PE - camping in snake country

[j'lynn yeates]

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-periodencampments at ansteorra.org
> [mailto:owner-periodencampments at ansteorra.org]On Behalf Of Corun
> MacAnndra
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2000 14:08
> To: periodencampments at ansteorra.org
> Subject: Re: PE - camping in snake country
> 
> I have heard that when sleeping on the ground in desert on would
> lay a hempen rope (i.e. a very hairy type of rope like sisal) on 
> the ground a good distance around the sleeping bag. Snakes, who
> feel with  their tongues, would encounter the harsh and hairy
> surface of the rope and  not crawl over it, but instead go around.

classic urban legend ... unlike mammels whose tongues are designed to
sense texture (among other things) snake tongues are primarily heat /
vibration / electricity sensors ... rope has *zero* effect (this was
demonstrated at Philmont one year i attended during the scouting
phase ...) ... purely a placebo solution - you think it's a barrier
so you stop worrying about it

humans are NOT snake prey, they don't like you, they will stay away
from you.  small mammels are their prey - keep your food well sealed
so you do not attract rats & mice, and you will have no snakes in
your campsite.
 
watch where you put hands & feet (especially when climbing in rattler
country), stay clear of rocks and brush piles where they den .. turn
over rocks and logs with a tool ... carry a staff and thump the
ground when you walk (they will flee the alien vibrations) ... keep
your hounds leashed - especially if urban raised and don't know about
snakes ... shake out clothing and bedding before getting in (more to
keep scorpions away).. and if it still bothers you, get a mongoose
(g)

best advice, ignore them, leave them alone, and they will leave you
alone  ... given any option, they want nothing to do with humans. 

'wolf
.. lived and camped in snake country all my life of 43 winters 

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