I'm never walking out of my house ever again!

[thinkofthesoldiers]

May 25, 2016 11:02:09 GMT -5 cc said:

I have a huge phobia of snakes. just looking at a picture of them is enough to have me start to feel anxious. We once had a snake in our house (I am in CFL as well) and I found it in the foyer early one morning after I woke up. I touched it with my toe, thinking it could be a plastic snake left out by one of the kids. I freaked when it started to slither. I woke my husband up and he grabbed a paper towel, used it to pick it up and then threw it outside into the bushes. I hate killing things. I recently ran over a squirrel in our neighborhood on accident (lots of trees and they will run right into the road, but usually turn around and head back into the grass.) I tried to swerve out of the way, but he got underneath the back of my car. I cried the rest of the way home.

Just for future reference, swerving for wildlife is dangerous for you and really for them. They tend to survive or at least not suffer if you do hit them (die more quickly) if you just stay your course. Lots of accidents happen if you swerve. Just keep going. Lighten up on your gas if you feel the need (don't hit your brakes). Where I live, we are taught not to swerve for animals in drivers ed.

[cc]

May 25, 2016 12:27:11 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

May 25, 2016 11:02:09 GMT -5 cc said:

I have a huge phobia of snakes. just looking at a picture of them is enough to have me start to feel anxious. We once had a snake in our house (I am in CFL as well) and I found it in the foyer early one morning after I woke up. I touched it with my toe, thinking it could be a plastic snake left out by one of the kids. I freaked when it started to slither. I woke my husband up and he grabbed a paper towel, used it to pick it up and then threw it outside into the bushes. I hate killing things. I recently ran over a squirrel in our neighborhood on accident (lots of trees and they will run right into the road, but usually turn around and head back into the grass.) I tried to swerve out of the way, but he got underneath the back of my car. I cried the rest of the way home.

Just for future reference, swerving for wildlife is dangerous for you and really for them. They tend to survive or at least not suffer if you do hit them (die more quickly) if you just stay your course. Lots of accidents happen if you swerve. Just keep going. Lighten up on your gas if you feel the need (don't hit your brakes). Where I live, we are taught not to swerve for animals in drivers ed.

I know. I was alone on the street in my neighborhood, but still shouldn't have. It was like slow motion...I saw the squirrel coming out and shifted a bit over. Then I felt the thump and ugh. It is a good thing I wasn't the one who taught my 16 year old to drive.

[tamarindy]

May 25, 2016 12:27:11 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

May 25, 2016 11:02:09 GMT -5 cc said:

I have a huge phobia of snakes. just looking at a picture of them is enough to have me start to feel anxious. We once had a snake in our house (I am in CFL as well) and I found it in the foyer early one morning after I woke up. I touched it with my toe, thinking it could be a plastic snake left out by one of the kids. I freaked when it started to slither. I woke my husband up and he grabbed a paper towel, used it to pick it up and then threw it outside into the bushes. I hate killing things. I recently ran over a squirrel in our neighborhood on accident (lots of trees and they will run right into the road, but usually turn around and head back into the grass.) I tried to swerve out of the way, but he got underneath the back of my car. I cried the rest of the way home.

Just for future reference, swerving for wildlife is dangerous for you and really for them. They tend to survive or at least not suffer if you do hit them (die more quickly) if you just stay your course. Lots of accidents happen if you swerve. Just keep going. Lighten up on your gas if you feel the need (don't hit your brakes). Where I live, we are taught not to swerve for animals in drivers ed.

I think it obviously depends on your rate of speed.  If you are driving 25 through your neighborhood and can brake for something, that's generally fine I think.  I have been on I-95 going 80 mph and saw a turtle just starting across the multiple lanes of traffic and knew that there was nothing anyone could do.  

I have a coworker who is paralyzed from an accident in which she swerved to avoid an armadillo.  :-(

[motzie]

May 25, 2016 9:42:19 GMT -5 glitzyglow said:

May 24, 2016 21:08:20 GMT -5 pegasuskat said:

I'm in Tennessee and we have lots of them, but I don't want them right by me and under my cushions!

It is illegal to harm, kill, or remove snakes from the wild in Tennessee.

www.tn.gov/twra/section/wildlife - if you click "Snakes of Tennessee" it goes to this website: www.tennsnakes.org/

I highly doubt her front porch qualifies as "in the wild."

