Snake on my boat.

Ross · Jun 16, 2012

All snakes can swim. Snakes probably consider anything that floats as something to climb on.

justsomeguy · Jun 16, 2012

rgranger said:
Hey All

Something strange happened today. The family and I went sailing today at Smith Mountain Lake, VA. Around 4:00 the wind settled down a bit so we nosed up into a cove and dropped anchor for a swim. At SML the coves can have very steep mountains on either side and this one did). We got way up into the cove and anchored in about 25 feet of water. The cove was about 30 yards across. It was very secluded and I went for a swim with one of my daughters. My wife and other two daughters stayed on the boat and were napping and reading a book. The two swimmers were floating about and I looked back at my outboard motor. For a split second I wondered why the throttle handle was sticking out at 90 degrees and then realized a VERY large black colored snake was climbing on the motor and heading towards the gas can. I hollered at the wife and girls on board and they leaned over for a look and it took off across the water. It swam very well and was 4.5 feet long if it was an inch.

I did not get a close look at it because I was too far way but it was black in color. The wife and kids who did get a closer look think it was a black snake and not a water moccasin. But damn... it is not like I keep a snake bit kit on the boat. Maybe I should?

This snake did swim on TOP of the water like a water moccasin does.... I've never seen a black snake swim so I can't say for sure....

1) What kind of snake do think that was? I don't think regular garden black snakes swim that well but I could be wrong.

2) How did it get to the boat unseen?

3) Why would it want to get on the boat? I guess that is the real question.

Man I have to tell you... as I was watching the snake swim away, a blue gill nibbled on the tip of my finger and I almost soiled myself. I think I actually yelped.

Other than that we had a marvelous day of sailing follwed by a Harp on tap (the kids had a pepsi) and the worlds best cheeseburger at the marina.

Nice!
Black rat snake, maybe? Most all snakes swim just fine. Snakebite kits have changed since my Boy Scout days, no cutting or sucking nowadays. No tourniquets, no ice, either. Popular consensus is 911 med-evac. Expensive.

How it got there unseen? Well, it's a snake!

Why it got on the boat? It was probably hunting..........

Consider yourself lucky for the experience! A lot of folks wouldn't have even noticed it.

caguy · Jun 16, 2012

When I took my cross country trip to pick up the C27 in Pennsylvania, I stopped to visit a friend in Tulsa, Ok. We went to a private lake to do some bass fishing. On the way he warned me about the water moccasins. When we got there we had to walk through grass to get to a half sunken pier on which to fish. Sure enough we were surrounded by snakes in the water. Being out on the pier seemed safe enough but knowing that we had to wade through those weeds again gave me the Willies. In the words of Indiana Jones', "I hate snakes."
I did catch a nice bass and didn't get bit so it turned out to be a good day.

ITMaster · Jun 17, 2012

I guess it was about 7 or 8 years ago, on the York River next to the Colonial Parkway just above Yorktown and I went to pull the anchor. When I opened up the anchor locker, there was what turned out to be about a 6 foot black snake down in there. I got a minnow net and managed to get him in the net and tossed him back in the water. He went right for the rode and started trying to climb his way back up into the boat. I called my Son-In-Law to my assistance and he kept the snake down while I got the rode and anchor back in the locker and on board. Once this was done, he kept swimming round the boat looking for a way to get on board, although the shore line wasn't much more than 100 yards away. That was my only experience with a snake getting on board, yet we see them all the time, both black snakes and the moccasins.

All U Get · Jun 17, 2012

caguy said:
In the words of Indiana Jones', "I hate snakes."
I did catch a nice bass and didn't get bit so it turned out to be a good day.

We are a part of that food chain. Our son cut a CD of sailing songs that we play while cruizing the coast. He did insert the theme from "Jaws" right after some quiet melodies just to wake me up at the helm. I usually sing along with "Show me the way to go home".

All U Get

monkeybars · Jun 17, 2012

long and skinny= non venomus short and fat = possibly venumous

Scott T-Bird · Jun 17, 2012

Black snakes are aggressive and they bite! If it was climbing the boat it had to be a black snake, I think. Moccasins are shy from what I've read. I think they avoid people. When they feel threatened, their first instinct is to rush for water. I've read that people mistake them for being aggressive merely because in their rush to get to water, they will flee right past anybody that might be standing in the way.

Bad Obsession · Jun 17, 2012

FYI....In Virginia, according to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the only place that we have water moccasins is in the Dismal Swamp.

