A Bad Scare

tykesmom · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject: A Bad Scare

We're all back, safe and sound from the mountains - no pictures, however, b/c we ran into some pretty yucky weather up there - we had fun anyway though!
Our trip was almost over before it began Saturday morning. Tyke and I got up at 6 AM to get the paper, and as I walked out the back door, I saw Tyke look down at something on the ground beside the steps - then I saw it move and scramble to get away from her - it was a copperhead snake about two feet long! I got Mom's attention and she took Tyke into the house. I could see the snake under the steps where he was hiding, but couldn't get a good shot at him, (yep, we do shoot snakes around here!), so I tried to chop him with a shovel. I couldn't get at his head, but I hope I hit him hard enough to kill him after he crawled back under the stairs. I got absolutely weak in the knees when I realized how close Tyke had come to getting bitten!! Years ago, one of our Eskies got bitten, but she was a little bigger than Tyke, and the snake was much smaller. Other than a nose swollen to twice its normal size for a few days, Frosty didn't have any ill effects (we did get her the antivenom ASAP, too) I don't think copperheads have enough venom to kill a dog Tyke's size, but she would have been awfully sick! We now have mothballs scattered all around the stairs to the sunroom, and are going to get the landscaping guy to put lime around the backyard tomorrow. Needless to say, I won't be doing much hiking on the wooded trails in the swamp with Tyke for a while. I am just SO RELIEVED she didn't get hurt....
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Kim and Tyke

"You say dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you they will be there long before any of us." - Robert Louis Stevenson

deepnite10 · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject:

that s MAD scary Shocked

really glad no one got hurt and you were able to continue
your vacation..

hmz819 · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject:

Wow that is scary! Kinda of ironic though as we had a long conversation about snakes at Mother's Day lunch/.

Glad Tyke is ok and the snake slithered away.
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Heather, Morgan, Maya, and Sadie
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion-Unknown

tykesmom · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Heather, but I'm sort of hoping the snake DIDN"T slither away - I hope it's DEAD!!! As Deepnite said, that was MAD scary! If I could have gotten to that snake, I'd still be chopping- nobody messes with MY baby!!! Evil or Very Mad

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Kim and Tyke

"You say dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you they will be there long before any of us." - Robert Louis Stevenson

blueteal · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

Glad Tyke is ok!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sue & Denver

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hmz819 · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject:

Well I think you killed it!!!! I hate snakes. I just don't think I could handle a dead snake laying there without a head. I'd rather it slither away to die!
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Heather, Morgan, Maya, and Sadie
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion-Unknown

MaxandMe · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject:

glad to hear TYKE and YOU were both okay.

me? if the snake is dead, i am happy Wink

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tykesmom · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

Heather, I am with you - I've killed them before and had to toss them into the woods - I'd just as soon not see them alive, and they are even worse dead! I think I was just running on "Momma Bear adrenaline" as my mom said - something was after my "cub" and I was gonna get it!
I am still seeing that creepy thing in my sleep - he could have bitten both of us! Shocked

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Kim and Tyke

"You say dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you they will be there long before any of us." - Robert Louis Stevenson

annabelles mom · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject:

How scary, so glad you are both ok
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Mary & Annabelle
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gene · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject:

I would have been jumping out of my skin!! Shocked

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gene , jonah , miko and rumor

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lindamarie · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

Oh wow!! How frightening!!!! Glad you're all okay! I'd shoot too..........Thank God I don't have that problem here. I'd be freakin' out!
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Jac · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 11:54 pm Post subject:

Yikes! Kim, I am so glad everything is okay!
I have been reading about Rattle Snakes a lot, trying to find a way to control them...I've not seen one here, YET, but I understand that they are very common.
So, here is what I know of Rattlers...I don't know if any of it applies to Copperheads or not...but the baby snakes are far more dangerous than adults. They have more potent venom and are more likely to use it!
Even when you chop their heads off, they can bite and inject venom, even hours after they are cut off...so never handle them!
If you have them under the house or stairs, you can get a huge heavy board and cover it with the sticky stuff that they put on rat traps, place it along the walls where snakes will slither and when they go over the sticky stuff they are trapped.
I was also told by an 89 year old farmer around here that I needed to get a long handled square shovel to chop the heads off...watch them leave because they won't turn back to you and then chop...ugh! I hope I never have to ... but I WILL! I am like you, if it protects my pups, you bet I'll kill them!
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tykesmom · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 6:01 am Post subject:

Good advice, Jac -for ALL snakes!
I have also found another unlikely ally in the war against poisonous snakes - the OPOSSUM! We have plenty of these little critters around, and not only will they eat snails and slugs out of your garden, they will also attack, kill and EAT poisonous snakes, such as copperheads, moccasins and rattlers! (they are immune to the venom) I have a friend who actually puts dry dog food out for possums on his property, and very rarely sees snakes! From now on, all 'possums are welcome at Tyke's house!!! Laughing

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Kim and Tyke

"You say dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you they will be there long before any of us." - Robert Louis Stevenson

my Boo · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 7:23 am Post subject:

Go Momma Bear!!! Very Happy

Calimom · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 7:55 am Post subject:

What a terrifying start to the day! I'm glad you are all safe. Keep an eye out.
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Meg and Cali