Good day everyone. I have a question about hoop snakes. This is important.

[hotdog messenger]

It's my first time to post a question here. I honestly have no idea about what to do. Anyway please read this excerpt i got from wikipedia. (pardon my english, it's not my native tongue. I'm a Filipino from Philippines)

The hoop snake is a legendary creature of the United States, Canada and Australia.[1] The hoop snake appears in the Pecos Bill stories; although it is his description of hoop snakes with which most people are most familiar, stories of the creature predate those fictional tales considerably. Several sightings of the hoop snake have been alleged along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border in the St. Croix River valley and in Wake County in North Carolina and in Kamloops, British Columbia. (See fearsome critters.)
According to folklore, the distinguishing feature of a hoop snake is that it can grasp its tail in its jaws and roll after its prey like a wheel,[2][1] thus looking somewhat like the ouroboros of Greek mythology, or Tsuchinoko (a legendary fat snake that can roll like a wheel) in Japan. In one version of the myth, the snake straightens out at the last second, skewering its victim with its venomous tail. The only escape is to hide behind a tree, which receives the deadly blow instead and promptly dies from the poison.[3]
The hoop snake is mentioned in a letter from 1784 (published in Tour in the U.S.A., Vol. I, p. 263-65. London):[4]
“ As other serpents crawl upon their bellies, so can this; but he has another method of moving peculiar to his own species, which he always adopts when he is in eager pursuit of his prey; he throws himself into a circle, running rapidly around, advancing like a hoop, with his tail arising and pointed forward in the circle, by which he is always in the ready position of striking.
It is observed that they only make use of this method in attacking; for when they fly from their enemy they go upon their bellies, like other serpents. From the above circumstance, peculiar to themselves, they have also derived the appellation of hoop snakes.
”
Sightings are still occasionally reported, even though the existence of the hoop snake has never been accepted by the scientific community. Naturalist Raymond Ditmars placed $10,000 in trust at a New York bank for the first person to provide evidence of a hoop snake.[5] Some have suggested that is a distorted description of the sidewinder of the American southwest, or of mud snakes, which will occasionally lie in a loose hoop shape.[3][6] It is also possible that the hoop snake is an embellishment of actual instances of snakes swallowing their own tails. Photographic examples of this are readily found on the Internet today.
-Wikipedia-

I talked about this stuff to my friend, who at first couldn't believe me. According to him, hoop snakes are a common sight in his father's hometown, a little bit far from ours. I showed him about that information on hoop snake and so we hatched a plan to capture one and then be sent to someone who has any knowledge about how to claim that reward in New York bank. It will be only a matter of time before we can catch it, but I just have to make sure if that reward still exists to this day.

This is not a joke. My friend keeps on coming back to our house asking if i already contacted someone about that reward thing. He already contacted his father about that and he is 100% sure they can catch it. So I have to do my part right now.

By the way, aside from hoop snake deemed to be mythical, there are also two other allegedly "legendary" snakes that exist in the same area, i bet you guys know this. One is the crowing snake, which is a snake that has a head of a rooster and it also crows, hence the name crowing snake. Another is a creature called in our language as "banakon" sometimes called as Philippine King Cobra. This snake reaches to about 18 feet in length and said to be very dangerous, it chases anybody who enters it's territory and on some occassions, it knocks on the doors and attacks any person who opens it. It's distinguishing features are it's diamond-shaped head, and it's two limblike protrusions (much like a leg) in the middle of it's body. It is said to aid the snake's movement, allowing it to crawl at a very fast pace compared to other snakes, though not as fast as an average human.

I've read somewhere on cecil's page, someone asked a question aboout hoop snakes and he said that it was nonsense. That many people do not believe in hoop snakes. So I guess the best solution is to capture a live one in order for us to set the facts straight. Again, guys this is not a joke. If there is someone who can help me, please just post your email address or just pm me. That's just all i need. Please DO NOT TROLL on this. I will wait for your answers. Thank you and have a nice day.

[blondebear]

I have never seen a hoop snake, but I'd sure like to.

[alexco]

i think you should catch it first.

