Snakes & Caves in Florida

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Originally Posted by a64pilot

Nope, only two kinds of snakes, good ones and bad ones. Guess what it takes to qualify as a good one?

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I've been waiting for this one:)

i have only ever seen one in the Santa Fe river system on a night dive, i had a fellow i was diving with think it would be a great photo op to grab ahold of him. Of course i flashed him and signaled to get his a$$ up for a quick chat,, as he didnt seem to find a problem with grabbing hold of wildlife for a quick photo. after i explained the markings on the snake and identified what species it was he still thought i was an A-hole from stopping him from being bitten by this. The next morning when we met with our local friend and i explained how our nite dive went he took the time to explain everything i had that night. But like stated if you leave them alone they likely wont bother you.

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Originally Posted by TonyDCaver

A live one =)

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Couldn't agree more. Snakes are lovely creatures. :)

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Originally Posted by cavewoman

Couldn't agree more. Snakes are lovely creatures. :)

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Yes they are. I keep a few, but nothing venomous and all captive bred. I love living in Florida, where I can see snakes in the wild and in my yard. That almost never happened in New Jersey.

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Art

I've had cottonmouths up here before swim up to us and try to get in the boat while we were fishing. A bit disconcerting when it's 6+ at a time.

I do not care for them.

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Originally Posted by Webmaster

I've had cottonmouths up here before swim up to us and try to get in the boat while we were fishing. A bit disconcerting when it's 6+ at a time.

I do not care for them.

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+1. Growing up in the Panhandle it was no big deal seeing them around the water. Being struck at by a cotton mouth the size of
a freakin bus when your 11 years old = life changing! I still have nightmares about that creature from HELL. We stay away from each other now a days, it's been working out thus far.

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Originally Posted by Dsix36

If they could get there darned fangs through my leather boots, I don't think a drysuit has a chance in stopping them.

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At least the leak will be easy to find! :D

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Originally Posted by cavedivingwoman

There is an awesome photo of Brett Hemphill cradling a rattlesnake on the ADM web site.

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I can attest to Brett being a snake charmer. I have seen him "rescue" cottonmouths from the middle of roads, clear them away from areas we were diving, etc.

Here is a link ( http://www.walterpickel.com/Expediti...L4rhB&lb=1&s=A ) to one of the pictures I took of Brett. Hilarious how he came about "finding" that snake. Brett was digging in a rock choked fissure (dry) and he said it feel into his lap. He surprised all of us when he walked up with it. It was 28 that day and the snake had been trying to stay warm. Took him about 5 minutes to start waking up.

Video of Brett with the snake - http://www.walterpickel.com/Expediti...4637&k=vFTczLz

This is a cottonmouth we found hiking around Homosassa

http://www.walterpickel.com/Animals/...bsNmQ&lb=1&s=A

Ancient snake (note her head and spine ridge)...She was NOT aggressive at all, not even when I tripped and braced my fall by putting my hand down 2 feet away from her.

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Originally Posted by DeepSea

I can attest to Brett being a snake charmer. I have seen him "rescue" cottonmouths from the middle of roads, clear them away from areas we were diving, etc.

Here is a link ( http://www.walterpickel.com/Expediti...L4rhB&lb=1&s=A ) to one of the pictures I took of Brett. Hilarious how he came about "finding" that snake. Brett was digging in a rock choked fissure (dry) and he said it feel into his lap. He surprised all of us when he walked up with it. It was 28 that day and the snake had been trying to stay warm. Took him about 5 minutes to start waking up.

Video of Brett with the snake - http://www.walterpickel.com/Expediti...4637&k=vFTczLz

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Already knew Brett wuddn't quite right...confirmed :D

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Originally Posted by DeepSea

This is a cottonmouth we found hiking around Homosassa

http://www.walterpickel.com/Animals/...bsNmQ&lb=1&s=A

Ancient snake (note her head and spine ridge)...She was NOT aggressive at all, not even when I tripped and braced my fall by putting my hand down 2 feet away from her.

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She is gorgeous!