4Real Forums: Snakes

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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science

Topic: Snakes

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Courtney
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Texas
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Posted: April 07 2005 at 2:30pm \| IP Logged

I, like many have a fear of snakes. I live in suburbia so it's probably not something I should be too worried about. However, there is a creek/forest near our house that we walk to at least 1x a week. The kids absolutely love going there. I met a woman there yesterday who lives right behind it. She told me there are several snakes there, mostly non-poisonous. She has seen 2 copperheads though. Yuck! At that time my kids were lifting a giant rock and looking under it!

My question is, how do I teach caution but not fear of snakes.

I'm trying my best to become more of a nature girl. My husband laughs at me because I tend to tiptoe through the forest rather than embrace it. I am starting to really appreciate how much the kids learn just by being outside. Today they've been in the backyard and found a shed grass snake skin. It was really cool!

Any snake help out there?

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Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94

Mom to Candace 10/97

,Christopher 4/00

and Connor 11/11

cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets

Joined: Jan 26 2005
Location: Texas
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Posts: 7303

Posted: April 09 2005 at 9:27am \| IP Logged

I don't have much advice other than "keep your distance" -- not just because the animal may be dangerous, but because you might scare it off. Often we are not fast enough to catch it (unless we're speaking of spiders, turtles and the like), so we might as well stand back and study, at least until we can figure out what it is and what it's doing. I find that with my boys, I can caution them all I want about dangerous critters, but this doesn't turn into fear for them (except where wasps are concerned). They are still boys and want to explore and look close up. I have stressed that they shouldn't grab snakes, and they do listen, fortunately! Maybe you can stress that it is important not to surprise or corner animals because this can cause them to strike, but also say that as long as they aren't surprised, cornered, or guarding a nest, most animals won't confront people. (That's true, isn't it Macbeth?!)

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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)

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kingvozzo
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Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Maine
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Posted: April 09 2005 at 4:51pm \| IP Logged

Courtney,
I don't have any help, but I'd love to hear other replies to this. My Maggie (3.5 y/o) is thrilled with all the little garden snakes we have here. And the frogs and snails, too. But she just wants to pick up the "cute baby" snakes (as she calls them). YIKES!!! I wish she had a bit of a more cautious nature. She'd probably try that if we found a great big rattler, too

Take care!

Noreen

Courtney
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Texas
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Posts: 796

Posted: April 10 2005 at 11:47pm \| IP Logged

Thanks, Janette and Noreen. I stayed up late the other night looking at website about Texas snakes. I read a lot of info about what to do/not to do around snakes.

I talked with my kids about being cautious (like NOT sticking your arm into the hollowed out log to get your favorite stick or turning over a giant rock with your bare hands) when we go to the creek/forest area. I think for my own personal peace of mind, I'm going to get them some rubber rain boots they can wear when we go there since they like to tromp through the dead leaves and tall grass, and always seem to end up with at least one foot in the creek. I know knowledge is power over fear. Even though snakes creep me out (even grass snakes), if I can identify the poisonous ones, I'll feel a little better. Guess I need to buy a snake field guide.

I keep learning way more than I ever expected on this journey!

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Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94

Mom to Candace 10/97

,Christopher 4/00

and Connor 11/11

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