As one may presume, on a large open North Dakota grassy field, when the work is provided for the day, it’s time for stories. Sometimes, when the realities were a little skimpy, old timers of the location would improvise.
One of these more intriguing “improvised stories” originates from Emmons County, in main North Dakota in the spring of 1886. It informs of among nature’s strangest animals, the Pump Snake.
Fully grown, the pump snake determined sixteen feet in length and about 3 inches in size. If dissected, one would discover a two-inch size rubber-like tube, running the length of its body.
Unlike other snakes, the pump snakes ran in herds, and on one celebration a herd of 300 was observed wriggling throughout the North Dakota grassy field. Also unlike other reptiles of their family, Pump Snakes can be quickly trained to respond to the call of man.
Upon hearing a whistle from their fitness instructor, the Pump Snakes would wriggle off to the neighboring creek, constantly following their leader. All Pump Snake herds had a leader.
Upon reaching the creek, the lead Pump Snake crawls into the water, leaving just a part of its tail on the bank. Another pump snake then grabs the lead snake’s tail in its jaws. Then a 3rd snake takes hold the 2nd snake’s tail. Before long, there is one constant snake, determining over 300 feet long.
The lead pump snake begins to quickly swallow water, passing the water through each of the snakes behind him, like water travelling through a hose pipe. The result is a constant stream of water coming out of the last snake’s tail!
As the story goes, one day while tending to backyard work, the farmer was shocked to see that his shed had actually ignited. Wild with enjoyment, yet defenseless to stop the flames, the farmer seen as the flames grew greater.
Suddenly, the herd of pump snakes crawled into action. Within minutes they had actually formed a constant line from the creek to the shed. The last snake, basing on its head, waved the long versatile tail end of his body, and started spraying water on the flames. Within about twenty minutes the fire was snuffed out. Needless to state, the snakes were tired.
No one from Cat Tail Creek understands when the last Pump Snake passed away out, however the story that’s a little “skimpy of facts” survives on.
“Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in collaboration with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with financing from Humanities North Dakota. It is modified for discussion on Forum Communication Co. websites by Jeremy Fugleberg, editor of The Vault. See all the Dakota Datebooks at
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