[cc]

May 25, 2016 12:30:41 GMT -5 tamarindy said:

May 25, 2016 12:27:11 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

Just for future reference, swerving for wildlife is dangerous for you and really for them. They tend to survive or at least not suffer if you do hit them (die more quickly) if you just stay your course. Lots of accidents happen if you swerve. Just keep going. Lighten up on your gas if you feel the need (don't hit your brakes). Where I live, we are taught not to swerve for animals in drivers ed.

I think it obviously depends on your rate of speed.  If you are driving 25 through your neighborhood and can brake for something, that's generally fine I think.  I have been on I-95 going 80 mph and saw a turtle just starting across the multiple lanes of traffic and knew that there was nothing anyone could do.  

I have a coworker who is paralyzed from an accident in which she swerved to avoid an armadillo.  

I was mayyyybe going 20. I just went to the left a tad to try and give skippy the squirrel a chance to turn around and go back into the grass.

[sequins]

Snakes freak me out so bad. I would die of a heart attack if this ever happened to me, OP. How scary.

Also. If this every happens to you again, please say that there is a picture of a giant snake in your title and I'll stay far far away from the thread. I keep shuddering.

[glitzyglow]

May 25, 2016 12:38:32 GMT -5 motzie said:

May 25, 2016 9:42:19 GMT -5 glitzyglow said:

It is illegal to harm, kill, or remove snakes from the wild in Tennessee.

www.tn.gov/twra/section/wildlife - if you click "Snakes of Tennessee" it goes to this website: www.tennsnakes.org/

I highly doubt her front porch qualifies as "in the wild."

In the wild (aka in nature) vs. in captivity. So yes, a random snake hanging out on your front porch is a snake in the wild.

[sequins]

May 25, 2016 12:27:11 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

May 25, 2016 11:02:09 GMT -5 cc said:

I have a huge phobia of snakes. just looking at a picture of them is enough to have me start to feel anxious. We once had a snake in our house (I am in CFL as well) and I found it in the foyer early one morning after I woke up. I touched it with my toe, thinking it could be a plastic snake left out by one of the kids. I freaked when it started to slither. I woke my husband up and he grabbed a paper towel, used it to pick it up and then threw it outside into the bushes. I hate killing things. I recently ran over a squirrel in our neighborhood on accident (lots of trees and they will run right into the road, but usually turn around and head back into the grass.) I tried to swerve out of the way, but he got underneath the back of my car. I cried the rest of the way home.

Just for future reference, swerving for wildlife is dangerous for you and really for them. They tend to survive or at least not suffer if you do hit them (die more quickly) if you just stay your course. Lots of accidents happen if you swerve. Just keep going. Lighten up on your gas if you feel the need (don't hit your brakes). Where I live, we are taught not to swerve for animals in drivers ed.

I really need to remember this. My first instinct is to hit the brakes and that's so dangerous for everyone. There are so many squirrels on the road here. Ugh.

[tamarindy]

May 25, 2016 12:38:32 GMT -5 motzie said:

May 25, 2016 9:42:19 GMT -5 glitzyglow said:

It is illegal to harm, kill, or remove snakes from the wild in Tennessee.

www.tn.gov/twra/section/wildlife - if you click "Snakes of Tennessee" it goes to this website: www.tennsnakes.org/

I highly doubt her front porch qualifies as "in the wild."

See, this is the same way of thinking that brought about the sanction of a Florida Black Bear hunt this year.  When we use up space for our homes that was the habitat of an animal, why is it that our right to be there > their right to be there?  

I am not claiming to know that the OP lives in some new development that was once barren wilderness or anything.  But, just because the animal is near her front porch doesn't mean it is out of its habitat.  This could very well have always been its habitat.  

[motzie]

May 25, 2016 12:47:55 GMT -5 tamarindy said:

May 25, 2016 12:38:32 GMT -5 motzie said:

I highly doubt her front porch qualifies as "in the wild."

See, this is the same way of thinking that brought about the sanction of a Florida Black Bear hunt this year.  When we use up space for our homes that was the habitat of an animal, why is it that our right to be there > their right to be there?  

