Living in venomous snake territory

[goalie805]

I live in Florida and was wondering, what is the magic temperature that you can stop worrying about snakebites. I haven't had the oppertunity to get a snake to "snakeproof" train him yet. I have been trying to avoid temperatures over 60 F (basically hunting for a couple hours starting at dawn) as I think this is a safe bet, but was wondering if anyone had encountered problems at lower temps than this or had other knowledge.

[ohmymy111]

I depart the frozen hinterlands of Noth dakota for the tropics of Georgia for part of the winter. I was told by a Vet in Georgia, that works with plantation hunting dogs, that they can see snakes out in the 40s. They won't be real active, but you can never truly be certain you won't come across one. I would suggest instead of snake breaking your dog yourself, have someone do it for you that has experience doing it. I have a friend in Montana snake break all my dogs, and he has done probably 1000s of them. To me it is well worth the little money that it costs

[ckirsch]

My eleven-year-old went out to get the newspaper one morning last month, and almost stepped on rattlesnake coiled up on our front step. I would never had guessed that any snakes were still above ground in South Dakota that late in the season - the temp had dropped to twenty the night before, and it was only around forty when she found the snake. Evidently they're not as temperature-sensitive as I had believed....

[goalie805]

I know they are still around at cooler temps, especially in FL, I guess I am asking at what temp they are active and alert enough to strike.

[SubMariner]

I live in Florida and was wondering, what is the magic temperature that you can stop worrying about snakebites. I haven't had the oppertunity to get a snake to "snakeproof" train him yet. I have been trying to avoid temperatures over 60 F (basically hunting for a couple hours starting at dawn) as I think this is a safe bet, but was wondering if anyone had encountered problems at lower temps than this or had other knowledge.

PM me if you want the contact information for a vet who is well known for doing snake avoidance training: he lives in Alachua.

Meanwhile, we were recently told by a herpatologist (guy who works with venomous snakes) that when it gets into the 50s they tend not to be very active. You can find out more here: http://www.sdnhm.org/research/herpetolo ... .html#temp

Bonne chance,

[AzDoggin]

The county in which you live should have someone with knowledge of the local dangerous critters. Around here it's the county extension agent - they are amazingly helpful and knowledgeable. Pretty sure they are biologists.

I definitely agree with the snake aversion training, though. "bleep" nasty things.

[phermes1]

My dog was bitten in mid October, I know of others who have had dogs bitten in January when it was in the 40's. It's very unlikely to happen, but the risk is there.

Incidentally, a particularly bad time might be the days after a cold snap. Once the temp rises, snakes can tend to come out to warm themselves.

[Johng918]

I got hit twice by the same snake before I even new what was going on last year I had on snake boots but it was right after the second freeze last year he was in the brush dog went right by him and I stepped right on him he did not have the energy to rattle but meant it when i stepped on him.I don't think snakes are going under in florida these days.

[fishvik]

I've run across W. Diamondbacks out in early Nov. at 35-40 degrees in W. Kansas. Pretty sluggish though.