On 2/6/98 09:04AM, lhays_at_canby.com wrote: >Or hanging in trees over your boat as you paddle underneath? <grin> Used >to happen to me, cottonmouths in Southern Illinois when paddling there long >ago. Can't imagine that it doesn't happen in *real* swamps! Yes...this happens, although the cottonmouths live on land here in the south. And even if you encounter one hanging from a tree, they very rarely drop out of the tree if you leave them alone. Just avoid paddling under low lying branches and you'll be okay. We have water moccasins which you are more likely to encounter (especially swimming-is fairly common), but snakebite is very rare. I have seen a moccasin eat a fish that weighed a couple of pounds (I wasn't about to get out and weigh the fish-but was quite large.) The rule is LEAVE THEM ALONE and they'll leave you alone. Same with the gators-if you see a gator nest (big four foot mound of sticks and mud), STAY AWAY, especially during the spring (when they are raising offspring). As with all wildlife, You can observe but don't get close. Another denizen not mentioned is the Alligator Gar which is a wicked looking throwback to prehistoric times. Has a very long snout (1/3 to 1/2 of body length) with very sharp teeth, a cartilaginous skeleton and likes to float at the top of the water and sun themselves. Can grow quite large and if you catch one while fishing, is better to cut the line and let him go than try to get your hook back. The main bloodthirsty critters we have here are the mosquitoes which are unmerciful during the summer. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Neil Harrison-Houston, Texas email: nil_at_nol.net (_at_ _at_) web: www.nol.net/~nil/ ----------------------------ooO~(_)~Ooo---------------------------- 100% recycled electrons *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Feb 06 1998 - 07:54:48 PST
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