Wildlife encounters

[bilgerat]

Hardly a "dangerous" encounter, but years ago me and my buddy were fishing his grandad's farm pond. I walked up this small hill that had some brush on the top and ended up face to face with a LARGE momma Canadian goose that was minding her nest. She spread her wings and started squawking and flapping and causing a big ruckus. I just about crapped myself as I went tumbling backwards down the hill, fishing pole and tacklebox flying everywhere.

Twenty years later we still laugh our a**es off when we talk about it

[IDbasser]

This post reminds why I like living in Idaho, even if it does freeze over here!

[whitwolf]

None here in western NC. They have a few on the coast though.

My family Is from Burgaw(Near Wilmington)...It's not uncommon to see gators and snakes on the Northeast Cape Fear river to be sure....Many water snakes  here on the local lakes in Western NC but none of the poisonious variety that I'm aware of except the copperheads and I have yet to see one actually In the water.

[done]

i have run into a few snakes in the NC mountains. Copperheads, and some other lethal ones. You jyst keep your eyes open for them.

Had 3 otters fallow me around the river once. Tha was annoying.

[frogtog]

None here in western NC. They have a few on the coast though.

My family Is from Burgaw(Near Wilmington)...It's not uncommon to see gators and snakes on the Northeast Cape Fear river to be sure....Many water snakes here on the local lakes in Western NC but none of the poisonious variety that I'm aware of except the copperheads and I have yet to see one actually In the water.

Basspack didn't they find like a 10' Rattle snake around Burgaw a few years back? I remember seeing a picture of it. I'll do some looking and see if I can find it.

[frogtog]

The most aggravating thing I run into while fishing is those pesky little water skiers. ;D

[whitwolf]

None here in western NC. They have a few on the coast though.

My family Is from Burgaw(Near Wilmington)...It's not uncommon to see gators and snakes on the Northeast Cape Fear river to be sure....Many water snakes here on the local lakes in Western NC but none of the poisonious variety that I'm aware of except the copperheads and I have yet to see one actually In the water.

Basspack didn't they find like a 10' Rattle snake around Burgaw a few years back? I remember seeing a picture of it. I'll do some looking and see if I can find it.

Frog, my cousin showed me a picture just the other day of a farmer that killed one inbetween Atkinson and Burgaw....Biggest rattlesnake I have ever seen. He said the thing weighed 90+ pounds. Ill get him to send me the picture and post It.

[retiredbosn]

While living in the Carolinas I routinely saw gators, they never bothered me any.  Being from WV I was more intrigued than anything.  Watermoccasins on the other hand freak me out.  I have no idea why they freak me out like they do, but I am absolutely scared of them.  There are a lot of myths about the snake, but to me they are the scariest of our poisonous snakes.  Any snake that lives in the water and can bite you there without you seeing is scary.  Needless to say I was always careful while fishing from the bank especially of where I put my feet, hands, etc.  Gators were just neat to see.  BTW anyone should be able to identify the snakes you find in and around water, and I think everyone should learn how to.

[Paul Roberts]

skronky wrote on Today at 2:38pm:

I spend a lot of time flipping over rocks and logs if the fish aren't biting. I'm in central Oklahoma so there aren't any dangerous water snakes for a long way east or south. However, due to popular belief, EVERY water snake seen by EVERY fisherman I know is a cottonmouth, even though their range is nowhere near central Oklahoma (as long as you are looking at a state range map, not a map of the entire south). There are a lot of water snakes around here in virtually every body of water. They do a good job keeping the place clean, eating weak, dying, or dead fish. They really help to keep disease in check and make the fishing better.

So my favorite thing to do when a water snake pops up and everyone starts freaking out is to ****** it up quickly. If there are any old timers around they start wining and moaning, explaining that the water snake is in fact a cottonmouth, and then they start making up stuff about the ways they can tell. If they won't still won't listen to the truth, I'll usually grab the snake by the tail and let it sink its teeth into my forearm (its not any worse than getting bit by a flathead while noodling). I just laugh as blood runs down my wrists and the old timers start to call me crazy and tell me I'm going to die. But of course, I don't.

I've found that fisherman know about as much about snakes as snakes know about fisherman. Generally nothing! But they sure think they are all knowing...

no offense guys  Wink

The same thing happens here while I'm fishing. There are no Cottonmouths in this part of the state, but every water snake that swims by someone else fishing is a "poisonous water moccasin". I jsut laugh every time I here something say that.

When I used to trout fish in the PA backcountry, it so many people carried a sidearm -"for snakes" they'd say. We did see a few timber rattlers, but the thing that always had me scratching my head was that -snakes ain't got no legs! Just step aside, man! If you didn't SEE the snake before you stepped on it, what good was the pistol?

[Paul Roberts]

Here in CO we have the big kitty's. People seem to freak out over them. All you gotta do is rub their neck and cheeks and they get real docile. It's a bit hard to do when they first git on your back, but if you can get a hand free, they can be pretty sweet critters.

[J Francho]

That is one serious kitty, Paul.  My Siamese thinks he's bad.

[BassNub]

I'm in southern Alabama, and I fish from both kayak and a bass boat. When we are in kayaks, which is typically in smaller waters (creaks, rivers, smaller ponds) we see a ton of water snakes. Some that are harmless and then others like mocassins (sp?). You just have to be prepared for it and pay attention to what you are doing. In the boat I occasionally see them but much less than in the kayak.

I went wadeing with a buddy once and we caught 54 LMB during the day. The whole time I was paying careful attention and watching every step. At the end of the day, I changed to flip flops as we loaded up the vehicles. I suddenly looked down and realized that 2 or 3 times I had stumbled past a copperhead that was laying on the ground with its mouth open, hissing at me. I so easily could have stepped on it just by being careless. You just gotta keep your head and pay attention.

wow i'll be scared sh*tless, i've always been scared of snakes, bad childhood experiences lol ;D

[BassNub]

I fish and hunt all over the marshes and swamps of Southwest Louisiana where some of the best honey holes are only accessible by foot. Most generally snakes and gators will not bother you unless you take them by surprise, you just have to pay close attention to where you are walking and once you stop listen for certain noises, look for grass movements, and generally scan the area.

Gators do love spinner baits & Johnson Spoons or any top water bait for that matter following all the way back to you; my suggestion is a fast retrieve and depending on the size of the gator an even faster retreat.

Water Moccasins and Cottonmouths are a greater concern to me since those sneaky suckers can appear out of nowhere.

Here is one I ran into last year will bank fishing with grass about chest high

WOW! is that a gator or a croc??? yea snakes are sneaky, gives me the chills

[BassNub]

Lots of them on all our lakes and creeks. Normanally you will not see most unless you get into the backs of the creeks or up the rivers. They are no problem unless you start pressuring them or jacking with them. Then they will either sink down or move away.

The smaller ones seem to have no fear of a boat(Yet) and will destroy a buzzbait. We have actually had a young one(1 1/2 ft) on Lake Livingston set up under the bow of the boat and race out to attack a surface lure. Problem here would be worrying about the mother and where she might be.

Never had a problem with a gator. Snakes thought are another issue. Have had to fight several off that attempted to climb into the boat over the years.

wow i cannot imagine having one sitting under the boat waiting for a topwater bait to come by, i'd be scared!

[BassNub]

Where I live there ain 't no gators, coons and coyotes for sure, skunks, you need to be very unlucky to "encounter" a skunk when you can actually smell it a mile away but it can happen, rattlesnakes are quite common, it 's the lil critters what make life intersting around here like them darned fire ants are everywhere >, those red wasps with more fire power than a Longbow helicopter with an attitude , those black bumble bees with enough fire power to make a C130 Spectre feel humble, those wolly caterpillars that look like a porcupine and just to round up our hot climates = hot bugs we 've got scorpions.

Add to that the ever present thorny vegetation of all sorts.

haah seems like u have a critter problem instead of a deadly animal

[BassNub]

I spend a lot of time flipping over rocks and logs if the fish aren't biting. I'm in central Oklahoma so there aren't any dangerous water snakes for a long way east or south. However, due to popular belief, EVERY water snake seen by EVERY fisherman I know is a cottonmouth, even though their range is nowhere near central Oklahoma (as long as you are looking at a state range map, not a map of the entire south). There are a lot of water snakes around here in virtually every body of water. They do a good job keeping the place clean, eating weak, dying, or dead fish. They really help to keep disease in check and make the fishing better.

So my favorite thing to do when a water snake pops up and everyone starts freaking out is to ****** it up quickly. If there are any old timers around they start wining and moaning, explaining that the water snake is in fact a cottonmouth, and then they start making up stuff about the ways they can tell. If they won't still won't listen to the truth, I'll usually grab the snake by the tail and let it sink its teeth into my forearm (its not any worse than getting bit by a flathead while noodling). I just laugh as blood runs down my wrists and the old timers start to call me crazy and tell me I'm going to die. But of course, I don't.

I've found that fisherman know about as much about snakes as snakes know about fisherman. Generally nothing! But they sure think they are all knowing...

no offense guys

Well just becareful man, don't want that one day to be the wrong day just because you want to prove someone wrong. It's always better Safe then Sorry.

[BassNub]

How 'bout guys from Rhode Island, does that count?

Gators wouldn't mess with 'em. Too skinny and not enough meat.

