I want to share my information and make my presence known. I am a trained snake handler, specializing in native venomous species, and a consultant for hospital systems on identification of species and envenomations. I have also participated with TPWD in data and species surveys around the state for a number of years now. I also consult for energy companies and do safety trainings to keep people safe in the field. If they pay me for my info and to keep people safe, you may want to listen. There are people that know more than myself in the state, but I know most of them and they are who I reference in case I'm ever stumped, which is rare. My connections in the herpetology all world are quite expansive, so we should be able to provide the most accurate information available at the time. My job is identification and safe removal of snake species. You're grandfather and your buddies may THINK they know what they're talking about from their time in the field, but I KNOW. I'm here to help in any way I can. I've never been bitten after working with venomous daily for 9 years, I don't plan on it happening ever. I've taken precautions in my routines and in the field to keep me from harms way. I want to help you do the same.

After my drama of my position and credentials, I'd like to mention I will do my best to help with photos as often and as quickly as possible. I'm taking a chance by showing my info here, so I hope it is not abused while trying to do the right thing for others. A photo should ALWAYS be taken of a snake species before ANYTHING else. A simple photo before messing with a snake speeds treatment times in the event of an envenomation, and gives us the easiest way to identify.

What we know after years of hospital work, is that accidental bites are extremely rare. 99% of bites come from harassment of a species. LEAVE THEM ALONE. A recent envenomations cost the patient $153,000, so unless you have a spare house laying around, avoiding an interaction is crucial. Gunshots to feet and ricochets are EXTREMELY common. The fastest snake travels at about 3 mph, an average human can run close to 6mph. I've caught thousands of snakes at this point and I've never been "chased" by one. You CAN get away.
I'm not here to fight or argue or debate your feelings towards snakes. I'm here to help and give my advice. venomous species are the largest of concern and usually get the "good snake, dead snake" approach, but species such as copperheads are being used in the fight against breast cancer, so I'd much rather get those species to places of use than to lose another pair of breasts from the world. Rattlesnake venom (from live animals) is used to produce the first medication you receive during a heart attack.

I can be reached through my email at snakesofkaty@yaho*.***, or pictures of species can be sent directly to my phone. I will give my number to anyone who messages and would like it for later use. I apologize for the length of this post, but wanted to reach out in the only way I have figured out so far on this site

Welcome.

...again....

Now SW has someone to play with.

to the forum.

That is awesome to have an expert we can talk to. I've learned some very interesting info from your first post!

I don't like snakes of any kind. Great to have you on board.

Welcome but no we aren't going to leave them alone. Many of us here trap and sell rattlesnakes and depend on the income it provides. I've been doing it for 30 years and have not been bitten yet so I must be doing something right.

Ok here is a question for ya? With all the rain lately the snakes are on the move. At my deer lease in Dewitt Co i killed 2 big cotton mouths in the front yard by the house in the same day. Does that snake powder that you buy in a can work or is it a waist of money? Other than keeping grass cut low anything else you can do to keep them away from the house and yard? Thanks

Exactly

Please explain "dry bite". I've heard numerous guys claim they've been bitten and gotten dry bites. Several years ago, I spoke with Bob Jenni and he said there was no such thing unless the snake didn't get a solid penetration. Thanks, Jim

Don't waste the money. I have personally tested snake away and similar products, as well as mothballs, and they just don't work. Keeping things maintained and having an awareness they are aroud will help more then the faulty peace of mind the chemicals provide. Dewitt is a common area to see cottonmouths, but the multiple species of water snakes should be more prevalent. If you're able to, get some photos of what youre seeing and I'd be happy to further identify. If you can get a big water snake living in the area, it could help push a cottonmouth away that's looking for a new residence

"Dry" bites occur, often. A snake does not have to envenomate. They do have control over the amount of venom the induce, often tested on lab rats of different sizes that are to be food. They will change the amount by body size often. A large threatening species like ourselves often calls for a major bite, but the snake can withhold for numerous reasons. Having used venom for food recently, being very hungry so it's venom is needed, or giving a warning shot are all substantiated reasons a snake may choose not to inject. Majority of the bites we see at the hospital require little treatment, besides observation, but the hospital should be the one making that decision. And baby snakes are NOT more dangerous than adults. I'll take a baby over a full grown atrox with marble sized glands any day of the week.

