Friend or killer? Snake ID please

h2ogirl · 10-14-13, 10:21 AM

I see these snakes all the time near my house. I never paid them any mind. Today a city employee was down at the creek cleaning up and killing the ones he could find. He claims this one is a cotton mouth. I always assumed it was a harmless water snake. Maybe blotched water snake? Which is why I walked right up and took his picture. I'm no expert, and I wouldn't want anyone hurt. Also hate to see needless snake killing. Will someone please settle this? I'm in Austin. Thanks y'all!

infernalis · 10-14-13, 12:22 PM

it is in fact a harmless water snake. The face markings and head shape confirm...

poison123 · 10-14-13, 12:27 PM

What he said ^^

formica · 10-14-13, 12:38 PM

pffft, what is an unqualified government employee doing, killing snakes? i'm sure there are qualified staff, who are able to properly identify snakes and kill them humanely if the need arises. this kind of thing annoys the hell out of me, i do not believe it comes from a desire to ensure peoples saftey

shaunyboy · 10-14-13, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

pffft, what is an unqualified government employee doing, killing snakes? i'm sure there are qualified staff, who are able to properly identify snakes and kill them humanely if the need arises. this kind of thing annoys the hell out of me, i do not believe it comes from a desire to ensure peoples saftey

i agree mate

sounds like the as*hole just likes killing snakes

to the op
can you report the government employee for all this needless killing ?

cheers shaun

h2ogirl · 10-14-13, 02:32 PM

I'm going back to talk to him for sure. Now that it is confirmed harmless I feel more confident. People here are scared and lack knowledge. Heck I lack snake knowledge too, but I respect them and have never had a problem. We see dozens every time we leave the house on foot. We look forward to it. He thought I was crazy down there playing in the creek with my 6 yr old surrounded by all the "cotton mouths". I told him the snakes never bother us. Its the leeches that make me worry. I would love to see a cotton mouth though. Never have seen one in the wild. I was lucky enough to see a coral snake recently. It was absolutely beautiful.

ErikBush97 · 10-15-13, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h2ogirl

I'm going back to talk to him for sure. Now that it is confirmed harmless I feel more confident. People here are scared and lack knowledge. Heck I lack snake knowledge too, but I respect them and have never had a problem. We see dozens every time we leave the house on foot. We look forward to it. He thought I was crazy down there playing in the creek with my 6 yr old surrounded by all the "cotton mouths". I told him the snakes never bother us. Its the leeches that make me worry. I would love to see a cotton mouth though. Never have seen one in the wild. I was lucky enough to see a coral snake recently. It was absolutely beautiful.

If you're going to talk to him, you're definitely a better person than me... I'd be using a different method to get my point across. What an a$$hole. I'm glad that you are interested in snakes and not afraid of them

they are really great animals and not enough people see that.

warehouse13fan · 10-17-13, 02:56 PM

friend... but the kind hat dont like to be touched

sharthun · 10-17-13, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warehouse13fan

friend... but the kind hat dont like to be touched

LOL, they just have a little attitude at first.

Chris72 · 10-17-13, 04:55 PM

Oh good god all mighty....!!
The worker needs to be therapy!!

What are the chance that even if the municipal or local Gov't wanted to reduce hot snakes in that creek they would send one clean-up worker out to do the job??

As others have mentioned he is just an idiot with deep childhood issues, or the like, that cause him to need to hurt animals. The next step is children.

Don't waste your tme talking to him....if he is doing it there (for kicks) he is likely hurting animals in any other place he can where it can't be seen.

Consider using your phone to capture video next time so you can send it to the paper and his superiors.

His little habit needs to come out of the closet or it will continue at best...or move to humans one day at worst.

Refferance: My wife has worked with many who have killed other people and most of the time it starts with animal abuse.

.

RandyRhoads · 10-17-13, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris72

Oh good god all mighty....!!
The worker needs to be therapy!!