It was a rat snake, commonly called a black snake. Non-poisonness.

Kermit · Jun 17, 2012

Rule of thumb: All snakes are poisonous. If not poisonous, it is still deadly. Even the shed skin can be deadly. Even those wooden snakes in roadside gift shops are deadly. Heart attacks kill!

That being said, I am NOT advocating killing snakes. They are all part of the ecosystem. Nevertheless, they are still deadly.

Gunni · Jun 17, 2012

What Bad Obsession said - There are no water moccasins (cotton mouths) in Smith Mountain lake, or anywhere nearby. They are lowland swamp snakes.

The vast majority of snakes are harmless, and the poisonous ones really disllike being stepped on, or hectored. So don't.

Richard Bryer · Jun 17, 2012

Kermit - I am with you , man!

rpwillia · Jun 17, 2012

Don't Trust the Government!

Bad Obsession said:
FYI....In Virginia, according to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the only place that we have water moccasins is in the Dismal Swamp.

It was a rat snake, commonly called a black snake. Non-poisonness.

Matt, Up at Sweden Point on the Mattawoman Creek they have water moccasins, and some folks have seen them out in the Potomac after a rain and they are pretty aggressive.

xcyz · Jun 17, 2012

I second that! I live in CA but work in Chantilly VA and have a friend in Clifton who has a pond. I ran across one just last week although not too large.

anchorclanker · Jun 17, 2012

New to the south, ive been researching the snakes we have that are harmful. Copperheads, Moccassins, and Timber Rattlers live here. Timbers are rare, and supposedly shy. Copperheads are somewhat common, ive seen several, and are very shy. I have not seen any moccassins, but they are not shy. They will come after you.

Regardless what was said above, Copperheads we have here are long and skinny. But they are pink and very unmistakable, as is their head shape. Bites are rare, and death is very rare. I read somewhere there are approx 7 fatalites in the US each year from snake bites. Most fatalities are from timber rattlers.

If your bit, the current suggestion is not to cut and suck, but immobilze and seek immediate medical help. The only thing they can really do is antibiotics and anti venom and run up an amazing bill. Anti venom is around $3000 a shot. I read one case where a man got 27 shots of it. Do the math.

The problem is the anti venom isnt made the way it used to be. Today its made from horse serum. They give the horse snake venom and after it recovers use the serum to make anti venom. My problem is that I am severely allergic to horses, and could potentially die from the anti venom.

From what ive read, the cut and suck, if done correctly, and immediately, can go a long ways toward reducing the effects.

Benny17441 · Jun 17, 2012

We were tubing down a river near Phoenix, AZ and we were all tied up to a center tube carrying a cooler with the brewskys. As we approached the last get out point we seen the head of a snake lurking in the water right ahead of our path. Needless to say there was a mad dash for everyone to untie themselves from the group and we started individually heading for shore. The snake started following the last of the group but was not a fast swimmer. Everyone made it to shore and two guys who had been fishing nearby apparently seen it and came down. One had a little .22 pistol and took a shot at it as it came to shore. He missed and it just pissed off the snake which started rattling its tail and raising up to attack. It was a rattler. The 2nd shot stopped it dead on its track and the guy said he was going to have a belt made out of the hide. It was a good end to a fun day of tubing. That day I learned that all snakes can swim.

Kordie · Jun 17, 2012

monkeybars said:
long and skinny= non venomus short and fat = possibly venumous

Won't work here in Australia!

Current first aid is to use a pressure bandage on the affected limb. Bandage the whole limb and splint to immobilise.

Don't wash the bite site. The dried venom crystals can be used to identify the venom.

Keep the victim calm and seek medical attention.

Bad Obsession · Jun 18, 2012

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/agkpis.htm

Here is the range for them. There are none on the Potomac. I frequently flyfish and wade the Potomac. The snakes are non-poisonness brown water snakes.

BobM · Jun 18, 2012

Snake story

Forget the boat...I went to get a beer out of the basement fridge a couple of years ago and a snake came out from it aggressively then bolted back underneath. I never told my Wife about it (I like clean laundry and we don't have any poisonous snakes in our area) but she found out recently.

I thought the snake was long gone after our mutual scare, but got a second scare when I was dusting overhead in the cellar. I two foot long dried snake skin floated down on me!

Boy did I jump. I put in the trash and my Wife saw it.

The only snakes in salt water are local criminals. Some stole a 9.9hp outboard off my boat while it was on its mooring.

Snake on my boat.

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