Dearest Copperhead

My daughter and I came across you on the trails today. It’s the first time i’ve came this close to another Copperhead since I was a teenager. When I was a kid and first moved to Texas I wasn’t thinking maybe the indigenous snakes aren’t all Garter’s like in WA. I wasn’t thinking maybe some actually defend themselves. I was thinking i want to impress my friends, I really think they’re scaredy-cats, all animals like me, I’ve picked up a million snakes (in Washington) and I don’t know what the fuss is about.
I probably should have been old enough to know better by that time. Needless to say that encounter didn’t go over well and I ended up in the hospital for 3 days on some anti venom. My friend killed the snake to bring it to the hospital to see what kind of anti venom I needed because there are other kinds of venomous snakes in TX.
I still feel extremely bad that my friend did that. It was flat out 100% my fault. It was doing it’s snake thing and just defended itself.
After that I would say I am not scared of them, or hate them but I suddenly respected them alot more and pretty much just left them the hell alone. I had to come to terms with not knowing jack about snakes in TX.

So I only touch snakes with my eyeballs now. I'm sorry I freaked you out with my camera. I noticed you reared up. Can you tell me why every snake I see on the trail tries to shake it's tail like a Rattle Snake? You can't all be Rattle Snakes. I hope you know by now I meant no harm. Your portrait came out beautifully btw, please tell your snake brethren in JJP I wish you all well.

Posted on 31 de março de 2019, 12:35 AM by