Can you spot the problem? ;)

[Badgersmilk]

Living in a dryer because. "Its just not warm enough in Texas"?  

[Rob10ring]

This is the african Puff Adder. Bear Grylls showed a nasty one on Discovery's Man vs. Wild.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitis_arietans

[blackwolfe]

The puff adder is a very poisionous snake in Africa.

The coral snake is often confused with the scarlett king snake and sometimes the milk snake both of which may have similar markings to the coral snake.

[True_Texan]

The thing about a coral snake is, it isn't part of the viper family. It really doesn't have 'fangs' to speak of and it's jaw doesn't open wide enough to really bite anything. If you are barefoot or in sandals, it may be able to get your little toe. That's why I worry about my daughter playing out in the yard.

And they don't just strike and pull back. They latch on and gnaw on you.

Keep them feet covered Haz! 

[fightingquaker13]

The thing about a coral snake is, it isn't part of the viper family. It really doesn't have 'fangs' to speak of and it's jaw doesn't open wide enough to really bite anything. If you are barefoot or in sandals, it may be able to get your little toe. That's why I worry about my daughter playing out in the yard.

And they don't just strike and pull back. They latch on and gnaw on you.

Keep them feet covered Haz! 

Good post Tex.
The fact is that most folks get into trouble coral snakes two ways.
1. They like to burrow under leaf piles, wood piles, fallen logs etc. and bite when startled.
2. They are a very docile snake and will actually let you pick them up in the wild (if you are that deeply weird) until they feel threatened. Because they are small, usually under 2 feet, and pretty, a certain amount of idiots do this.
Unlike rattlers or particularly moccasins, they are a very mellow snake. They also have short fangs, asTex mentioned, they actually have to gnaw to get the venom in. Jeans and boots will ward them off. Down side is that they, unlike any other North American snake secrete a neurotoxin. Once you're bitten you've got on average 90 minutes or its game over. Fish and Game says they are threatened and should be left alone. Generally I agree with that philosophy and I follow it in the woods. If they are in my yard, they are extinct.
FQ13 who is a bit non PC when it comes to snakes

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Good post Tex.
The fact is that most folks get into trouble coral snakes two ways.
1. They like to burrow under leaf piles, wood piles, fallen logs etc. and bite when startled.
2. They are a very docile snake and will actually let you pick them up in the wild (if you are that deeply weird) until they feel threatened. Because they are small, usually under 2 feet, and pretty, a certain amount of idiots do this.
Unlike rattlers or particularly moccasins, they are a very mellow snake. They also have short fangs, asTex mentioned, they actually have to gnaw to get the venom in. Jeans and boots will ward them off. Down side is that they, unlike any other North American snake secrete a neurotoxin. Once you're bitten you've got on average 90 minutes or its game over. Fish and Game says they are threatened and should be left alone. Generally I agree with that philosophy and I follow it in the woods. If they are in my yard, they are extinct.
FQ13 who is a bit non PC when it comes to snakes

It is more likely that rather than "Mellow" or "docile", they are just totally and completely stunned, (as I often am ) by human stupidity.
Although, CCW people tend to have a higher threshold for taking crap than non CCW's so maybe it's got something to do with knowing that they have a fair chance against anything that might mess with them.

[fightingquaker13]

It is more likely that rather than "Mellow" or "docile", they are just totally and completely stunned, (as I often am ) by human stupidity.
Although, CCW people tend to have a higher threshold for taking crap than non CCW's so maybe it's got something to do with knowing that they have a fair chance against anything that might mess with them.

Actually, I was going to add that very point to my post. They are a lot like us. Harmless unless provoked, deadly if you do. Other than the fact that they don't rattle, they should be the poster snake for the Gadsen Flag, which we all like for a reason. Leave them alone and you're fine. Mess with them at you peril. Maybe I should get a red and yellow jacket to wear in dark alleys.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Actually, I was going to add that very point to my post. They are a lot like us. Harmless unless provoked, deadly if you do. Other than the fact that they don't rattle, they should be the poster snake for the Gadsen Flag, which we all like for a reason. Leave them alone and you're fine. Mess with them at you peril. Maybe I should get a red and yellow jacket to wear in dark alleys.
FQ13

Problems with that are if any of the local thugs in your area  were smart enough to figure out the significance they would being doing some more profitable than muggings, or they come from some place where this would be the "What's for Dinner" thread.