# Is this a dangerous snake ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103 "2004-06-24T23:03:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/41 "2004-06-26T02:51:41Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Well, how about importing a mongoose?? Forget it. Mongoose were imported into Hawaii in the 1800’s and they have had \*absolutely no effect \* on snakes in Hawaii! They have become quite a pest themselves, however. \*\* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \*\*:rolleyes:-\< ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/42 "2004-06-26T12:44:09Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Seriously, what natural predators are there of garter snakes and the like ? My Jack Russell Terrier bitch Shiner lays waste to any and all snakes that venture into my backyard, including baby copperheads. Not that I approve, necessarily, there is really nothing I can do about it. I’m not sure how well she would fare against a full grown poisonous snake but she’s very fast and prey-focussed. If she got first bite the fight would be over. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/43 "2004-07-01T04:59:42Z")
Dragongirl, what’s the latest? Have you decided to keep them? have you found a solution? ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/44 "2004-07-01T06:06:04Z")
> [@Ring](#): > > Squirrels have legs and a bushy tail. Snakes don’t. I got bit by a squirrel. Oh sure they look really cute sitting on their haunches waving their bushy tail and eating a peanut but don’t let that fool you, they are Nasty, Vicious, Flesh-Eating Vermin With A Thirst For Human Blood. I hate the damn things. Snakes on the other hand are quite cuddly. I hope to see one eating a squirrel someday. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/45 "2004-07-01T06:09:09Z")
> [@chukhung](#): > > But, if you have to have yourself a mongoose, this [site from the USDA](http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pet-info.html) says you can go ahead and import one. The USDA ain’t the final word of course. As recent events have demonstrated, importing a cute tiger to raise as a pet is A Very Bad Idea. There’s all kinds of state laws about what animals you can have as well, for example ferrets are illegal here in California. ---
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/46 "2004-07-01T11:42:36Z")
I’ve decided that if the snakes stay on their rocks and don’t bite anyone but the mice, they are allowed to stay. They are cute in a kinda slimy way. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/47 "2004-07-01T14:31:52Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > I got bit by a squirrel. Oh sure they look really cute sitting on their haunches waving their bushy tail and eating a peanut but don’t let that fool you, they are Nasty, Vicious, Flesh-Eating Vermin With A Thirst For Human Blood. > > I hate the damn things. Snakes on the other hand are quite cuddly. I hope to see one eating a squirrel someday. What did you do to the poor squirrel first? When I lived in Peoria, Il, my house was along a ravine and I put up bird feeders. It was next to impossible to keep the squirrels off of them. But they’d reward me by putting on a show for me if I was watching. They would jump from branch to branch, do acrobats, and other things to amuse me. I’d always try to chase them off the feeders when I caught them on them, but I let them eat the seeds that dropped to the ground. One day I was waving my fist at a squirrel, threatening him, when two chipmunks came right up to me and started eating seeds near my foot. I didn’t mind that. They can eat all the seeds that fall. The squirrel gave me a puzzing look, “Why am I letting them eat the seeds?” ---
**Author:** ![brane\_damaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a587f6/32.png) [@brane\_damaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brane_damaj)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/48 "2004-07-01T15:30:05Z")
Many springs ago, back when I was young and happy, I was fortunate enough to have a cluster of wintering garter snakes wake up in my family’s yard. I had a field day catching them, but at the end of they day, I had to ask myself what to do with two dozen garter snakes once my mother was sufficiently freaked out. So I let them all go. I’ve also been bitten by one, and although not pleasant, my brother has bitten me worse. You do run the small risk of infection since they do primarily eat vermin, but their teeth are so small they’re unlikely to completely pierce your skin. Also, the larger, fatter females tend to be more aggressive, especially when you call them fat. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/49 "2004-07-01T19:22:14Z")
I was bitten by a garter snake last year while vacationing in New Mexico, and it just left a couple of pinpricks in my finger. I think the only reason he bit me is that I was holding another garter snake, and he was perturbed. My two year old son was bitten a few days later, and he pulled his hand away, which made a larger cut that bled. But he was back to handling them again within a few hours. In my home yard, I occasionally see copperheads. I killed one a couple of weeks ago, then found out that my (pregnant) next door neighbor was bitten by one earlier that same day, which they also killed. Are there any predators that I can get to kill copperheads? Bull Snakes? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/50 "2004-07-01T19:46:44Z")
Squirrels are nasty, ratlike, rabid, flea-infested, diseased vermin. Snakes are cool. Any questions? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/51 "2004-07-01T20:30:28Z")
> [@dragongirl](#): > > They are cute in a kinda slimy way. As someone who enjoyed playing with the garter snakes in my childhood yard (it was even kind of cool to get bitten, because they’re so harmless, and it made the 8-year-old me feel tough), I can attest to their not being slimy at all. They’re smooth, dry, and supple, sort of (but not exactly) like textured leather. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/52 "2004-07-01T23:35:11Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Are there any predators that I can get to kill copperheads? King Snakes think they are delicious. Also King Cobras will eat copperheads. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103/53 "2004-07-01T23:56:36Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] Squirrels are nasty, ratlike, rabid, flea-infested, diseased vermin.QUOTE] Agreed on all points except for “ratlike”. Rats, despite their reputation, are rather cute and cuddly. They make good pets. Barbitu8, I got bitten while showing visitors around my alma mater (U of I in Champaign/Urbana, so the same cute little IL squirrels that you refer to). “Look how cute they are” I said, “They’ll come right up and take food from you” I said. “Ow, ow, he’s trying to drive his teeth right through my thumbnail and has drawn blood” I said. “Time for me to go to the health center for yet ANOTHER bizarre injury” I said. “Hello nurse, I just got bit by a squirrel. No, stop laughing, I’m serious” I said. Next time I visit the U of I I’m gonna sit on the Quad with a bag of Cheerios in one hand a hunk of pipe in the other. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dangerous-snake/252103.md?page=2)