# Good day everyone. I have a question about hoop snakes. This is important. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 16, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858 "2012-09-16T07:35:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/1 "2012-09-16T07:35:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/2 "2012-09-16T07:42:17Z")
I have never seen a hoop snake, but I’d sure like to. ---
**Author:** ![alexco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ab992/32.png) [@alexco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexco)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/3 "2012-09-16T07:49:54Z")
i think you should catch it first. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/4 "2012-09-16T08:15:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/5 "2012-09-16T08:48:42Z")
Of course not. The drop bears ate them all. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/6 "2012-09-16T08:58:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/7 "2012-09-16T08:58:44Z")
Since the OP mentions the [Cecil column about hoop snakes](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/989/are-there-really-such-things-as-hoop-snakes), I’m going to move this to Comments on Cecil’s Columns. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/8 "2012-09-16T09:07:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/9 "2012-09-16T09:10:25Z")
Greek mythology can be totally misconstrued to lend credence to the idea that the hoop snakes inspired the hula hoop. ---
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/10 "2012-09-16T09:33:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/11 "2012-09-16T09:38:46Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/12 "2012-09-16T09:41:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/13 "2012-09-16T10:32:15Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/14 "2012-09-16T10:33:20Z")
> [@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… ---
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/15 "2012-09-16T10:34:24Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/16 "2012-09-16T12:21:46Z")
As I understand it, hoop snakes don’t perform the hoop maneuver in captivity. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/17 "2012-09-16T12:46:04Z")
I think you can get about tree fiddy fo it. ---
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/18 "2012-09-16T12:55:15Z")
> [@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… ---
**Author:** ![hotdog\_messenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hotdog\_messenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotdog_messenger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/19 "2012-09-16T12:56:19Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > I think you can get about tree fiddy fo it. i’m sorry, i think i’m missing something here… ---
**Author:** ![Snerky\_Snerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Snerky\_Snerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snerky_Snerk)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858/20 "2012-09-16T13:32:42Z")
> [@hotdog\_messenger](#): > > i’m sorry, i think i’m missing something here… A few somethings. Oars. Cans. Sausages. Marbles. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-day-everyone-i-have-a-question-about-hoop-snakes-this-is-important/634858.md?page=2)