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maj. tom wrote:Amazingly beautiful and unique creature. From National Geographic.
Green vine snake (Ahaetulla nasuta)
d spike wrote:nervewrecker, all you can do is explain the good that snakes do. A macajuel eats about 3,000 rats in its lifetime. Most snakes eat rats and other vermin. I just ask folks if they prefer snakes or leptospirosis.
As far as adventures go...
A few months ago, I took the kids up to the estate, to help me do some planting. When we reached the estate on Saturday evening, the driveway was blocked by a fallen tree - and to make it worse, it was one of those that is covered with vines and lianas... so there I am, playing trapeze artist, tiptoeing along a slippery log that was suspended a foot above the roadway by vines and all sorts of leafy crap, with Nicky behind me holding a rope and the "come along" (my answer to most immovable objects)... I happen to look down and see the fattest mapepire balsain I have ever seen in a long while. All three feet of scaled nightmare was slightly ahead and almost below me, and was far too much interested in my Fred Astaire antics just above his head. The cutlass was TOO short to reach (my hand would be by my ankles if I fired a chop, my arse waving at the heavens, and overbalancing then falling (a most likely outcome) would be rather awkward - especially if I MISSED.
Understand my predicament clearly. While I believe in "live and let live", having a three foot long balsain strolling around so close to the house is like leaving a loaded shotgun lying around the house - sooner or later you won't be paying attention and step on it, or some little kiddie will attempt an up-close inspection, and then the question will be "how soon can you get to the hospital". Next year, that bugger will be four feet long... the following year might result in five feet of signed and stamped death certificate... (and I have no wish to meet THAT!)
Even if I wished to let him go in peace, we still had to clear the roadway. The possibility of me (or worse yet, either of my children) meeting him again in the fading light as we hauled large tangled masses of vines and logs off the road was not something I even wanted to contemplate - spotting a master of camouflage ONCE was luck... a second time, the luck would most likely be his.
Getting the kids to stand clear was the EASY part. Cutting and trimming a staff while balancing on a swaying log WHILE keeping an eye on a one-way ticket to Grande hospital is not an act I am versed in. As the possibility of the snake dying in a fit of hysterical laughter existed, I continued my performance. You know, after all that, when I jabbed at the reptile with my new weapon, he thrashed around (with a balsain, that is NOT a sign that you struck him, merely his reaction to being surprised) and ended up right under me (possibly facing the other direction) with only a few inches of his tail showing.
I am most proud of the fact that I did not instantly perform the act that Exlax claims to take 20 minutes... but I almost did.
I couldn't see his head. Moving forward or backward into the vines would severely limit my movement - and not knowing where was the end of him that had teeth, was a major problem. He wouldn't move, despite my yelling, banging, cursing and pleading. He was waiting to see what else I could do - probably idly sharpening his left fang on a handy stone in the meantime.
There was no spear-gun in the vehicle, no nothing... just two little wide-eyed kiddies watching their father do his best not to wet himself down... and the inevitable argument about whether one should lance a snake-bite or not, and where to apply the tourniquet. The only time I ever felt so helpless was on my wedding day - thank God for divorce, but all that is another story.
Then I made up my mind: I was taking that bugger out. I told Nicky to toss me the gasoline container, and Sarah to toss the lighter. (Thank God she found matches instead - I'm not sure how I would have safely accomplished the following with a Bic.)
Gasoline was sprinkled liberally everywhere, and then I ably demonstrated to my offspring how to perform a standing leap, and how not to light a gasoline fire. A lit match was thrown, and the almost-instantaneous surge of flames ensured that I had no possibility of a body-lice infestation.
We spent the rest of the evening dragging singed material off the roadway, using the "come-along" for the larger logs, and the Sportage for the masses of lianas (pass a rope around a few large ones, fasten the other rope-end to the hitch, then drive down the hill, with the mother of all tumbleweeds clearing the road...)
I didn't find his carcass. He most likely is out there, nursing a singed arse and a grudge... I hope if I meet him again, it will be soon, before he adds more inches.
I will make an extra attempt to have a greater area around the house cleared, and use harsher language with guests who think flip-flops are suitable wear...
I thank God that nothing unfortunate happened to me or my kids... I thank God for my father and all that he has taught me about the bush... But MOST OF ALL, I THANK GOD THAT NEITHER CHILD OF MINE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO USE THEIR PHONES TO FILM ANY OF MY ANTICS...
pioneer wrote:d spike wrote:nervewrecker, all you can do is explain the good that snakes do. A macajuel eats about 3,000 rats in its lifetime. Most snakes eat rats and other vermin. I just ask folks if they prefer snakes or leptospirosis.
As far as adventures go...
A few months ago, I took the kids up to the estate, to help me do some planting. When we reached the estate on Saturday evening, the driveway was blocked by a fallen tree - and to make it worse, it was one of those that is covered with vines and lianas... so there I am, playing trapeze artist, tiptoeing along a slippery log that was suspended a foot above the roadway by vines and all sorts of leafy crap, with Nicky behind me holding a rope and the "come along" (my answer to most immovable objects)... I happen to look down and see the fattest mapepire balsain I have ever seen in a long while. All three feet of scaled nightmare was slightly ahead and almost below me, and was far too much interested in my Fred Astaire antics just above his head. The cutlass was TOO short to reach (my hand would be by my ankles if I fired a chop, my arse waving at the heavens, and overbalancing then falling (a most likely outcome) would be rather awkward - especially if I MISSED.
Understand my predicament clearly. While I believe in "live and let live", having a three foot long balsain strolling around so close to the house is like leaving a loaded shotgun lying around the house - sooner or later you won't be paying attention and step on it, or some little kiddie will attempt an up-close inspection, and then the question will be "how soon can you get to the hospital". Next year, that bugger will be four feet long... the following year might result in five feet of signed and stamped death certificate... (and I have no wish to meet THAT!)
