Copperhead

[wheelgun1958]

My kelpie and dachshund cornered a copperhead the other day. I heard a lot of barking (not uncommon) and then a loud squeal. My kelpie got the business end. A trip to the emergency vet and $2300 later he's recuperating at home. When I saw the snake I got my 12 ga. and MISSED! Finished it off with a pitchfork. Roscoe (the kelpie) has to wear the cone of shame for 2 weeks.

 

[Big Old Boy]

Cone of shame is much better than the alternative, glad he made out ok.

 

[Cholo]

I'm glad your dog made it! The treatment will always be very expensive. I knew a woman who lived in Montgomery, AL. Her Jack Russell made a huge commotion down at the pond behind her house. Here it comes with a dead Cottonmouth in its mouth. It keeled over right in front of her. The snake had bitten the dog twice on its face. $3k later the dog was fine, and that was the discounted rate because her x husband was a veterinarian.

Copperheads are viscous nasty disposition snakes.

Don't feel bad about the shotgun. I was on our lease deer hunting in late Nov. in middle TN. I told my friend, Bill, that he just drove over a Copperhead. No way! Back up. It was curled up on the gravel road and he still couldn't see it. I grabbed his 12 ga. and simply pointed it and shot at about 20'-right over it LOL Bill said: Gimme that shotgun-BLAM. No more snake. He asked me where I wanted to be dropped off because there was no way he was going to hunt with the Copperheads out. Jeez, it was just one Copperhead. Nasty things!

 

[Jeepnik]

My former vets office was a few blocks from a large park. Most of the acreage was undeveloped. He used to get a number of rattlesnake bites every year.

Most of these were dogs bit on the snout. Folks allowed their dogs to run off leash. Dogs being dogs lead with their noses.

He always suggested people do to things. Get the vaccine and take snake avoidance training.

Interestingly, he never had a case where a cat was bitten.

 

[Kevin]

Interestingly, he never had a case where a cat was bitten.

That is the funniest thing I've read all year!!!

When we were down in Surfside Beach, TX, we had to take our dog to the vet; she turned out fine. However, the vet told us about all the rattlesnakes down there. (We never saw one.) However, he told us about the snake bite vaccine for dogs. It won't stop the effects, just delay them long enough for the dog to make it to the vet.

 

[Bob Wright]

My daughter lives in rural Southeast Georgia. She told me recently that a big rattler had been run over in the road near her house. And men were giving folks rides on their ATV to go and look at the snake.

Bob Wright

 

[Fox Mike]

In the late 1970's my Cav unit went to Hunter -Stewart in Georgia for some aerial gunnery practice. The bivouac area that we were assigned was literally a "pit of vipers". Everywhere we turned there were copperheads. All the pilots and crew chiefs had their .38s loaded. Snake-shot, ball alternate. I cannot remember exactly how many were killed but do know it was a rather large number in a one week period.

 

[BearBio]

When I was Chairman (and President) of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited, we would do an annual Snake Avoidance Clinic for hunting dogs. Grew so large, we had to do three each year as our main fundraisers. The Chapter (under my leadership) won awards almost every year for our efforts. Unlike most "conservation" groups, the National took 15% and we kept 85% (Most groups, it is the opposite). WE had a match from Los Angeles County and cost shares with Forest Service and BLM. We ended up doing the Taco Bell Chihuahua and several dogs belonging to celebrities.

My first GSP, Maggie, went through it. I was at a friends cattle ranch and pheasant club. He placed several pheasants out and marked them with surveyor's flags. We approached one and Maggie went on point. I ordered her into the clump of bunch grass and she refused. She'd circle and go back on point but wouldn't "bust" the bird. On the third or fourth attempt, a rattler started buzzing. We went back later and found a few feathers (couldn't get the "buzz tail"!). Figured the snake struck right after my friend planted the bird!

We went to the ranch regularly to hunt pigs, quail, dove, and deer, so I had all of our dogs snake=broke whether they were hunters or not!

 

[Mike J]

I've killed about 6 of them over the years here. Haven't had any problem the last few years. They always worry me because they can be very hard to see.

My grandfather always swore that if a dog was bitten in front of its heart it would live. He said if it were bitten behind its heart it would die. He always told me this after telling me his story about killing a 6 foot long rattlesnake that was as big around as his leg when he was a kid in Oklahoma. His boxer got bit during the incident. He said they put kerosene on its head. The dogs head swelled up & it was miserable for a few days then it was okay. Of course I would think the size of the dog bitten might effect the outcome.

