Everyone has heard the stories: larger-than-life snakes rising from the deep recesses of the shadows, snatching man into their arms, to slowly digest or live. Have you heard a similar story?
This is an example of one of the many mis-perpetuated myths and legends about snakes. This article is to address ten of the most common myths about snakes, and to offer the truth behind them.
Fable #1
Snakes are light and tough to the touch.
Truth
This is false. No snake is slimy. The scales are very smooth, it glides easily on the skin; not an inch of mud is present. Also, snakes are not sowers. Depending on where you find it, it will either be hot or cold to the touch. The reason for this is that snakes cannot generate their own body heat. Therefore, there are macro developers in them.
Fable #2
All snakes have teeth, and a bite from one will wound severely and lead to death.
Truth
Not all snakes have teeth, and not all have venom, and contrary to popular belief, many blood do not hurt.
They only have venomous teeth: copperheads, cottonmouths, vipers, etc. . A few species of snakes have posterior teeth, such as Hognosus. But these teeth are far in the mouth, hence the name, and if a snake bites, it is not likely to be caught by the back teeth.
Usually a snake bite does not hurt. Small colubrids, such as Ball Pythons, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Red Tailed Boas… None of these eat anywhere near the size. master.
Likewise, those who keep Burmese, Pythons, and Anacondas, the odds of being eaten by a snake are zero. Burmese have been known to kill their owners, usually due to the ignorance and carelessness of the keepers, but this has never been reported on A pet snake eating its master.
Fable #4
Snakes carry large amounts of Salmonella, and they make you sick.
Truth
While snakes carry Salmonella, the odds of becoming infected with it are very small if they are properly cared for. Common sense should be used when handling a snake. Never let it in your mouth (for no one does that who does this), and always wash your hands After dealing with the snake. Using an antibacterial gel works well.
Always remove feces and urine from the snake’s cage as soon as it occurs, as the feces are where Salmonella is contracted. If your snake happens to slip through it, give the snake a warm bath to clean it, clean the bed, and replace the snake. See Wash your hands.
Finally, be sure to check once a month. Completely remove all the objects, clean the cage with a light solution, rinse it, and after it has dried and has no smoke, put everything back. As long as the cage and snake are properly maintained, and you wash your hands, the odds of getting sick from a snake are very slim.
Fable #5
Snakes can hypnotize people and animals with their eyes.
Truth
This is not true. A snake cannot hypnotize a person or an animal in any way.
Fable #6
Snakes on a hoop. This story is very much my own, as I wish it were true. The story goes that when a snake is scarce, it will bite its tail, form a circle or hoop, and then spin like a wheel. Another version of the story says that he will form a hoop figure and then chase the culprit.
Truth
Unfortunately, this story is just that—a story. There is no such thing as a viper. No serpent will bite its own tail and form a noose; it is an anatomical impossibility for the structure of the body. If a snake frightens, whatever it is, it slides into the belly, not as the wheel turns.
Fable #7
Hognose snakes (also called Hoggies and Puff asps) can breathe vaporous venom up to a distance of about 20 – 25 feet.
Truth
Hoggies don’t have useless poison, they don’t have poison of any kind. It is probable that this story arose from the fact that the Hoggs, when threatened, puffed up their necks like asps, and hissed wildly. However, if you continue to bother with it, you will eventually end up dealing with faux fur and falling on your back, limping and lifeless. They are not poisonous, but they are lazy.
Fable #8
A snake cannot but bite you if you are in a crooked position.
Truth
I can speak from experience that this is indeed a myth. The scar between the right index finger and big toe from Ribbon’s most angry snakes is a testament to the fact that they can strike from any position, with the exception of the 11-year-old’s very anxious feet.
Fable #9
The milk seems to sneak into Cows and milk immediately from the source.
Truth
Wrong! They may be called milksnakes, but they are just like any other snake. If you try to give milk, you will have a very confused, perhaps amused, Milksnake.
Fable #10
The latest myth is that there are cottonmouth snakes in the New England area.
Truth
This is false. There are no cottonmouth snakes in New England. They are very prominent in the southern states, but are not found in the north. What most people think of as a cottonmouth is probably a northern water snake. These snakes look almost identical to the cottonmouth; growing up in Ohio right next to the creek, I ran away from more than one cottonmouth.
