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The Womens
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water snakes
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squesen
May 29, 08 16:50
Post #1 of 81 (2329 views)
water snakes
Can't Post
Did an OWS at a state park today where I had to get permit from the park ranger to swim outside of the designated area. While signing off on the paperwork, I asked him what critters were in the water.
SNAKES!
Apparently they are just water snakes and their bite is not venomous -- require an antibiotic shot at the hospital, though. He says the lake is "filled" with them and people do get bit.
I spent most of my swim bobbing around trying to splash and scare off snakes -- note: I didn't actually see any snakes. Even though there was a massive current in the middle of the cove I was too scared to swim in the calmer (warmer) waters near the shore. My husband was canoing next to me and I kept stopping to ask him, "see any snakes?" I managed to get a couple of miles in, but I was a nut case the whole time.
Who else swims in snake-riddled lakes? Any advice/experience/anecdotes?
DawnT
May 29, 08 17:52
Post #2 of 81 (2309 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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I cannot believe you went in that water after hearing that!! OMG!! I wouldn't even get in the canoe if I had hear that. You are one brave woman!!
deee
May 29, 08 18:05
Post #3 of 81 (2303 views)
Re: water snakes [DawnT]
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OMG! I've seen some water snakes, but nothing that size. Jesus... that freaks me out. Note to self: do not swim in lakes with water snakes. Shakin in my boots!
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cuds is retired.
cerveloguy
May 29, 08 18:09
Post #4 of 81 (2302 views)
Re: water snakes [DawnT]
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They're quite common, even in Ontario. I was scuba diving on an off shore Lake Ontario wreck in Kingston and when I ascended to the surface, had one swim right in front of my mask as I came to the surface. They can get quite large and this guy made me jump as it was something totally unexpected. I've been told they can grow up to six feet long, if this is the same species.
"OK, I'll admit I screwed up the facts"
matti58
May 29, 08 18:56
Post #5 of 81 (2289 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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Oh my god, I'm going to have nightmares. There's no way I would've even put my big toe in the water if snakes were prevalent. You are tough!!
jenhs
May 29, 08 22:02
Post #6 of 81 (2246 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
I'm going swimming in the lake tomorrow morning. Shit, now I'm going to think every weed is a snake!!!!!!
----------------
Ultraman Canada Relay 2009!
(I got suckered into the run leg)
Jenhs
trackie clm
May 29, 08 22:23
Post #7 of 81 (2240 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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>>Who else swims in snake-riddled lakes?<<
HELL NO!
Why would you do that when there is a nice pool available?
clm
http://ironclm.typepad.com
mdraegernyc
May 29, 08 22:24
Post #8 of 81 (2239 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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You are the bravest person ever. A few years ago, I went camping along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. It had a pretty decent current so I was doing an open-water Endless Pool workout while my sister and some friends were splashing around in the river. Suddenly, I hear my sister say "Oh look, a snake!" from a spot in the middle of the river upstream from me. I flipped out and you couldn't have made me go back in that water for anything. I had no idea that there were water snakes outside of the water moccasins in the South.
I already think every tree branch and weed in the water is a snake, so I've got that going for me. :-D
M
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Finally, I've joined the
blogging crowd
WeRide
May 30, 08 4:31
Post #9 of 81 (2221 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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Squesen, you MUST tell us what part of the country you are posting from. So at least if we are not near you we will feel safe.
I live on a lake in NJ. I have seen a small snake in there a couple of times, always close to shore. I jump off my dock and avoid the shoreline and always felt OK, never thought the little one might be a baby and grow big and come get me.
Dang -- that is a horrifying thought. And the worst part is...I am not so afraid of snake bites (or jellyfish stings) themselves (I mean how much worse can it hurt than a bike ding or whatever) . It is the ICK factor that bothers me.
Also, I always assumed that swimming with a large, noisy group of people would make the snakes go away. Any empowering info would be helpful. Thanx
(PS, many extra points for copmleting the workout after the major buzzkill of finding out you had company.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My tires are pumped, and so am I..."
http://www.youtube.com/...A1Fw1GdRKkc&NR=1
squesen
May 30, 08 5:41
Post #10 of 81 (2210 views)
Re: water snakes [WeRide]
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Sure. I live in Pittsburgh, PA. And I was swimming in Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park, about 45 min North of the city -- Southwestern PA.
Unfortunately, a pool is not like open water. 1) the lake was cold (58 degrees F). 2) I had to sight (and snake sight!). 3) there was a massive current. Swimming in my nice warm pool following the line does not cut it.
The snakes thing is rough. I am glad I posted this AFTER I swam because you guys have officially scared the crap out of me worse than that park ranger did!!!
Sarah
tigerchik
May 30, 08 6:11
Post #11 of 81 (2199 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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At an OW swim race last year - we were all lined up to dive in, I looked down and there was a snake "swimming" right toward me. The RD scooped it up in a net, tossed it aside, we were in the water a minute later. I think it unnerved everyone a little, but after a couple minutes into the race I forgot about it.
only time I have ever seen one, and I'd forgotten about it until you brought this up. Now I know what will be on my mind when I get in that lake next week!!! THANKS!!!
_________________________________________________________
"You should know what you stand for, not just what you're against."
