OT: Snakes in January? (Not a Plane)

[hfunkhouser]

I have a big 'ol German Shep who is quite curious and obnoxious. He loves to dig up rocks, trees, and other interesting stuff and show it to me. Being that we live up in the hills southeast of Fayetteville he has plenty of stuff to keep him amused. Last week when we had that awesome 70* day he went out on his usual day hike and came back with a couple of bites on his muzzle. They didn't look like much except a maybe the distinct "fangs" of a small opossum or cat, so we didn't think to much of it. He commonly chases wildlife.

The bites abscessed but are now healing. No signs of infection, our hillbilly veterinarian says he's fine and that they look an awful lot like little copperhead bites, I get the feeling he dug up a little nest of hibernating snakes.

ANYWAYS...

Has anyone ever actually witnessed snakes in January on a freak warm day? This has stirred a debate among my pals, since we all are self declared experts on everything. :roll:

hfunk

[panicman]

I have witnessed a snake on the ground moving in january and it was upper 40's to 50 degrees. On the edge of a rice field/swamp where we unload from duck hunting down by stutgart. Can't remember what kind(non poison I know).

[c8mb]

I saw one on a log last February when it was around 28° but I think the rising water had something to do with it.

[DeBo]

Snakes will come out of the hibernation to bask on unusually warm days in January and February. They generally only need to get a foot or so below ground to get through the winter. During extremely wet years in low lying areas, they can be flooded out in cold weather. If this happens, they will die unless they can find a place to burrow back in quickly.

In Bayou Meto last year during high water, I found a Western Ribbon snake crawling across the snow. I picked him up and he was as limp as a noodle. I took him home and he perked up right away. He spent the rest of the winter basking under a heat lamp and eating all the goldfish he could handle. I released him in Bell Slough in the Spring.

[ozarkin]

glad your dog's alright man

[mgood]

I saw a HUGE snake once at the tot in Feb. Something around 5-6 feet long.

They definitely come out when it's warmer.

[hdh]

My Brother pulled an 10' gator out of his duck decoys thinking it was dead, When he got it on the bank, it turned hissed and he ran...29 deg with ice .

[Butch Crain]

Was duck hunting w/ clients & folks from work several years ago - one of the party swore up and down that he saw bubbles and then a gator rising from the bottom of a button willow pond on a below freezing day.

It was the same pond where I killed a 4 point buck the day before in self defense - it came from across the pond 100 yards head on to within 10 yards or so before I shot. Stuffed it up in the button willows and kept hunting. Never thought about the fact I might be chuming for gators till the next day.

On the same trip my boss ran his 4 wheeler into my crossover toolbox at about 20 mph. My truck looked like a duck coming down the highway with the toolbox lids flapping up at random for several weeks thereafter.

Typical days out with the boys - never a dull moment.