[Cicero]

Hotdog messenger, I've alerted the mods so they can place this question in the appropriate forum.

Anyway, I can state right now that we don't have hoop snakes in Australia.

[Aspidistra]

Of course not. The drop bears ate them all.

[Siam Sam]

I recall Gary Larson did a Far Side cartoon about hoop snakes, so that probably proves they're real. Can't find it online though.

[Idle Thoughts]

Since the OP mentions the Cecil column about hoop snakes, I'm going to move this to Comments on Cecil's Columns.

[74westy]

There are no hoop snakes where I'm from but we do have side-hill gougers.

The side-hill gouger has short legs on one side of its body and longer legs on the other side. This dis-symmetry makes it possible for the side-hill gouger to run very quickly around the sides of hills.

The way to catch a side-hill gouger is to force it onto flat land. Then it just runs around in circles until it gets tired and you can catch it.

[user_hostile]

Greek mythology can be totally misconstrued to lend credence to the idea that the hoop snakes inspired the hula hoop.

[hotdog messenger]

that's true, so that's why i'm trying to make sure if there's still a reward on that hoop snake's head til this day. That naturalist already died i presume almost half a century ago. if you can help me i would very much appreciate this one.

[hotdog messenger]

oh thank you. yeah once i read that hoop snakes are considered as mythical even in Australia which is a home of some of the most dangerous snakes in the world. anyway if you can help me find any person whom i can contact, it be of a very great help. thank you...

[hotdog messenger]

oh maybe that's what they call in your place. no kidding man?!...anyway the snake which i am referring too is not listed in the animal kingdom, better be called as cryptid. but i have to focus on the hoop snake first...i hope anyone can help me.

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by alexco

i think you should catch it first.

that's true, so that's why i'm trying to make sure if there's still a reward on that hoop snake's head til this day. That naturalist already died i presume almost half a century ago. if you can help me i would very much appreciate this one.

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Cicero

Hotdog messenger, I've alerted the mods so they can place this question in the appropriate forum.

Anyway, I can state right now that we don't have hoop snakes in Australia.

oh thank you. yeah once i read that hoop snakes are considered as mythical even in Australia which is a home of some of the most dangerous snakes in the world. anyway if you can help me find any person whom i can contact, it be of a very great help. thank you...

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by 74westy

There are no hoop snakes where I'm from but we do have side-hill gougers.

The side-hill gouger has short legs on one side of its body and longer legs on the other side. This dis-symmetry makes it possible for the side-hill gouger to run very quickly around the sides of hills.

The way to catch a side-hill gouger is to force it onto flat land. Then it just runs around in circles until it gets tired and you can catch it.

oh maybe that's what they call in your place. no kidding man?!...anyway the snake which i am referring too is not listed in the animal kingdom, better be called as cryptid. but i have to focus on the hoop snake first...i hope anyone can help me.

[hajario]

As I understand it, hoop snakes don't perform the hoop maneuver in captivity.

[gamerunknown]

I think you can get about tree fiddy fo it.

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by hajario

As I understand it, hoop snakes don't perform the hoop maneuver in captivity.

well that maybe true, but who knows? we just have to capture a live one in order to prove it...

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by gamerunknown

I think you can get about tree fiddy fo it.

i'm sorry, i think i'm missing something here...

[Snerky Snerk]

Originally Posted by hotdog messenger

i'm sorry, i think i'm missing something here...

A few somethings.

Oars. Cans. Sausages. Marbles.

[Snerky Snerk]

Originally Posted by hotdog messenger

well that maybe true, but who knows? we just have to capture a live one in order to prove it...

Ok. The bank is in New York?
You are in the Philipines?
Are you thinking to send a dangerous tree stabbing hoop snake in the post?

If you really think you have a rare and dangerous animal, please try not to catch it. Go to a vet, or a zoo, or try a university. Try to find an expert, and get expert advice on what you are doing.

As for the money - forget about that till you get an expert who agrees that you have what you think you have. Start with that. Tell your friend to get an accurate visual description - a photo would be good. Take it to an expert.

A photo. A description. Don't try to actually catch it.

