Too close a call!!!

I delivered this morning (4 a.m.) at a store in Houston. Or I tried to. I was there early, but by 4:20, no one had showed up. I was backed into the dock.

So, I got out of the truck and walked around to the front of the store to see if anyone was there. Or, at least, I started to. I got just over by the back door when I saw something moving on the pavement. It was fairly well-lit, so I realized pretty quickly it was a snake.

This guy:



Red touch yellow, kill a fellow!

Yes, a Texas coral snake. I've never seen one before, except in a zoo. They are reclusive and nocturnal, but deadly if you don't get prompt treatment.

He was about 18 inches long, give or take, and he was headed for the vacant lot behind the store. Let me assure you, I let him go, and I was very careful where I walked the rest of the time I was there!

Wow, he's pretty! Glad nothing bad happened to either of you!

Good grief!! Beautiful but I am glad I don't live where there are poisonous snakes!

Originally Posted by farleyv

Good grief!! Beautiful but I am glad I don't live where there are poisonous snakes!

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a little scary . I am thankful there are no poisonous snakes here

Originally Posted by mbjerkness

a little scary . I am thankful there are no poisonous snakes here

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Same here! Goodness, glad you are safe.

Wow what an amazing sight! So glad no one was hurt by it

we dont really have snakes here theres 3 native types and its very rare you see them

Oh my, I would have ran a mile So glad there aren't really snakes here, I saw a grass snake once and screamed, that was bad enough.x

Poisonous snakes in New York!

Snakes in New York

"There are only three species of poisonous snakes living in the wilds of New York (many other kinds may be found in the homes of private individuals and, occasionally, escapes occur!). These are the timber rattlesnake, the massasauga (erroneously called "pygmy rattler"), and the copperhead. All three are uncommon."

The coral snake is not commonly seen. As I said, in 30+ years in Texas, this is the first one I've ever seen.

I LIKE snakes. I would not have hurt this guy for anything. Had it been the garter snake I thought it was at first, I might well have tried to pick it up. I do all the time! Fortunately I knew about them. We have a couple of other in the area that look very similar.

Don't think I've seen one either outside a zoo. So who was more surprised??

Wow, guess you didn't need any coffee to wake up after that!

Texas is not a place for wimps: poisonous snakes, black widow and brown recluse spiders, and fire ants to name just a few. Heck, even the plants are dangerous; mesquite thorns can go right through a tractor tire (or the soles of your boots!).

When I was a kid growing up in Texas, we used to swim in the tanks on my dad's ranch. If we'd see a cottonmouth (water moccasin), we'd jump right away into the water because we thought they couldn't bite underwater. Luckily, we never found out that wasn't true!

Originally Posted by mbjerkness

a little scary . I am thankful there are no poisonous snakes here

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Well... except for rattlesnakes, right?

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

Wow, guess you didn't need any coffee to wake up after that!

Texas is not a place for wimps: poisonous snakes, black widow and brown recluse spiders, and fire ants to name just a few. Heck, even the plants are dangerous; mesquite thorns can go right through a tractor tire (or the soles of your boots!).

When I was a kid growing up in Texas, we used to swim in the tanks on my dad's ranch. If we'd see a cottonmouth (water moccasin), we'd jump right away into the water because we thought they couldn't bite underwater. Luckily, we never found out that wasn't true!




Well... except for rattlesnakes, right?

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not her in central B.C.

Wow - that is a beautiful snake!

I always heard the saying, "Red next to yellow and you are a dead fellow. Red next to black is a friend of Jack"

He's beautiful.....but honestly? I would have needed to change underwear after that! (sorry)

I think he's gorgeous! Obviously wouldn't want to get too close though.

I have no problem at all with snakes I can see, and know where there are. It's walking up on one, like that, that gives me the heebie jeebies.

Originally Posted by Skippymjp

It's walking up on one, like that, that gives me the heebie jeebies.

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One of the scariest moments during childhood was an encounter with a very large coiled-up snake in eastern Long Island. It seemed to be at least 60 inches and mostly black and not skinny! Well, I was around 8 or 9 years old at the time so maybe 60 inches was simply the way it appeared to me - but oh ya it was heebyjeeby for sure. Mr. Blanche I'm glad you're okay.

Originally Posted by Winchester

He's beautiful.....but honestly? I would have needed to change underwear after that! (sorry)

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Same here; I'm deathly afraid of snakes.