Snake Tales as Told by Foresters

Snakes are possibly the most feared animal in the woods for most people! Just saying the word "snake" evokes strong emotions - both negative and positive. Seeing a poisonous snake in the woods can ruin an otherwise great day - and foresters and outdoorsmen can never be sure which day that might be. For most, that day will be remembered for a lifetime.
A word of warning from the folks at Florida's Museum of Natural History: "If you find a snake and you do not know whether or not it is venomous, the safest thing to do is leave it alone."
"...snakes are not aggressive and, unless they are cornered, most will flee when humans approach. Occasionally, you might encounter one that is reluctant to leave because it is basking in the sun to get warm. Among snakebite victims, an unacceptably high number are bitten on the hands and arms when they are handling the snake. Do not catch a snake and do not handle one unless you are sure it is not venomous."
"In addition, for a short time after a snake is killed, its reflexes may continue to work. Those reflexes typically cause the body to writhe slowly for awhile, but they can cause a convulsive contraction and a bite, so you should not handle a freshly killed venomous snake."
Here is a collection of stories submitted by foresters on the About Forestry Forum, Snake Story Discussion. Nearly everyone in a practicing forestry profession or works or plays in the forest has a unique story. I want to pass some of these stories along...

"buzztails" | "We shot our way in..." | "the snake shook from head to tail" | "coiled timber rattler " | "cottonmouth den" | "eyeball-to-eyeball" | "Lucky for him, we chose A" | "quick reflexes" | "ear splitting shriek" | "striking her lifeless body"