Surviving Snakes by Getting "Snake Awareness"

reptiles which are tetrapod (four-limbed vertebrate) animals in the class Reptilia, comprising today's turtles, crocodilians, snakes, amphisbaenians, lizards, tuatara, and their extinct relatives. The study of these traditional reptile orders, historically combined with that of modern amphibians, is called herpetology.

Because some reptiles are more closely related to birds than they are to other reptiles (e.g., crocodiles are more closely related to birds than they are to lizards), the traditional groups of "reptiles" listed above do not together constitute a monophyletic grouping (or clade). For this reason, many modern scientists prefer to consider the birds part of Reptilia as well, thereby making Reptilia a monophyletic class.

The earliest known proto-reptiles originated around 312 million years ago during the Carboniferous period, having evolved from advanced reptiliomorph tetrapods that became increasingly adapted to life on dry land.

the educational value of the previous three paragraphs, then you can get your "reptile fix" just by re-reading these paragraphs again. Actually this is not about the entire world of reptiles, just one. Snakes. Please do not be alarmed. These words and photos depicting snakes are not going to harm you. Trust me.

The Purpose of

this piece is not to impress the reader by publishing these dangerous snakes, but rather study how one can be safe among snakes when trapped in a wooded area or jungle. I know that this is possible because of the teaching of survival expert, Les Stroud "Surivorman" (Discovery Channel) and Bear Grylls, also a master survival expert and guru also seen on Discovery and other noted channels.

These "Snake Awareness Tips" are not complex and you do not even need a college degree to survive meeting a dangerous snake while you are out alone, getting some "me time" by going on a hike, camping trip, fishing, or just taking a leisurely walk to refresh yourself by enjoying a slice of Mother Nature.

1.) Upon an accidental meeting with a poisonous snake, the very first thing one needs to do is: not panic and begin to scream. Prepare yourself by keeping up on all types of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. The old Boy Scount motto of "Being Prepared" works in every walk of life. Simply visit your local library and with your list of poison snakes, you can take your time and read everything you need to know about these snakes. And if books aren't your thing, then go online and surf the net for snakes and I promise you that your efforts will be beneficial to you. By the way, this is a free tip.

2.) If you are out in a wooded area and walking toward a campsite or lake to do some fishing, that object coiling in front of you is a rattlesnake. Stop right now. Do not move. I mean this with all of my heart. Stop your chest from heaving in and out your breath. This rattlesnake is going about itself to warn you that he (or she) will be aggressive if provoked. So study at home or with a snake expert on how you can become more patient because the day that you are forced to stand for hours while watching "Mr. Rattler" will seem but a cakewalk for you have been prepared. In a certain amount of time, the rattler will understand that you pose no threat to him (or her) and simply crawl away.

3.) If you and a buddy (or girlfriend) are walking in a wooded area and you and her are having the best time, watch out. Places like where you are walking are perfect for snakes. Be quick to walk slowly and do not make sudden moves--even if your sexy girlfriend should pinch your butt just acting silly, this may cause you to scream bringing out an aggressive snake who hates people who yell. And your girlfriend who pinched you is not history for she told you that a girly man is no man for her.

4.) If you are with your brand new girlfriend and you find yourself telling jokes, laughing, and all in a loud tone, stop right away. See above snake danger awareness tip. But in this tip, do not yell, talk, laugh and make sudden, frightening moves, these too will also cause many poison snakes such as the Cotton Mouth or Copper Head to strike (out of fear) at you. Be quiet. Be calm. This will keep you and the new girlfriend alive.

5.) When you are alone or with friends on a camping trip and one afternoon decide that you will all go fishing. Great idea. But on the way to the lake, you spy a long, gray looking snake that is motionless. Great, you think. Not. Never just walk up to any snake and start to feel of its skin because this snake just might be digesting a huge meal and "sleeping off" the huge feast. Plus even with the massive ratfest, you could be a target for the snake to bite you.

6.) If you are in your sleeping bag snoozing by the campfire and when it turns morning, you start to wake up and get some fresh coffee, but thanks to your intense study of snakes and their behavior, you know not to squirm and yell like a scared little girl. You just lay as still as you can. But get some of your buddies' attention and warn them by whispering to you to relax. I wager that this snake, if not provoked, will crawl away, so if you need to "head to the restroom," I wouldn't. I would just obey "Nature's call." No one is going to laugh at you for being so scared at this huge snake laying on top of you that you do No. 2 inside your brand new sleeping bag. Oh, well. So much for camping and those nosy snakes.

7.) On all of your outings, do the wise thing all of the time by buying and keeping a First Aid Kit handy. Even if an angry poisonous snake should bite you, you can survive simply by relaxing and keeping calm. If you know the breed of snake, and you should for you have studied for this, then call your Poison Control Center and tell them what type of snake bit you and these tech's can bring you an antedote for this snake bite. While a technician is driving to get your medicine, you may want to tie a tourniquet above the snake's bite preventing the poison from traveling through your veins so swiftly. If you can reach the bite, take your knife and cut a cross at the center of the bite and suck out the poison and spit it out. This might save your life if you are all alone.

8.) "Mr. First Time, But Snake Aware Hiker," do not let all of your snake awareness escape you from the books and websites that you have studied about how to survive with snakes by letting panic take over your judgment. And above all, do not try to toss any rocks or tree limbs at the snake sitting a few feet from you. This snake is angry and scared. Throwing rocks and limbs at this snake is telling you, "Bite me, please! My wife thinks that I am a wimp for not biting one human." Be calm. Be still. This will work.

9.) Take a course of Kung Fu and its various areas of surviving fires, gunshots, fights, and even poison snakes. This, I do not know that much about, but I would tell you to spend the cash on a real Kung Fu master and let him teach you all about how you can become one with the dangerous snake and thus, not get bitten. If necessary, pay the Kung Fu master to go along with you on your weekend camping trip. It is money well spent.

Now, after reading this hard-hitting, honest hub about surviving snakes, do you feel like taking in a camping trip in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest?