Well Hidden
by JC Findley
Title
Well Hidden
Artist
JC Findley
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The vegetation in this image is only a few inches high and the camera is only a couple feet above the snake and zoomed in on the rattlesnake. The natural camouflage allows the snake to blend into its environment quite well and it would be almost impossible to see while just walking through the grass.
The best way to avoid getting bit is to leave the snake alone of course if you cannot see it and step on it you will likely get bit. I recommend using a walking stick in a manner that is like a blind man using a cane. Sweep the stick back and forth tapping where you want to step before stepping through the grass or undergrowth when in snake country. If something moves, and they will move when you tap on or near them, you will be able to see the snake and avoid a bite.
This image was shot on the side of the road after I moved the snake off the highway to keep it from being run over. The rest of the story is described below.
So, I was driving south to complete the best day ever with a shots of Panama City Beach sunset when I say a snake trying to cross the highway in the middle of the northbound lane. At 65 mph it looked like a young hognose snake. I turned around and immediately saw it was a juvenile Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.
OK, I get many people don't like snakes but I do and these are getting extremely rare in the wild. Last time I tried to save a snake crossing the road it was at night and raining and it would have been dangerous to try and block traffic. Not so on this beautiful sunny day so I turned on my hazards and blocked the snake from the north bound traffic as I herded it off to the side of the road. That would have been the end of the story had I been way out in the woods but the snake was headed for someone's front yard so I couldn't let it keep going that way. It might have bitten a child or a dog plus being in a front yard is rather dangerous for the snake as well.
Now I am in a bit of a dilemma. I do not have snake tongs, a hook, a minnow net, a pillow case or ANYTHING else I usually have for just such occasions. I know I know, you are saying JC, you should ALWAYS have those things to save random venomous snakes from being killed and facilitate relocating them to a safer environment for the snake and people. Well, I procrastinated putting my snake kit together for too long and I just didn't have it yet. (Oh, I don't play golf btw and if you ever meet me the Ping putter usually in the back of my car is for pinning snakes so I can safely pick them up.)
Anyway, there aren't even any readily available sticks nearby so I am trying to now herd this snake with my tripod. Not working that well. I look in the back of my car, which is out of the road now, for something, anything that I can use to transport this snake to a safe location. AHA, a canvas grocery cold bag that zips shut to keep your frozen food cold. That should work.... Now, if I can simply get the snake to crawl into the bag. That is not all that easy a thing to do and herding it in there with the tripod legs just isn't working. Back to the car I go. YES! I have a metal coat hanger. Yeah, not the best thing and not strong enough to pin the head but I CAN fashion a snake hook out of it. That is what I did. It still took me another 45 minutes of working with him to get him in the bag mind you but I did it.
Now, this "vicious evil creature" NEVER ONCE tried to strike at me. All it wanted was to hide in the grass and to be left alone. Once I got it in the bag I transported it to a remote location and let him go. We did a little photoshoot there but I lost a part of my tripod tool catching the snake and had to shoot at 1600 ISO hand held. Again, never once did the snake become aggressive nor even defensive. The reality is they simply want to live in peace in their environment and be left alone.
Uploaded
June 26th, 2015
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Viewed 885 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/10/2024 at 8:58 PM
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