What are the chance that even if the municipal or local Gov't wanted to reduce hot snakes in that creek they would send one clean-up worker out to do the job??

As others have mentioned he is just an idiot with deep childhood issues, or the like, that cause him to need to hurt animals. The next step is children.

Don't waste your tme talking to him....if he is doing it there (for kicks) he is likely hurting animals in any other place he can where it can't be seen.

Consider using your phone to capture video next time so you can send it to the paper and his superiors.

His little habit needs to come out of the closet or it will continue at best...or move to humans one day at worst.

Refferance: My wife has worked with many who have killed other people and most of the time it starts with animal abuse.

.

Good god is right. How do you jump to the conclusion that this man has some sort of animal torture station set up and will soon be murdering and torchering children.

Starbuck · 10-17-13, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

Good god is right. How do you jump to the conclusion that this man has some sort of animal torture station set up and will soon be murdering and torchering children.

wow, yes thank you :/ :/

i know it is true that many serial killers and psychopathic individuals will 'toy' with harming animals first, i think a much more likely scenario is that this was simply an undereducated individual who thought he was doing the right thing, because he had never ben taught otherwise.

I agree, report him to his manager/superior, w/e, but i think there is NO reason to jump to labelling him a sociopath or equivalent.

ErikBush97 · 10-17-13, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris72

Oh good god all mighty....!!
The worker needs to be therapy!!

What are the chance that even if the municipal or local Gov't wanted to reduce hot snakes in that creek they would send one clean-up worker out to do the job??

As others have mentioned he is just an idiot with deep childhood issues, or the like, that cause him to need to hurt animals. The next step is children.

Don't waste your tme talking to him....if he is doing it there (for kicks) he is likely hurting animals in any other place he can where it can't be seen.

Consider using your phone to capture video next time so you can send it to the paper and his superiors.

His little habit needs to come out of the closet or it will continue at best...or move to humans one day at worst.

Refferance: My wife has worked with many who have killed other people and most of the time it starts with animal abuse.

.

You can't created a psychological profile like that with so little detail on who you're talking about.

Reference: 3 years of independent studying on Psychology, mental illness, and body language.

Chris72 · 10-18-13, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

Good god is right. How do you jump to the conclusion that this man has some sort of animal torture station set up and will soon be murdering and torchering children.

Ok sure, some assumptions are made. (Granted)

However, I find it inconceivable that authorities would send out a one made trash cleaning crew who is also task with killing "cotton mouths" when he sees them.

Those are typically two very different departments of public service.
We could probably figure it out from the vehicle:
>Landscape Maint: A truck with shovels, pitch fork, hoses, water tank, etc.
>Animal Control: (usually printed on the truck) and there will be no shovels, etc

Therefore we are left with the idea that he is a one man clean up crew who is killing them because he wants to kill them.

From there it's simply a matter of experience. Half my family works in mental health (within our legal system). The wife works with those found criminally insane. (Not criminally responsible due to mental health) Offenders she works with who have an index event consisting of great harm to a human or death have an early history of hurting animals so often it's almost typical.

Refferance:
My wife, who I discussed this with at great length, has been working in mental health for almost 15 years.
(i.e. She deals with the Psychology, mental illness, and body language of criminals and killers every day)

.

warehouse13fan · 10-18-13, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris72

Oh good god all mighty....!!
The worker needs to be therapy!!

What are the chance that even if the municipal or local Gov't wanted to reduce hot snakes in that creek they would send one clean-up worker out to do the job??

As others have mentioned he is just an idiot with deep childhood issues, or the like, that cause him to need to hurt animals. The next step is children.

Don't waste your tme talking to him....if he is doing it there (for kicks) he is likely hurting animals in any other place he can where it can't be seen.

Consider using your phone to capture video next time so you can send it to the paper and his superiors.

His little habit needs to come out of the closet or it will continue at best...or move to humans one day at worst.

Refferance: My wife has worked with many who have killed other people and most of the time it starts with animal abuse.

.

sir, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down.....