Snake myths

[bulrush]

Does anyone have any snake myths out there? I was reading one of the Firefox books (there are 7 or 8 volumes now, based on folklore in the Virginia mountains) and here's what they said. There's a snake called a "hoop snake" which has a stinger on its tail. If it stings a tree the tree will be dead in 24 hours. Also, it can bite its tail, and roll down the hill like a hoop.

Pretty funny, huh?

[ssssnakeluvr]

milk snakes drinking milk directly from cows..... also I keep hearing people talk about the "2 step snake" in Viet Nam...it bites you, you take 2 steps, and drop dead..... it's funny cuz I have never been able to find it in any books....

[Charlet_2007]

the 2 step snake sounds like the black mamba lol

[adamanteus]

the 2 step snake sounds like the black mamba lol

Not from Vietnam, it doesn't! Black Mambas are African.
I've heard of a similar one to the 2 step... it's called the 100 pacer, for the same reasons... once you're bitten you walk 100 paces and you're dead. The name is applied locally to Deinagkistrodon acutus.

[adamanteus]

Not really a 'myth' but just something I read on the net once....
"Most snakes are poisonous. The danger is in their forked tongues." Very educational!

[Stefan-A]

I love this subject. The local herp society's magazine has old (100+ years) newspaper articles in every issue and they all contain some form of myth or obvious misunderstanding. It's really funny stuff to read.

But the commonly encountered myths.. baby snakes seeking refuge in the mother's mouth. That has to be my favourite at the moment.

[drache]

there's the one about snakes hypnotizing their victims with their eyes (Kaa)

[Snake lover 3-25]

more myths:

Puff adders (Hognose snakes) mix poison with their breath and can kill a person at a distance of twenty-five feet.

Swimmers in New England are advised to watch out for venomous cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins.

LOLOL

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Yes Drache,

I too recall hypnotism, only the snakes were entrancing birds...

[KITKAT]

Don't forget hoop snakes... they put their tail in their mouth, form a ring, and roll downhill.