Maryland Snake HELP!!!

[BQC123]

I prefer to go with the most logical explaination, especially when faced with nothing more than a non-professional person's identification. Producing a photo, live, or even dead specimen, would be a step toward proving they are there. I get reports all the time of copperheads and water moccasins all the time. Amazingly, only water snakes or milk snakes have ever been produced.

 

[Galapoheros]

Imo, the "global warming" topic wouldn't be talked about much by gov, true or not, if there wasn't money to be made. The gov is trying to own the rain now, literally. The excuse being that it's water that would go to recharge zones, pumped up and treated by gov, a commodity people pay for. You can't have rain for free! Not the topic but, it was solved anyway.

 

[pitbulllady]

I prefer to go with the most logical explaination, especially when faced with nothing more than a non-professional person's identification. Producing a photo, live, or even dead specimen, would be a step toward proving they are there. I get reports all the time of copperheads and water moccasins all the time. Amazingly, only water snakes or milk snakes have ever been produced.

It is remarkably easy for reports of exotic or giant or whatever snakes to be circulated, with no basis in reality other than native species. A friend of mine works for a business on the SC "Grand Strand" area, which includes the popular resort of Myrtle Beach. This business specializes in removal of "problem" wildlife, mostly reptiles during the warm months. A few months ago, reports of a "giant white python" were coming in from one of the high-end housing developments, and were immediately picked up by the local and state news agencies, with "experts" weighing in that the "killer giant pythons" were moving up from Florida into SC, complete with all the bovine excrement about "released pets". So, my buddy and his partner get a call from that housing area, a hysterical person claiming that they had the giant snake in sight, sunning on a rock on the bank of a pond, that it is every bit of 10 feet long, it's white and it's HUGE! They rush over there, with big snake tongs prepared to take on a large Burm, elbow their way through the throng of people gathered to watch the battle, all claiming this is the biggest snake they've ever seen...only to find...a very ordinary, four-feet-long native Red-Belly Water Snake! Not white, not even pale, just a run-of-the-mill Red-Belly girl, who now resides in my bedroom. Everyone who was looking at this snake SWORE it was at least 8 feet long and WHITE, clearly a python or anaconda or some kind. The media tells us that we are overrun with exotic and dangerous snakes, so people are seeing them everywhere, only what they are seeing is ordinary native snakes.

pitbulllady

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

Mike, you DO realize that Animal Planet is largely controlled by HSUS, right? That its programming is geared towards sensationalism, rather than education or facts, and that it's also geared towards spreading the HSUS's agenda?

I find that very believable. But have the ARAs had their fingers in the pie from the beginning? I remember when AP used to be a very educational channel, chock full of actual documentaries, not a line-up of "OMG! The top ten most extreme <fill in the blank>s in the world" type shows. I seldom bother to tune in anymore, it used to be a viewing staple for me.

 

[Shrike]

I find that very believable. But have the ARAs had their fingers in the pie from the beginning? I remember when AP used to be a very educational channel, chock full of actual documentaries, not a line-up of "OMG! The top ten most extreme <fill in the blank>s in the world" type shows. I seldom bother to tune in anymore, it used to be a viewing staple for me.

Agreed. Last night I tuned in to "Rattlesnake Republic" out of curiosity. This isn't a nature documentary about rattlesnakes, but a show about removing dozens of specimens from the wild for money. "When I look at a rattlesnake I see a $20 dollar bill." How many snakes need to be harvested in order to earn a living? You do the math. Essentially, Animal Planet is documenting and even glamorizing the exploitation of a species. My opinion of the network has hit a new low.

 

[pitbulllady]

Agreed. Last night I tuned in to "Rattlesnake Republic" out of curiosity. This isn't a nature documentary about rattlesnakes, but a show about removing dozens of specimens from the wild for money. "When I look at a rattlesnake I see a $20 dollar bill." How many snakes need to be harvested in order to earn a living? You do the math. Essentially, Animal Planet is documenting and even glamorizing the exploitation of a species. My opinion of the network has hit a new low.

Animal Planet underwent new programming back in 2008, after its incoming director decided that the current programming line-up, which focused on Attenborough-style nature documentaries and informational shows for the most part, was not "edgy" enough to keep viewers, and would not be able to compete with the fad of reality programs on network tv. So, the move was made towards the sensationalistic programming that we see today. Many of the programs are actually produced by HSUS, or at least utilize HSUS and/or PETA as "consultants". Both AR groups own considerable stock in Animal Planet. The programming is intended to use fear to drive their agenda home to Americans by portraying animals like reptiles, spiders, sharks, and large mammalian carnivores as evil incarnate, out-to-get-us monsters, and the people who actually keep these demonic beasts as Public Enemy No. 1. Ditto for anyone who actually owns multiple animals of ANY species, or breeds animals of any species. If you own more than one or two animals, you're a "hoarder". If you breed animals or Heaven forbid-SELL animals, you're a "puppy mill". If you keep any animals that are not cute little fluffy foo-foo dogs, house cats, bunny rabbits or other small furry traditional pets, or goldfish, you're an animal abuser who is also a sociopath/psychopath, not only for your cruelty in keeping such animals from enjoying their wonderful free lives in the wild, but for putting everyone else in mortal danger just so you can look "tough" by having a "pit bull" or a python or a bobcat or flaunt your financial success in the face of those less fortunate than you by having a $1,500.00 parrot or saltwater aquarium. THAT is the message that Animal Planet is preaching, to a very receptive congregation, as Wayne and Ingrid gleefully manipulate the puppet strings from above.

pitbulllady

 

[The Snark]

Observation

It seems to me that boards like this could serve some very useful purposes. What is obviously needed is factual unbiased public information. Methodology on how to properly identify animals without jumping to conclusions, responsible pet ownership and the like.

As for bashing Animal Planet and similar, those media do have a place and purpose. However, they have a problem in that their audience demands sensationalist crud.

The big bottom line here is getting people to get real. Yes, there are wild animals out there, though fewer every year, and they need protection. Yes, there are morons out there displacing animals irresponsibly and they need educating. Yes, there are sensationalist media BS suckers by the millions who aren't happy unless they get their dose of flash and crash entertainment. What all this needs is the voices of reason. Experts giving the real facts in calm rational ways to help the hypnotized masses into a little understanding of our amazing world and the cohabitants in it.

PBL, you have very valid points regarding the pandering sensationalist media. However, as but one example, Steve Irwin's docu-dramas were fabricated. But he was dedicated to preservation and protection of wild animals and helped educate a lot of people. You are a voice of reason with a lot of valuable information. Help provide us with pointers on how we can be better world citizens living in harmony with these amazing critters.

And for everyone, please keep in mind, the natural world and it's animals need our help. Identify properly, disseminate useful factual information and always keep in mind the planet isn't mankind's playground. Other creatures live here and have a right to do so unmolested. Observation instead of killing, relocation instead of imprisonment. Understanding and appreciating instead of ignorance and savagery.