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Snerky Snerk

Ok. The bank is in New York?
You are in the Philipines?
Are you thinking to send a dangerous tree stabbing hoop snake in the post?

If you really think you have a rare and dangerous animal, please try not to catch it. Go to a vet, or a zoo, or try a university. Try to find an expert, and get expert advice on what you are doing.

As for the money - forget about that till you get an expert who agrees that you have what you think you have. Start with that. Tell your friend to get an accurate visual description - a photo would be good. Take it to an expert.

A photo. A description. Don't try to actually catch it.

well thanks for your reply...that's my point. Do you know anyone (an expert) who can help me with this? I don't know any person as such, and I think it would be more troublesome to look for an expert. I tell you hoop snakes are common sight in that area and my friend was surprised someone had really placed a reward for that creature. Don't worry, I'm not the one who will catch it, because my friend already contacted several people who will do it. In fact, they are just waiting for our confirmation. I have never seen a hoop snake even once. And also, I believe that capturing a live one is much, much better than a thousand pictures or video. So don't worry about it. *_*

[Snerky Snerk]

I'm sure we have a snake expert somewhere, but after a big meal, he finds a quiet place and mostly sleeps for a few weeks.

You might want to try a dedicated snake/reptile message board. The first one in google is http://forums.kingsnake.com/

You could ask over there as well.

[Snerky Snerk]

And, because there's nothing on TV, I've been reading up on Raymond Ditmars. This site has a bit about him - Greenhalls Trust. You may contact them too, if you want.

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Snerky Snerk

I'm sure we have a snake expert somewhere, but after a big meal, he finds a quiet place and mostly sleeps for a few weeks.

haha!...

You might want to try a dedicated snake/reptile message board. The first one in google is http://forums.kingsnake.com/


You could ask over there as well.

ok thanks! might as well try that one. Who knows someday you might happen to stumble across a gang of hoop snakes and make friends with them...*_*

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Snerky Snerk

And, because there's nothing on TV, I've been reading up on Raymond Ditmars. This site has a bit about him - Greenhalls Trust. You may contact them too, if you want.

Oh thank you again. I hope we can get some more info about that soon.

[Lanzy]

Are you 12? or posting from a "special" home? I am really trying to find a way to believe you really believe this nonsense.

[cochrane]

Originally Posted by gamerunknown

I think you can get about tree fiddy fo it.

Originally Posted by hotdog messenger

i'm sorry, i think i'm missing something here...

Don't worry about it. You're hunting for a hoop snake, not the Loch Ness monster.

[Czarcasm]

Originally Posted by hotdog messenger

Oh thank you again. I hope we can get some more info about that soon.

No matter how hard you look for nonexistent things, you will fail. There is no one on this earth that can tell you how to find a hoop snake. There are no secrets to finding a hoop snake.

There are no hoop snakes to find, period.

Give up.

[Measure for Measure]

A citation for the alleged $10,000 reward is here:
http://www.terrorhaute.com/leg-hoopsnake.html

It references this 1985 book:
http://books.google.com/books?id=h9v...ed=0CC0Q6AEwAA

http://www.amazon.com/HAUNTS-HOOKERS...Haunts+Hookers

The book isn't available online, but if there was ever a reward for $10,000 (I doubt it, though there is a documented $50 reward from 1912) it's unlikely whether the benefactor would have established a trust or charitable foundation for it managed by an unnamed New York bank. C'mon.

Also, the OP's friend might be pulling his leg.

[PlainJain]

Originally Posted by Measure for Measure

Also, the OP's friend might be pulling his leg.

Considering that hoop snakes don't exist I'd say that's a distinct possibility.