Here is one of my regular fishing buddies:

nice buddy who catches more fish? lol

[BassNub]

Here in CO we have the big kitty's. People seem to freak out over them. All you gotta do is rub their neck and cheeks and they get real docile. It's a bit hard to do when they first git on your back, but if you can get a hand free, they can be pretty sweet critters.

nice

[SirSnookalot]

I mostly fish canals in south Florida and see fewer gators than you would think, but on occasion I do see one and they seem to mind their own business.  I make a point of treating ALL SNAKES as water moccasions.  I fish from uptop of the canals, usually 6-8' down to the water, the snakes seem to hang around the water and not up top.

However I did almost step on one once, the snake bolted one way and me the other, scared the crap out of me.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking by a canal on the edge of the glades.  I saw paw prints that were very large, almost the size of my hand, I didn't think bobcats were that big.  Florida panthers are rare I understand so I ruled them out.

[hamer08]

I lived in SC for years and never had any problems with the gators. I saw alot of snakes, no problems with them. I never killed a snake that wasn't running away. They don't bother me too much now.

I live in the midwest now and no real problems. We see an occassional snake. We see alot of beavers and occassionally one will get close without noticing it. It will then slap its tail on the water and startle you. That usually occurs at dusk/dawn/night. Geese can be a problem during nesting season. I like fishing at night and listening to the coyotes howl.

Overall, insects have always been the biggest problem any place I've fished, north or south.

[Daniel A.]

We've got gators, snakes, and mosquitos the size of small birds. Recently, I've seen a couple of bobcats approaching our pond.

By far, the mosquitos affect me the greatest. They're immune to the spray...

[avid]

do squirrels in the attic count?

[Btech]

I had an owl attack my tackle bag once... almost got airborn with it too . Had to wack him with the tip of my rod to get him away. The bag is now in the dump and gave me a good reason to tell the wife I needed a bigger one

[skronky]

I spend a lot of time flipping over rocks and logs if the fish aren't biting. I'm in central Oklahoma so there aren't any dangerous water snakes for a long way east or south. However, due to popular belief, EVERY water snake seen by EVERY fisherman I know is a cottonmouth, even though their range is nowhere near central Oklahoma (as long as you are looking at a state range map, not a map of the entire south). There are a lot of water snakes around here in virtually every body of water. They do a good job keeping the place clean, eating weak, dying, or dead fish. They really help to keep disease in check and make the fishing better.

So my favorite thing to do when a water snake pops up and everyone starts freaking out is to ****** it up quickly. If there are any old timers around they start wining and moaning, explaining that the water snake is in fact a cottonmouth, and then they start making up stuff about the ways they can tell. If they won't still won't listen to the truth, I'll usually grab the snake by the tail and let it sink its teeth into my forearm (its not any worse than getting bit by a flathead while noodling). I just laugh as blood runs down my wrists and the old timers start to call me crazy and tell me I'm going to die. But of course, I don't.

I've found that fisherman know about as much about snakes as snakes know about fisherman. Generally nothing! But they sure think they are all knowing...

no offense guys

Well just becareful man, don't want that one day to be the wrong day just because you want to prove someone wrong. It's always better Safe then Sorry.

Thanks for the concern fellas, but there is about a zero percent chance I would mixed up a cottonmouth with a water snake, at least during the day. It would be like confusing a largemouth bass with a channel catfish!

[ROCbass]

I spend a lot of time flipping over rocks and logs if the fish aren't biting. I'm in central Oklahoma so there aren't any dangerous water snakes for a long way east or south. However, due to popular belief, EVERY water snake seen by EVERY fisherman I know is a cottonmouth, even though their range is nowhere near central Oklahoma (as long as you are looking at a state range map, not a map of the entire south). There are a lot of water snakes around here in virtually every body of water. They do a good job keeping the place clean, eating weak, dying, or dead fish. They really help to keep disease in check and make the fishing better.

So my favorite thing to do when a water snake pops up and everyone starts freaking out is to ****** it up quickly. If there are any old timers around they start wining and moaning, explaining that the water snake is in fact a cottonmouth, and then they start making up stuff about the ways they can tell. If they won't still won't listen to the truth, I'll usually grab the snake by the tail and let it sink its teeth into my forearm (its not any worse than getting bit by a flathead while noodling). I just laugh as blood runs down my wrists and the old timers start to call me crazy and tell me I'm going to die. But of course, I don't.

I've found that fisherman know about as much about snakes as snakes know about fisherman. Generally nothing! But they sure think they are all knowing...

no offense guys

Well just becareful man, don't want that one day to be the wrong day just because you want to prove someone wrong. It's always better Safe then Sorry.

Thanks for the concern fellas, but there is about a zero percent chance I would mixed up a cottonmouth with a water snake, at least during the day. It would be like confusing a largemouth bass with a channel catfish!

Even if you are sure the snake isn't poisonous, puncture wounds can lead to some pretty nasty infections, and who knows what kind of bacteria the snake might have in its mouth. Just something else you might want to think about.