 

[WendyZXZ]

Poor Roscoe, hopes for a quick and complete recovery.

 

[Taterman]

When I was Chairman (and President) of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited, we would do an annual Snake Avoidance Clinic for hunting dogs.
My first GSP, Maggie, went through it.

What type of things do they do/teach in a snake avoidance clinic?
Any tips you could share?

 

[ronto]

Ever since King Snakes took up residence at my place I have yet to see a single Copperhead whereas before I'd kill at least 6 Copperheads every year. I haven't seen any mice in my barn either.

 

[BearBio]

It requires a snake wrangler. The snakes are put into rabbit cages=one snake is a nervous one that rattles easily, one is a "quiet" individual, and the third is placed a ways away. A handler experienced in snake/dog handling (you'll see why in a minute) walks the dog in close to the first snake. As soon as the snake starts to rattle, the dog receives a shock. It's necessary to have someone experienced to a) recognize minor reactions to the sound (jaw clenching, eyes moving) and tell the wrangler when to zap and b) dogs will use the handler as a shield. After the dog has developed a response to the snake, the handler walks the dog up to the "quiet" snake and the process is repeated. Finally the dog is walked around the distant snake & called back by the owner. The dog SHOULD make a wide circuit around the third snake.
1. It is vey important to use someone experienced on the shock collar. Otherwise, someone who is too heavy handed can ruin the dog.
2. Important that the dog handlers be experienced so as to be able to detect slight reactions. Our schnauzer/poodle would want to kill the snake. Pit and Rotties will sometimes only clench their jaws.
3. You CANNOT react to the snake. The dog will pick up on it. Petting him, soothing him can lead to the dog LOOKING for snakes.

As a fundraiser, we would contract with a professional dog handler who would travel with his own equipment and snakes. We had a school that let us use its soccer field for the exercise. After a favorable article in the L.A. Times, we had to expand to 3x a year and then sold out way in advance. We split the fee (typically $100) with the wrangler/trainer. The moneys went into construction "guzzlers (artificial watering holes).

The one exception to having the owner take the dog through was a recovery (cadaver/rescue) dog. He was an experienced trainer and they had an exceptional rapport. He told us (he had worked the Oklahoma City Bombing) that many of the dogs had to be retired because of "nervous breakdowns". The determined they has to "hide" a live volunteer and let the dog find them at the end of the day==the dogs couldn't take finding only bodies!

My very first published article was on snake avoidance training.

 

[Rick Courtright]

However, he told us about the snake bite vaccine for dogs. It won't stop the effects, just delay them long enough for the dog to make it to the vet.

Hi,

I didn't know about the vaccine, but do know the timing's absolutely critical.

I used to have coffee a couple of mornings a week with a vet. He was originally from Illinois, where they had no rattlesnakes, and bought a practice out here. He hadn't been in this practice long before he got an emergency call from one of his clients. Fellow and his buddy were out bird hunting, and their dog got hit by a rattler. They were bringing the dog in, but it would take close to an hour to get there.

When the dog arrived, Dr. P said it had been hit in the snout and he'd never seen such rapid necrosis of the tissue in the dog's face. They lost the dog, but one of his fellow vets who'd treated a lot of rattlesnake bit dogs told him they would have had a hard time saving the dog if it had only taken 30 minutes to get to him. So if the vaccine can buy a half hour, that's probably gonna save a lot of animals.

Rick C

 

[jimd441]

Yes, king snakes eat other snakes including venomous snakes, which if I remember correctly is why they were named king snakes.

Jim

 

[blume357]

Many of the draft doggers from the north during the conflict between the newly formed Confederate States of America and the United States of America were called 'Copperheads'.

just thought I'd throw that one in... have not seen a copperhead around here this year.... hope not to... might have to do with the King snake that lives under our house....

 

[wheelgun1958]

Removed cone of shame last night. He seems back to his former rambunctious self. Thanks for all the encouragement.

 

[wheelgun1958]

 

[Rick Courtright]

Removed cone of shame last night. He seems back to his former rambunctious self. Thanks for all the encouragement.

Hi,

Glad to hear your dog came thru in good shape! Hope he stays away from the snakes now...

Rick C

 

[Taterman]

It requires a snake wrangler. The snakes are put into rabbit cages=one snake is a nervous one that rattles easily, one is a "quiet" individual, and the third is placed a ways away.

Thanks. I figured it would have to be a pretty complicated type of training.
Had no idea how it would be done safely though.

 

[Taterman]

Removed cone of shame last night. He seems back to his former rambunctious self. Thanks for all the encouragement.

Great to hear!