[Measure for Measure]

Hoop snakes are a variety of fearsome critter. The entry at Wikipedia IDd the naturalist who allegedly offered a $10,000 reward. Raymond Lee Ditmars died in 1942. I suspect the reward, if it indeed existed, was distributed as part of his estate.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by hotdog messenger

By the way, aside from hoop snake deemed to be mythical, there are also two other allegedly "legendary" snakes that exist in the same area, i bet you guys know this. One is the crowing snake, which is a snake that has a head of a rooster and it also crows, hence the name crowing snake. Another is a creature called in our language as "banakon" sometimes called as Philippine King Cobra. This snake reaches to about 18 feet in length and said to be very dangerous, it chases anybody who enters it's territory and on some occassions, it knocks on the doors and attacks any person who opens it. It's distinguishing features are it's diamond-shaped head, and it's two limblike protrusions (much like a leg) in the middle of it's body. It is said to aid the snake's movement, allowing it to crawl at a very fast pace compared to other snakes, though not as fast as an average human.

Are you serious? I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are.

I live in the Philippines and people here believe a lot of stuff that's probably not as true as they believe it is. A mixture of folklore, mistaken identity and outright fraud (i.e. stapling a rooster head to a snake body) contribute to all of this. So your friend may truly believe this, but he's likely to be mistaken.

You can either leave it or try and get to the truth, although finding no evidence of hoop snakes is unlikely to shake the faith of the true believer. It's probably not just hoop snake season.

As others have said, first start off trying to get a clear video of any of these 'legendary' snakes and go from there. There is probably no real reward but if you get a video (and only make part of it available for free) then you'll maybe be able to sell the rights to the rest if the story takes off.

Alternatively see if the Discovery Channel wants to fund a new series 'Finding Hoop Snakes'. (Or is it NatGeo that's showing that one?).

[sisu]

Originally Posted by Czarcasm

No matter how hard you look for nonexistent things, you will fail. There is no one on this earth that can tell you how to find a hoop snake. There are no secrets to finding a hoop snake.

There are no hoop snakes to find, period.

Give up.

I've said it before and I will say it again, boo spoilsport

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Lanzy

Are you 12? or posting from a "special" home? I am really trying to find a way to believe you really believe this nonsense.

whatever you think about me or whether you want to believe me or not doesn't really matter...I wouldn't waste my time posting here if what I'm talking about is nonsense...either way if you can help me, I'm still going to appreciate it...*_*

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by cochrane

Don't worry about it. You're hunting for a hoop snake, not the Loch Ness monster.

haha...yeah no need to worry alright...i'm not the one who's gonna hunt that creature...i'm just looking for a contact...it's even more hard to find than the creature itself...

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Czarcasm

No matter how hard you look for nonexistent things, you will fail. There is no one on this earth that can tell you how to find a hoop snake. There are no secrets to finding a hoop snake.

There are no hoop snakes to find, period.

Give up.

No I won't. Sorry to tell you that. And there are hoop snakes here...only that people have no interest in them because what the hell are they gonna do once they catch it.

[sisu]

It reminds me of what I used to say to my daughter when she was very young and asked if there was a Santa Claus, my answer was "If you believe in him, he is real".............

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

Are you serious? I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are.

I live in the Philippines and people here believe a lot of stuff that's probably not as true as they believe it is. A mixture of folklore, mistaken identity and outright fraud (i.e. stapling a rooster head to a snake body) contribute to all of this. So your friend may truly believe this, but he's likely to be mistaken.

You can either leave it or try and get to the truth, although finding no evidence of hoop snakes is unlikely to shake the faith of the true believer. It's probably not just hoop snake season.

As others have said, first start off trying to get a clear video of any of these 'legendary' snakes and go from there. There is probably no real reward but if you get a video (and only make part of it available for free) then you'll maybe be able to sell the rights to the rest if the story takes off.

Alternatively see if the Discovery Channel wants to fund a new series 'Finding Hoop Snakes'. (Or is it NatGeo that's showing that one?).

oh hey...from what province are you in the Phils? believe me, at first I never really believe hoop snakes exist here but when I told this to my friend he was surprised that anyone could have posted the reward for such a creature. The way he speaks is as if it is as common as a jungle pig. And my friend also would not waste his time coming back over and over to our house asking me if I already found a contact or on how to claim that reward. You know some people here will do anything for money.

Well getting a video would be nice, but that's troublesome. Anybody, I think would prefer a live one.

I also tried Discovery channel but i don't know how to contact them.

