handling northern waters?

rwg · 05-24-04, 11:31 AM

Hey folks,

What's the best way to handle northern watersnakes without (hopefully) getting bitten, and more importantly without risking injury to the snakes? I'd like to get some good photos, but want to go about this in the safest manner possible.

rg

snakehunter · 05-24-04, 11:50 AM

All the northerns i catch and hold i hold inbetween the anus and middle, and sometimes a hook or tongs to support the front end if they are BIG. Northerns require a learned handling i find. these guys are like no other snake, and take some getting used to to understand and anticipate.

K1LOS · 05-25-04, 12:18 PM

i didn't have much trouble, just hold them by the tail at arms length, give them some time to calm down, and then its no problem. You are getting bitten lots are you?

Geoff

rwg · 05-25-04, 12:26 PM

I'm going out next weekend. I've never actually handled one before, but I'm hoping to get some decent pics. I only ask because I've read that they are very defensive/aggressive, and that their saliva contains anti-coagulants so bites can bleed quite a bit. Just doing my homework ahead of time. Thanks for the advice.

rg

Jeff Hathaway · 05-25-04, 01:08 PM

As they are very heavy bodied snakes, holding them by the tail has the potential to cause injury to the snake, or at least be very uncomfortable. I would recommend not doing this.

If you have a reason to handle them (they are a protected species, after all), I find keeping them pointed away from your body while allowing them to continually slide through your hands works well. You don't actually restrain them, just keep putting one hand in front of the other (under their belly) as they move. It seems they think they're getting away, so they don't bite. As soon as they are restrained, they'll generally try to. So after a minute or two of this, they generally calm down and become less likely to bite.

Bites are no big deal. Sure, they're worse than a garter, and they'll bleed a bit. Still nothing to require a bandaid. If you're going to handle them, expect that getting bitten is part of the task. Overall, though, I've caught quite a few over the years and find I rarely get bitten using the above technique.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

rwg · 05-25-04, 01:29 PM

Thanks for the advice. My goal is to observe and photograph. I dont mind taking a few bites to handle the snakes in a safer less stressful manner. I dont have much experience with wild snakes, and this is exactly the sort of info I'm looking for.

I have a somewhat unrelated question.

I knew that the Lake Eerie Watersnake was a threatened species, but I thought Northerns in general were doing fine. I looked around and found that they are protected (from sale trade or ownership) in Ontario, but that they were considered a non-threatened species based on a 2002 assessment.

I was wondering why some non-threatened species are protected in such a manner, while others (like the common garter) are not?

Thanks,
rg

mrcanada21 · 05-25-04, 02:52 PM

here is what you have to look forward to

rwg · 05-25-04, 04:18 PM

heh heh...I've seen photos a lot like that...maybe even that one. That's one reason I'm asking.

rg

seann · 05-26-04, 11:06 AM

I cought a nothern water snake and was able to hold it like i hold a corn snake, but i am fearless and didn't think that they bite hard it didn't bite me at all and i had it out for like ten minutes i released it back

mrcanada21 · 05-26-04, 02:30 PM

I couldn't possibly guess how many times I'v been bitten by snakes both large and small. I always hold non-venomous snakes in a manner that they are free to move whether I get bitten or not. I don't think anyone who is truly into snakes is afraid of being bitten (by non-venomous of course), it's part of the hobby.

Cheers

reptile boi · 05-26-04, 02:46 PM

hmmmm....the northern water snake i had was actually really tame, in fact, id compare him to a cornsnake (in temperament wise), if your going to get one, id suggest that you start off with a young one, that way itll be sooo much easier taming them.

Thanks,
Ben

K1LOS · 05-26-04, 06:59 PM

Is it still harmful if the snake is partially on the ground? i hold the tail up and let the 1/3-1/4 of the head end rest on the ground. I do that just to restrain it and let it come down. Once its settled i just let it flow through my hands, encouraging the head away from my body. Is this a bad way of handling them?