Even if I wished to let him go in peace, we still had to clear the roadway. The possibility of me (or worse yet, either of my children) meeting him again in the fading light as we hauled large tangled masses of vines and logs off the road was not something I even wanted to contemplate - spotting a master of camouflage ONCE was luck... a second time, the luck would most likely be his.
Getting the kids to stand clear was the EASY part. Cutting and trimming a staff while balancing on a swaying log WHILE keeping an eye on a one-way ticket to Grande hospital is not an act I am versed in. As the possibility of the snake dying in a fit of hysterical laughter existed, I continued my performance. You know, after all that, when I jabbed at the reptile with my new weapon, he thrashed around (with a balsain, that is NOT a sign that you struck him, merely his reaction to being surprised) and ended up right under me (possibly facing the other direction) with only a few inches of his tail showing.
I am most proud of the fact that I did not instantly perform the act that Exlax claims to take 20 minutes... but I almost did.
I couldn't see his head. Moving forward or backward into the vines would severely limit my movement - and not knowing where was the end of him that had teeth, was a major problem. He wouldn't move, despite my yelling, banging, cursing and pleading. He was waiting to see what else I could do - probably idly sharpening his left fang on a handy stone in the meantime.
There was no spear-gun in the vehicle, no nothing... just two little wide-eyed kiddies watching their father do his best not to wet himself down... and the inevitable argument about whether one should lance a snake-bite or not, and where to apply the tourniquet. The only time I ever felt so helpless was on my wedding day - thank God for divorce, but all that is another story.
Then I made up my mind: I was taking that bugger out. I told Nicky to toss me the gasoline container, and Sarah to toss the lighter. (Thank God she found matches instead - I'm not sure how I would have safely accomplished the following with a Bic.)
Gasoline was sprinkled liberally everywhere, and then I ably demonstrated to my offspring how to perform a standing leap, and how not to light a gasoline fire. A lit match was thrown, and the almost-instantaneous surge of flames ensured that I had no possibility of a body-lice infestation.
We spent the rest of the evening dragging singed material off the roadway, using the "come-along" for the larger logs, and the Sportage for the masses of lianas (pass a rope around a few large ones, fasten the other rope-end to the hitch, then drive down the hill, with the mother of all tumbleweeds clearing the road...)
I didn't find his carcass. He most likely is out there, nursing a singed arse and a grudge... I hope if I meet him again, it will be soon, before he adds more inches.
I will make an extra attempt to have a greater area around the house cleared, and use harsher language with guests who think flip-flops are suitable wear...
I thank God that nothing unfortunate happened to me or my kids... I thank God for my father and all that he has taught me about the bush... But MOST OF ALL, I THANK GOD THAT NEITHER CHILD OF MINE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO USE THEIR PHONES TO FILM ANY OF MY ANTICS...
This by far has to be the coolest story ever told within recent history on tuner.
nervewrecker wrote:Donno what kinda rats you guys accustomed with but the kind I know of don't jump out in front me and say "look meh here, ah just chillaxing in yuh yard and pissing in your stuff". I know them to run and hide when they hear people.
kakahole
but he aint lie though.
Biz, aren't you the same one with the pigeon problem?
and because she's in her garden alot and has a srs fear of snakes. She's the type to be tending to her orchids and if she sees a snake skin in the greenhouse she done work dey
maj. tom wrote:unless it's for self-defence, why would you want to kill another creature? Why not isolate it if you can and call someone to handle it and release it somewhere safe? The fact that you found a snake there means that it has food, and most likely rats living in your place. What, you feel snakes does just be "passing through" your property?
Also there are lots of snakes that are not deadly to humans that kill and eat other very venomous snakes. I think one in Trinidad is called the Cribo locally. It's a black colubrid and it actually looks friendly. They have mild venom which does not or hardly affects humans, but they're bad ass snake killers. They love vipers.
nervewrecker wrote:Donno what kinda rats you guys accustomed with but the kind I know of don't jump out in front me and say "look meh here, ah just chillaxing in yuh yard and pissing in your stuff". I know them to run and hide when they hear people.
Biz, aren't you the same one with the pigeon problem?
Bizzare wrote:sorry yodins and others, but any snake on my premises is chap chap and more chap.
they serve no good purpose. u really think they'll help a rat infestation problem?
maj. tom wrote:unless it's for self-defence, why would you want to kill another creature? Why not isolate it if you can and call someone to handle it and release it somewhere safe? The fact that you found a snake there means that it has food, and most likely rats living in your place. What, you feel snakes does just be "passing through" your property?
Also there are lots of snakes that are not deadly to humans that kill and eat other very venomous snakes. I think one in Trinidad is called the Cribo locally. It's a black colubrid and it actually looks friendly. They have mild venom which does not or hardly affects humans, but they're bad ass snake killers. They love vipers.
) and I have yet to see one harasses enough to strike at a human.Yodins wrote:Bizzare wrote:sorry yodins and others, but any snake on my premises is chap chap and more chap.
they serve no good purpose. u really think they'll help a rat infestation problem?
yuh know how often rats does bull? a rat reaches sexual maturity at 5 weeks. their gestation period is 21 DAYS and can give birth to on average 10 younglins. now if you even step on rat pee thaz leptospirosis guaranteed. that 1 snake yuh kill could have killed masses of those rats during its stay at your house. but no, you rather kill it and sleep with the rats. I can't force you to dfo anything but if you're too stubborn to not listen thats your problem. tell Ratatouille I said hi.
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