-Speak
cstine
May 30, 08 7:05
Post #12 of 81 (2188 views)
Re: water snakes [DawnT]
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Wow! That's a scary looking snake! Are most water snakes poisonous? I never think about them when I hit the lakes, but now I will. I think I need to do some research locally, or maybe its better to not know.
trackie clm
May 30, 08 10:24
Post #13 of 81 (2122 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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>>1) the lake was cold (58 degrees F).<<
Well, that's reason to not get in right there!
clm, warm water swimmer only
http://ironclm.typepad.com
jenhs
May 30, 08 10:30
Post #14 of 81 (2119 views)
Re: water snakes [cstine]
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My husband said we don't have them here in the Northwest and I've chosen to believe him. If anyone knows differently, keep it to yourself.
:-)
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Ultraman Canada Relay 2009!
(I got suckered into the run leg)
Jenhs
deee
May 30, 08 11:16
Post #15 of 81 (2098 views)
Re: water snakes [jenhs]
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My husband said we don't have them here in the Northwest and I've chosen to believe him. If anyone knows differently,
keep it to yourself.
:-)
I'm keeping it to myself! :P Though I can't say for sure that it was a water snake - it might have just been a regular snake at the water.
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cuds is retired.
jenhs
May 30, 08 11:28
Post #16 of 81 (2093 views)
Re: water snakes [cuds]
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*fingers in my ears* LA LA LA LA LA LA .....I can't hear you!!!
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Ultraman Canada Relay 2009!
(I got suckered into the run leg)
Jenhs
mdraegernyc
May 30, 08 11:55
Post #17 of 81 (2083 views)
Re: water snakes [jenhs]
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Tell your husband thank you! I will also choose to believe his obvious expertise in this matter...
M
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Finally, I've joined the
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cstine
May 30, 08 12:12
Post #18 of 81 (2072 views)
Re: water snakes [mdraegernyc]
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ok, so I googled poisonous water snakes, and apparently there is only one in the US:
http://www.wf.net/~snake/moccasin.htm
and they are mainly in the southeastern part of the US (I feel safer now)
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/...eets/Cottonmouth.cfm
deee
May 30, 08 12:15
Post #19 of 81 (2071 views)
Re: water snakes [cstine]
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ok, so I googled poisonous water snakes, and apparently there is only one in the US:
http://www.wf.net/~snake/moccasin.htm
and they are mainly in the
s
outheastern part of the US
(I feel safer now)
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/...eets/Cottonmouth.cfm
suckers!
I think we need to delete this thread all together... every time I open it I see that pic and "I hate snakes"!
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cuds is retired.
Hid
May 30, 08 12:17
Post #20 of 81 (2068 views)
Re: water snakes [ironclm]
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"clm, warm water swimmer only"
But snakes get smaller in cold water.
"it's like information without the facts." - Mr. Tibbs
"it's not posted to a triathlon forum, but to a lifestyle forum that happens to be inhabited by triathletes. all kinds of stuff gets posted here, and i'm grateful that it does. - Dan Empfield aka Slowman
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...0what%20to%20;#65849
PC
May 30, 08 12:18
Post #21 of 81 (2068 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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Who else swims in snake-riddled lakes?
NO F-ING WAY!!! OMG you are one brave girl. There is no way I would get in a lake after the park ranger told me it was filled with snakes.
squesen
May 30, 08 12:39
Post #22 of 81 (2059 views)
Re: water snakes [cstine]
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The snakes in this lake are not poisonous. They bite, and the bite requires an antibiotic shot from a doc, but they won't kill you. Park ranger "reassured" me of this. Only in the South where we have water mocs are they venomous.
I am originally from FL. Usually in the same bodies of water as the snakes are the gators (lakes and rivers). So I never worried too much about snakes, given that I was terrified of gators. When swimming at the beach, I was worried about rays and sharks.
The totally sick thing is I am planning another swim at this same park later this summer. I am thinking of doing the "little red lighthouse" swim in the Hudson River in September (5.85 mi) so I'll need some OWS time for sure. Who wants to join me? If there is a snake and more than one swimmer, the probability of my getting bit goes down. :)
WTF is there in the Hudson River? Actually, you know what, don't tell me.
mdraegernyc
May 30, 08 13:03
Post #23 of 81 (2047 views)
Re: water snakes [squesen]
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Yeah, I suppose if forced to choose between what's more scary to swim with gators vs snakes, I'd go with gators as well. (But since the only way I'm swimming in water that has a remote possibility of either is highly improbable, it's a moot point... )
The stuff in the Hudson is really more gross than scary. Well, I suppose the list of potential long-term side effects of swimming in the Hudson for five miles would be pretty scary, but you'll probably get some cool superpowers out of it - so you've got that going for you! ;-P (And you REALLY don't want to know what's in that water, you might consider lying about a snake bite from your lake just to get the extra antibiotics.)
M
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Finally, I've joined the
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squesen
May 30, 08 14:21
Post #24 of 81 (2035 views)
Re: water snakes [mdraegernyc]
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Yeah, I used to live in Manhattan. I kinda "know" what's in that water. Good call on the antibiotics.
The
Manhattan Island Foundation
does a number of OWS, including a marathon swim around the whole island. That has got to be some serious sh*t -- pun intended.
jana
May 30, 08 15:29
Post #25 of 81 (2025 views)
Re: water snakes [cuds]
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gee thanks. i was always afraid of snakes in the water before, now i an terrified.
I live in SOUTHEAST TEXAS where these snakes live.
was an interesting article though. glad that my open water race is in Northern Louisiana in a lake on Sunday.
jana
www.triontherunfitness.com
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