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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by LarryDFishel on January 16, 2007
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I see a couple of different things at work.
In some circles, there is simply a tradition of telling tall tales. They don't think of it as lying, it's just entertainment, not really meant to be taken too seriously.
Some people hear the above type of tales and don't realize it's just a story and repeat it as fact.
People who enjoy retelling stories tend to substitute themselves in place of someone else in the story to make it more personal.
After telling the same story hundreds of times over decades (or ten times over few weeks for some), I think some people develop a false "memory" of it actually happening and compleletly forget that someone else told them the story long ago. They're not lying, they really believe it and they REMEMBER being there.
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by GREGLONGHURST on January 16, 2007
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While doing a snake display at a county fair years ago, a fella told me he had been bitten by a rattlesnake in the thigh while on horseback. I envisioned a ride out west on a mountain trail, with the snake being opposite his upper leg. He assured me it happened on level ground. I found something else to do. There are people who do not see the light of day except to attend fairs.
~~Greg~~
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by kacz on January 16, 2007
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Much to my surprise, the streams here in Southeastern Pennsylvania are loaded with water moccasins! At first I was skeptical, but I have since learned that if you mix your average city-bred trout fisherman with a half-gallon of Bud Lite you can get one just about every time. Of course these accounts are all confirmed by no less an authority than cousin Hank, who’s seated on the next stool over. You just have to believe these people. They are thoroughly familiar with the differences between a cottonmouth, a water snake and a “gardener” snake. Besides, if you try to contradict them you end up buying your own beer!
I swear, it’s true!
Paul M. Kaczmarczik
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by ALA_snake33 on January 16, 2007
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Shoot, you could write a Great Book on just the Stories you hear in your Local Bar & Coffee Shop about Snakes. I wonder if anyone has thought about trying this? Write the Book and call it Snake Tails From the Dark Side “LOL”.
It always fascinates me, how many Good Old Folk Tails have come about due to Snakes. Just think about it, you have the Milk Snake, Sucking Milk from Cows, you also have the Deadly Spreading Adder, witch we all know is actually the Eastern Hognose Snake, we also know the old Hoop Snake, that Grabs its Tail and rolls like a Hoop down the Hill, and we can’t forget the Black Snake that Breeds with the Rattler.
Shoot, this would be one Entertaining Book, would it not?
PS: Anyone with a good ability in literature, should research these Old Time Tails and write a Book.
Be Safe Ya’ll, Happy Herping : Wally
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by snakeguy101 on January 16, 2007
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I remember talking to a lady at the museum once and she was going on and on about how many snakes she had to get her husband to kill because they were ATTACKING her dog.
of course this sparked an argument between her and some fellow herpers so i tried to quiet her by telling her next time she sees a snake to call reptile rescue as the snake might be endangered. this is what she said:
"Well if there's a 13' king cobra attacking my dog, I'm not gonna watch it wrap around and CONSTRICT him. I'll kill it!"
1) there are no king cobras in florida
2) the only 13' snake in florida is the indigo snake which is endangered
3) king cobras don't constrict
4) since when has any snake attacked something unless it's prey or defending itself
If your going to be this ignorant in a room full of experts it's best to shut the **** up
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by YoungHerp1 on January 16, 2007
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Well im at a reptile shop 3 days a week, for hours a day. They sell anything from ball pythons to womas, pretty much anythin he can get his hands on that is LEGAL. Im very good friends with the family that owns/runs it, and the Michigan reptile show. Anyway back to the snake stories. Every now and then people would come in, saying that had a 18' or 20' ball python. We say ok, well bring it in and we'll give you $1million$. Never shows up. Ive heard so many stories about HUGE ball pythons.
I no this isnt snakes but, a few times people see me with my monitors (i regulary take them up there to the shop and the reptile show all the time) and they ask me if its a "komodo dragon". Everything looks like a komodo, My niles,croc monitor,black roughneck, even one of my old savana monitors. They say they have a friend that has a komodo dragon. And well i say ill give them alot of money for it. What do they say? Oh umm its not for sale.
Now this is my favoite story/question, and is pretty anoying. " The smaller tank i keep it in, the smaller the animal will stay right?" I laugh in my head and explain to them what the problems are with that. We all know the problems, its self explanitory. How would you do if you grew up in a box that was less than half your size. I love some of these stories, and the ones i just read before saying this. Hoped you enjoyed some of my stories/myths.
Mike
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by GREGLONGHURST on January 17, 2007
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Snakeguy 101: You managed to add about four feet to the indigo's maximum length. There are, in fact two snakes that may well be over 13 feet in Florida. Python molurus bivittatus & Python reticulatus. I recently removed a boa constrictor from a road that is over 8 feet & weighs over 75 pounds. Judging from its disposition,(& ticks) I'd guess it had been loose for a while. It is big enough to have been feeding on adult raccoons & could easily take most dogs.
Bear in mind, I am not standing up for the woman, but there are parts of south Florida where Burms are breeding.
~~Greg~~
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by snakeguy101 on January 17, 2007
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Keep in mind that i do live in north Florida and I was mentioning the largest NATIVE snake in the Americas, sorry i inaccurate about the length of the indigo.
thanks for clearing that up
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by GREGLONGHURST on January 17, 2007
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No problem. The indigo is definitely the longest North American snake. It maxes out at around nine feet. The burms are breeding in Everglades National Park. The big snakes I am called on to remove in Palm Beach County are singles..escapees or release models. I have even seen a few exotic road-kills..common boa & ball python.
~~Greg~~
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RE: “Myths and Legends”
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by Sal on January 17, 2007
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I think some of the best stories about snakes come out of the southeast. I remember I had some guy in Alabama tell me that "My daddy told me all poisonous snakes have pointy tails". I really didn't know how to respond. Really can't argue with the "my daddy told me" logic.
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