I was working for a contractor friend once near Gadsden, Al. The project had 2 parts, line a flood control ditch with concrete and replace to road crossings. I was demo-ing the first crossing which was nothing more than 8' galvanized culvert with a paved surface. I dug it out with a 300 class excavator and loaded straight into dump trucks. About the forth or fifth bucket the truck was full. As the driver approached the truck, the biggest water moccasin I've ever seen shot off the top of the truck, hit the ground within about 4 feet of the driver and was gone like a shot. So was the driver. I can't say I blame him. From where I was sitting the snake looked to be a solid 5 footer and thick. I guess it goes without saying it was mean too.

 

Back in the early '90's, when I was in the Marine Corps, I was stationed on Guam, in a Marine Corps Security Forces Detachment. I was stationed on the Naval Magazine, and our squad was doing a night time secuity sweep/patrol in the jungle around the limited area. We always had a problem with poachers hunting on the Naval Mag, especially near the limited area, where we provided security for the "special weapons" that were stored there. Just before we were to start our patrol, our patrol leader had us all gather under a tree, to brief us on what we were going to do. Just as all of us had taken a knee to listen to our orders, tree snakes (which Guam is infested with) fell out of the braches of the tree we were gathered around, with some snakes falling on top of some of the Marines! I don't know why all these snakes just dropped out of the tree, and had never seen anything like this happen before the whole year and a half I was on Guam. I'll say this now, because so many years have passed, but at that instant, it sure didn't sound like a squad of Marine Infantrymen! It was more like a bunch of 12 year old girls watching a horror movie at a slumber party! While I won't admit to screaming like a little girl, there was the "slight" possibility that I might have dropped my rifle, trying to swat away at snakes!

 

The snakes in Viet Nam were like comelions (SP). And we had our share of tree snake infestation too.

Mapalm (SP again) does wonders for those suckers. They used to drink Agent Orange like it was Pop.

 

Ice snakes? You sure they're not eel?

 

Usually when a rat snake bites you, he will leave numerous teeth in your carcass as they break off when he bites. They will build up and be ready to pop out in a few days. Looks like little tiny pieces of glass when they come out.

 

PUFF ADDER and BLOWING VIPER; I haven't heard mention of either of those snake-names since I was a wee bairn.

Way back when I was a lad, puff adders and blowing vipers always came up in any snake discussion.

All them old-timey guys are laying over at Bear Wallow Cemetary now.

I guess the puff adders and blowing vipers went extinct right along with them old men.