I am not claiming to know that the OP lives in some new development that was once barren wilderness or anything.  But, just because the animal is near her front porch doesn't mean it is out of its habitat.  This could very well have always been its habitat.  

My point is that police are not going to show up on her door for this. Was it a rash decision? Yes. Should they have killed the snake? No. But I think the OP was most likely legally within their rights.

I live in South Florida. I understand the issues and am very much against the bear hunts, btw.

[tamarindy]

May 25, 2016 12:55:26 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

I think I am pro snake murder. Sorry, tree huggers.

  Why are you for killing them, exactly?

[Eagles]

Oh good lord, I am never ever leaving the city. See, meganew?

[Deleted]

May 25, 2016 12:47:55 GMT -5 tamarindy said:

May 25, 2016 12:38:32 GMT -5 motzie said:

I highly doubt her front porch qualifies as "in the wild."

See, this is the same way of thinking that brought about the sanction of a Florida Black Bear hunt this year.  When we use up space for our homes that was the habitat of an animal, why is it that our right to be there > their right to be there?  

I am not claiming to know that the OP lives in some new development that was once barren wilderness or anything.  But, just because the animal is near her front porch doesn't mean it is out of its habitat.  This could very well have always been its habitat.  

I agree and I'm scared silly by snakes. 

It makes my blood boil for animals to be killed just for, you know, existing and being "scary" to humans and even worse, when it's legally sanctioned as you mentioned with bears. Bobcats are another animal that are now legal to hunt (at least in Illinois). 

[imbatman]

We have had rattlesnakes and copperheads on our back patio that we've walked out on when letting the dog out at night. I hate snakes, am terrified of them. Letting the dog out gives me terrible anxiety now. So yeah, I'm ok with killing snakes. I understand letting some live and relocating, but I ran over two in our driveway on purpose because I wasn't getting out to get close enough to see if they were poisonous or not.
Reading this makes me think we should move.

[meganew]

May 25, 2016 13:06:19 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Oh good lord, I am never ever leaving the city. See, meganew?

I doubt I'll have to deal with those, and we do have a cardinal's nest in our yard! Although I think we have wasps flying into our basement. You know why I never really saw in the city? Lots of wasps. Sigh.

[deanlicker78]

I have a hard time flaming someone for killing a snake out of fear after eating my delicious pork Tamale for lunch. That pig was killed purely for my eating enjoyment. It was really delicious too.

Yes, I realize there is a difference in killing for food and killing just because. There is also a difference in killing in fear and killing just because. A nearly 5 ft long snake found right where I was just sitting would alarm me. Snakes we commonly have here don't get that big, so if I did run in to one that size I'd probably assume venom first and consult Google later.

[Eagles]

May 25, 2016 13:50:18 GMT -5 meganew said:

May 25, 2016 13:06:19 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Oh good lord, I am never ever leaving the city. See, meganew ?

I doubt I'll have to deal with those, and we do have a cardinal's nest in our yard! Although I think we have wasps flying into our basement. You know why I never really saw in the city? Lots of wasps. Sigh.

Mmmmm hmmmmm. 

The 'sport is waiting for you with open arms.  And half million dollar townhouses going up on every other block. 

[meganew]

May 25, 2016 14:38:54 GMT -5 Eagles said:

May 25, 2016 13:50:18 GMT -5 meganew said:

I doubt I'll have to deal with those, and we do have a cardinal's nest in our yard! Although I think we have wasps flying into our basement. You know why I never really saw in the city? Lots of wasps. Sigh.

Mmmmm hmmmmm. 

The 'sport is waiting for you with open arms.  And half million dollar townhouses going up on every other block. 

I hate those fucking grey boxes.

[Eagles]

May 25, 2016 14:46:13 GMT -5 meganew said:

May 25, 2016 14:38:54 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Mmmmm hmmmmm. 

The 'sport is waiting for you with open arms.  And half million dollar townhouses going up on every other block. 

I hate those fucking grey boxes.

I know, they're so institutional.

[iamgrace]

I don't know what kind of snake that was, but no to killing it. I was alone at the the cottage with my father in law once and he came across a largish snake. Like 3 ft? He was going to kill it. I put on gloves and moved it.

It's not hard.