You gotta whip em like a towel...all of em:) you GOT to whip em like a towel..lol

Welcome? That's what you wanted to say? Then why comment? Grow up and troll someone else. Any 5 year old with a stick can kill a snake. If trapping rattlesnakes is such a money maker that your income relies on it, you probably should have paid attention over the last 30 years that there are easier safer ways to make more money. With 30 years of knowledge, you would probably been the better person to teach others safe field methods, but since you've hung onto antiquated ideas, you missed the boat. Do whatever you want. I get paid more after you're bit. Mine is the only unbiased opinion. I have nothing to gain by attempting to educate. I lose work and money the less interactions people have with snakes. Please continue to line my pocket while those that listen to you continue to seek accurate information. I find it humorous that your excuse for your risky behavior is the money you NEED to make, yet I probably make twice that speaking to hospitals about you and consulting when you finally do screw up because you kept pokin the snake. Thanks for the business. Troll on!

Congrats on your credentials TSS, you've certainly made your presence known. I always check threads with snake stuff in the title as I've been handling them for 35 years or so, still learning new things daily. I'm no expert by any means but you come off a bit brash, especially in your intro. Relax a bit. I'd suggest leaving your condescending remarks about others hobbies/employment choices from future threads, save you some key strokes. Maybe I interpreted your opening paragraph wrong, maybe not.

You do seem pretty proud of yourself, TSS.

My apologies. I am a bit brash and I get frustrated. I have to work on my tolerance of others decisions when every thing we've studied and learned is in conflict with their ways and their excuses for their choices. It'll never change that no matter credentials, time, experience, or seeing the worst, some will constantly troll and argue. I continue to state that I am never coming from a position besides trying to help and inform. I have no purpose on here otherwise. I was asked to join by friends who continue to see others advise incorrectly. Others can do whatever they feel necessary to find enjoyment in there lives, but to advise incorrectly is frightening. I will tone it back. I just hope others with rudementary knowledge do the same and don't risk others being hurt by their ill advice. Thank you for the suggestion and I'll try to be more pleasant.

... snakes give me the quibygeebies, even the small nonpoisonous ones.

and after just reaching double digit posts...love it

You need to tell that to the Coachwhip I tried to catch last summer! I can WALK 3 mph...and I couldn't catch him at a run.

Thanks for posting, we certainly can use an experts opinion here...especially IDing snakes.

There are plenty of folks here that really don't need help identifying the indigenous venomous snakes we have, but the non-venomous ones are another story.

Look forward to your participation.

Flint.

Mambas are still considered the quickest, but coach whips hold the top rankings in this country, gotta be proud. It's rare that I've caught one without a knee-bloodying final dive to grab em. If that's the only one that shows you up, you're in good company.


I was brought on while a blacktailed rattlesnake was being debated (a species I find to be one of the prettiest and in my personal collection) and was surprised how few knew that there were so many subspecies of rattlesnake in Texas, another huge plus for Texas and something to be proud of. Everyone else in the country is afraid of here. I'd rather have rattlesnakes than Yankees ; )

I'll do everything I can to help I.D. It's always easiest for a fast identification to text it directly to my number, but I'll Ty to check often. I just hope my identifications aren't debated : ) I'm working on getting set up to upload photos, I hope to start putting up photos and descriptions to help soon.

You know what they say "the only good snake is a..." Well you know the rest

No worries TSS, my employment, as with many on here, is driven by risky behaviors and the frequency of them. This is a great site with lots of educational stuff on here and snake ID is something I wish more people knew. I try to catch whatever I can and show the lease members so they will be better prepared when they run across something. Most don't go looking for them like I do. I've seen a few on here this year I never knew where native to Texas. Spiders are a different beast for me, not a fan AT ALL!