Hi people! It’s me, Rufus! Oh my dog, the weather condition has actually been pawsitively remarkable – clear skies, brilliant sun, warm breeze! Me and Mom have actually been spending a lot more time outside recently, and I enjoy it! Mom dealt with Poppy in the backyard last weekend, trimming and tidying up downed limbs and branches that fell last fall and winter season.
I normally help Mom with whatever she’s doing, however not with backyard work, for a couple of factors. One, I dislike the loud lawn mowers! Two, Mom says something about me being a bit more of a limitation than a help; I don’t truly comprehend what that implies, however I’m quite sure it implies I do much better work than her, and she doesn’t wish to appear like a lazy-loaf. Three, and Mom says this one is the most crucial, she doesn’t desire me to encounter a snake. Mom said she was working near the woods where leaves accumulated last fall, and there were great deals of tree branches down. And she said those are the sort of locations snakes enjoy to conceal in.
Something you ought to learn about my mommy – she is horrified of snakes! She constantly says, “If it has more than four legs, or no legs at all, I don’t want anything to do with it.” Lucky for me, I have legs, and precisely 4, so I’m good to go! But mommy isn’t a huge fan of spiders and snakes, and snakes frighten her one of the most. But although they frighten her, she says they do crucial work for our environment. She says they don’t bite to be mean, just when they feel threatened, or they’re attempting to eat, so she wishes to keep me far from them so they don’t get terrified and attempt to safeguard themselves.
But think what, people! We saw a snake in the backyard a couple of days ago! We were simply walking along, and all of an abrupt Mom blurt a scream that almost shook the Earth, and she leapt up truly high in the air! I didn’t understand she might leap so high – almost as high as I can leap, which is quite high! Mom calls me her kangaroo boy, however I’m leaving subject.
Anyway, when her feet struck the ground once again, she yanked on the leash and called me over to her. She said that there was a snake right in front of me, and if she hadn’t stopped me, I would have strolled right over top of it. And then she said, if I had actually strolled right over top of it, she most likely would have passed out!
After she said her heart rate had actually returned to regular (she can be a little over remarkable in some cases, however I still enjoy her), she informed me that it wasn’t a poisonous snake. Venomous implies it has goop in some unique teeth that can make human beings and dogs extremely ill, and it can even be lethal! But not this snake. She said it was a garter snake or a ribbon snake, and those don’t have unique goopy teeth, thank goodness!
We live out in the nation, keep in mind, and Mom says there tends to be more snakes around in the nation than there remain in towns and cities. For that factor, she has actually done great deals of research study on snakes and how to keep me safe. I don’t keep in mind whatever she said, so I’ll let her inform you!
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Most Southern Illinoisans recognize with the annual comings and goings of snakes in our location. We tend to learn at an early age that snakes enter into hibernation in the fall and reappear from hibernation in the spring. They are more active during the night and when the weather condition is warm than they remain in the daytime or cooler temperature levels. But just how much do you learn about the safety of your dogs where snakes are worried? Well, let’s dive into it!
Wildlife Illinois says that, “Both nonvenomous and venomous snakes benefit homeowners and gardeners by eating invertebrates and rodents. They should be left alone so they can provide this important pest service.”
The Wildlife Illinois website shows there are lots of types of snakes belonging to Illinois, however just 4 of those are poisonous, and 2 of them exist in grievously low numbers.
“The massasauga is listed as state endangered. The timber rattlesnake is listed as state threatened. The cottonmouth is found only in southern Illinois, and the copperhead is found in the southern two-thirds of the state,” said Wildlife Illinois.
Of the types which are nonvenomous, it appears that some screen comparable markings and habits as their poisonous brethren. Additionally, broad terms are typically designated to cover lots of types merely due to the fact that of their natural environment.
“‘Water moccasin’ is a general term used by the public to refer to all seven species of Illinois’ water snakes. Only one species of watersnake, the cottonmouth, is venomous. In Illinois, it is found no farther north than Carbondale, in the southern part of the state,” according to Wildlife Illinois.
There are a couple of things you can do to prevent undesirable interactions with snakes. Having a basic understanding of their natural environment is among the most crucial, in addition to understanding which types of snakes are belonging to your location. Being able to appropriately recognize them will inform you whether they are poisonous or nonvenomous, which can help avoid injury to human beings, other animals and the snakes themselves.
“Clear your yard of fallen logs, trash, and deep leaf litter. Don’t let your dog stick their head in holes, bushes, or tall grasses. Snakes are more active after dark and in warm weather, so keep your dog inside after dusk when you know venomous snakes are in the area. Rattlesnakes and copperheads prefer dryer areas, and water moccasins prefer wet areas,” the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommended.
Hiding locations aren’t the only things to be conscious about, alerts the AKC. “Snakes frequent areas where they can find food. Popular prey for snakes are mice, rats, squirrels, and rabbits, so the more inhospitable your yard is to these animals, the less inviting your yard will be to snakes,” the organization said.
If you do occur to cross courses with a snake, do your finest to leave the location without triggering more disruption to it. If your dog is bitten, all sources state to get your dog to your vet or closest emergency situation animal medical facility with antivenom as quickly as possible. More than one source says not to lose time looking for the snake, as lots of dogs will pursue being bitten, leaving a lot of time for the snake to leave too. Time is of the essence when the bite is from a venomous snake. “[E]very venomous snakebite is unique. Treat each one as though it were the worst case,” said the AKC.
Where treatments for venomous bites are concerned, the AKC says antivenom and opioid pain medication are the only proven effective treatments. In fact, they make a point to list common myths about other treatments that are known to be ineffective, including using a first aid kit.
“Tourniquet or constriction bandage, sucking out the venom, antihistamines, electric current, ice, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to control pain, subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics to prevent infection [and] Rattlesnake Vaccine. … If your dog was bitten by a venomous snake, the only thing you can do is remove the dog’s collar, keep your dog calm, and head to the closest emergency vet that has antivenom,” according to the AKC.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA) advises, “If you experience a snake encounter with your pet, make sure to get to the emergency veterinarian and call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away. Stay safe out there!”
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Note from Mom: In the interest of being proactive, it would be a good idea to check with your regular veterinarian to discover out if they bring antivenom. If your veterinarian doesn’t bring it, it would be beneficial to ask around your location so you already understand where to enter case of a snake bite emergency situation.
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Ok, back to me! Holy guacamole, Batdog! No marvel Mom is so major when she speaks to me about snakes! That venom things appears unsafe to contend! I’ll need to be additional vigilant when I’m outdoors, specifically on my late-night patrols!
Well, Mom talked permanently, so I’m out of time today! Mom said she motivates everybody to find out more about snakes here in Southern Illinois by going to the Wildlife Illinois website, and to check out the complete info provided by the AKC and the ASPCA, too!
Keep your eyes peeled for those slithery people and remain safe!
Love,
Rufus & Mom
A garter snake or a ribbon snake seen in Rufus’ backyard at home April 12, 2023 in Pinckneyville, Ill. Photo offered by Erica Loos.