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by sisu

It reminds me of what I used to say to my daughter when she was very young and asked if there was a Santa Claus, my answer was "If you believe in him, he is real".............

can't disagree with that...but my friend is already way past his 40's....

[cochrane]

Originally Posted by hotdog messenger

No I won't. Sorry to tell you that. And there are hoop snakes here...only that people have no interest in them because what the hell are they gonna do once they catch it.

This?

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Measure for Measure

A citation for the alleged $10,000 reward is here:
http://www.terrorhaute.com/leg-hoopsnake.html

----and also in the wikipedia

It references this 1985 book:
http://books.google.com/books?id=h9v...ed=0CC0Q6AEwAA

http://www.amazon.com/HAUNTS-HOOKERS...Haunts+Hookers

The book isn't available online, but if there was ever a reward for $10,000 (I doubt it, though there is a documented $50 reward from 1912) it's unlikely whether the benefactor would have established a trust or charitable foundation for it managed by an unnamed New York bank. C'mon.

---If this is true then there is no point in capturing that creature. But since it was not yet removed from the wikipedia, I think the reward still exists. And I haven't confirmed it yet. You see, for some people here who have witnessed a hoop snake, it's not that surprising for them. I just have to find a contact and that will be it.

Also, the OP's friend might be pulling his leg.

----Considering how many times he came back to our house, and calling his father and sister and and a few men (they live far away from our hometown) who will do the hunting, and in fact I've read their replies would make me think otherwise.

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by cochrane

This?

A+ for that. Are we Happy?

[hotdog messenger]

Well guys I really appreciate your replies, but please once again do not troll in this page.
If you don't have any information, then please just don't post. Simple as that. Seriously I'm looking for some useful information, and I'm hoping I can get it from you. Thank you...*_*

[Inner Stickler]

Shame on all of you. This poor man is just trying to catch a hoop snake. Why must you torture him so?

Ok,hotdog, the best way to catch a hoopsnake is with its favorite bait: snipe. So, take this bat and this sack and go out into those woods and catch yourself a snipe...

[Snerky Snerk]

Originally Posted by hotdog messenger

<snip>
I also tried Discovery channel but i don't know how to contact them.

Try here.

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Inner Stickler

Shame on all of you. This poor man is just trying to catch a hoop snake. Why must you torture him so?

---I'm looking for a contact, and I'm not the one who will hunt that hoop snake. Also I want to confirm if the reward still exists today and how can I claim it assuming they captured the snake.

Ok,hotdog, the best way to catch a hoopsnake is with its favorite bait: snipe. So, take this bat and this sack and go out into those woods and catch yourself a snipe...

---No thanks, you better keep that! Bye...

[hotdog messenger]

Originally Posted by Snerky Snerk

Try here.

yeah I tried this before but doesn't seem to work. I mean something more personal like a direct contact. I know it's not easy by the way. =)..thanks...

[aldiboronti]

Have you considered the very real possibility that your friend is pulling your leg? Or, to put it another way, leading you up the garden path? Or, forsaking idioms as English is not your first language, fooling with you?

[cochrane]

Originally Posted by hotdog messenger

Well guys I really appreciate your replies, but please once again do not troll in this page.
If you don't have any information, then please just don't post. Simple as that. Seriously I'm looking for some useful information, and I'm hoping I can get it from you. Thank you...*_*

People are giving you useful information in this thread:

Originally Posted by Czarcasm

No matter how hard you look for nonexistent things, you will fail. There is no one on this earth that can tell you how to find a hoop snake. There are no secrets to finding a hoop snake.

There are no hoop snakes to find, period.

Give up.

Originally Posted by PlainJain

Considering that hoop snakes don't exist I'd say that's a distinct possibility.

I'll toss in some of my own. The hoop snake is a mythical beast. As for the rest of us, some of us are have a hard time believing you're serious. It's a time-honored Dope tradition to lampoon ridiculous claims in the name of fighting ignorance. So welcome to the Dope. You might as well be looking for Sasquatch or trying to prove the moon landings were a hoax. Dopers don't take those claims very seriously, either.