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Brits In Crete :: Forum Index › Virtual Community, General Expat Discussion › Expat Cafe › snakes alive!

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snakes alive! (Read 1662 times)

little mo

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snakes alive!
21. Jun 2007 at 10:52

Yesterday evening I came into the living room from our courtyard to find a snake slithering across the floor. After the initial panic and trying to recall all those wildlife programs on how to catch a snake we managed to coax it into a box and then we took it to the end of the lane and released it into an overgrown neglected bit of rough ground. The box went too but as this was in the dark and by torchlight we thought it best not to try and handle it in any way. We don't know if it was poisonous as we have no knowledge of Cretan or any other sorts of snakes. It was about 18" long, about a little fingers width, dark brown in colour with horizontal stripes of a lighter brown. As the light wasn't very good it was difficult to see in detail. Anyone know about snakes? just in case he comes back! Don't know if it was a young one or just a little one! Don't want him to move in with his family!

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Gerald

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Re: snakes alive!
Reply #1 - 21. Jun 2007 at 12:28

LittleMo - Regarding the unexpected house guest -- like the rest of us looking for a cool place to hang out, or sniffed its dinner in a house gecko or something equally tasty.

Check this set of pictures and let us know which one you think it was...

http://www.aquaworld-crete.com/rep1.html

You certainly handled the situation is a very caring way.

Gerald

« Last Edit: 21. Jun 2007 at 12:30 by Gerald »

Confucious may have said: "Don't be too easily hurt or offended. Take a deep breath. Count to 10. Log off and make a cup of tea, or a POT of tea. Don't answer until an hour from now, or tomorrow!"

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limnes Practically Cretan Offline INCO Webmaster www.inconews.com Joined: 12. Nov 2005 at 23:51 Posts: 643 Limnes, Crete Greece Age: 73 Gender: Mood: Zodiac sign:	Re: snakes alive! Reply #2 - 21. Jun 2007 at 14:27 Hi Mo, As Gerald said, you treated it better than many Greeks would have done, even though it was most likely harmless. Check out http://www.janmo.com > Limnes > House Build > Page 9 for pictures of our snake a couple of years ago. We haven't had further encounters with him and think he was just so grateful to escape outdoors!
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observer Ex Member	Re: snakes alive! Reply #3 - 21. Jun 2007 at 16:40 More info here http://www.cretegazette.com/archive/2005-11-snakes.php
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little mo Topic Starter A True BIC'er Offline Yet Another BritInCrete! Joined: 29. Apr 2007 at 10:37 Posts: 36 Age: 62 Gender: Zodiac sign:	Re: snakes alive! Reply #4 - 21. Jun 2007 at 19:17 Limnes' snake looks very like the one. Do you know what variety it was? The markings look very similar but ours was shorter.
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sokin Been around almost as long as Crete itself Offline Cretan Quote S.p.a.m.m.e.r Joined: 15. May 2007 at 17:53 Posts: 321	Re: snakes alive! Reply #5 - 21. Jun 2007 at 19:31 only one is poisonus in crete. also one that looks like lizard. relax with snakes. most of them are harmfull, and also helpfull. imagine the number of rats/mouse they eat etc. there are more chances you being hurt from a greek driver, rather than being hurt from a cretan snake.
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Boots A True BIC'er Offline Yet Another BritInCrete! Joined: 17. May 2007 at 22:23 Posts: 35	Re: snakes alive! Reply #6 - 21. Jun 2007 at 19:42 you mean harmless?
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limnes

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Re: snakes alive!
Reply #7 - 21. Jun 2007 at 21:17

I've just double-checked my original photographs with those in the Crete Gazette article referred to by Observer. I'm pretty sure that it is THE CAT SNAKE – TELESCOPUS FALLAX based on its markings. According to the article, this is the only nocturnal snake,which would seem to match up with the fact that ours would only ever appear when we put the lights out! Roll Eyes

Poisonous - to geckos, toads & similar small creatures - but its fangs are too far back to inflict damage to an adult human. I'm pleased to say that I haven't a fear of snakes as my eldest son used to breed corn snakes (quite harmless) which can grow to quite a length. Unfortunately he also used to keep stick insects and when a pair of those escaped, they would breed and you would be finding the little beggars around the house for weeks afterwards! Tongue

Maurice & Jan, Webmaster, INCO News - The website of the Cultural Organisation of the Foreign Residents of the Aghios Nikolaos Region (non-profitmaking) - http://www.inconews.com

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little mo Topic Starter A True BIC'er Offline Yet Another BritInCrete! Joined: 29. Apr 2007 at 10:37 Posts: 36 Age: 62 Gender: Zodiac sign:	Re: snakes alive! Reply #8 - 22. Jun 2007 at 19:39 Thanks Limnes,looking on the Aquaworld site I think you are right it was the cat snake,have'nt seen it again,not that I particularly want to.
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jbmclaren

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Re: snakes alive!
Reply #9 - 22. Jun 2007 at 23:03

Hi,

Yes, the good news is that all snakes here are totally harmless to humans.

The same applies to the ocellated skink, which you can also see on the Aquaworld page of local reptiles. For some reason, and I am exploring this with a prof from the University of Ghent, this poor little lizard is exterminated in large numbers on several Greek islands, including Crete, although it is also absolutely harmless.

The story goes that if a skink bites you, you are going to get sick - so send for the doctor. If, however, one happens to sting you with its tail, forget the doctor and send for the village priest - you are about to die! TOTAL NONSENSE, of course. They don't really bite, they cannot sting with the tail, and there isn't a drop of poison in the whole beastie!!!

If anyone has any insight into just where this strange myth came from, and why people continue to believe in it in the face of scientific evidence, the prof and I would be very grateful to hear about it.

Thanks,

John McLaren
Aquaworld Aquarium
www.aquaworld-crete.com

« Last Edit: 22. Jun 2007 at 23:04 by jbmclaren »

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