that are scared and try to bite me. The ones that are hungry and try to hug me. The cool ones.
I like the last, and respect them all.
That he didn't get a positive ID bothers me. I didn't know it was loaded isn't a very good excuse with snakes.
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When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.
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#152891 - 10/22/08 10:40 PM
Re: Snake bite: Another reason why we homeschool.
[Re: ironraven]
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Geezer
Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
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I wonder what the teacher thought the 'pit' in 'pit-viper' stood for?
There are variations within most kinds of animals. One might think that a science teacher would be able to identify the ones in THAT area. Never mind CO, CA or MT. Try TX.
"I don't know if we will allow snakes back into any of our classrooms."
Typical knee-jerk American Public School reaction. Why not disallow DANGEROUS snakes in the classroom instead?
Or continue to have dangerous snakes there so the kids (not to mention the teachers) can learn what they do look like, but actually use some care and intelligence.....? American Public School System... no, never mind.
GO, HOMESCHOOLERS!!!
Sue
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#152894 - 10/22/08 11:14 PM
Re: Snake bite: Another reason why we homeschool.
[Re: ]
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Geezer
Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 5695
Loc: Former AFB in CA, recouping fr...
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The heck with the color, look at the head/neck area. Big difference...
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