Killing of Snakes: Needless Violence

As of Thursday, October 4, 2012

I visited Southern Pines and had the pleasure of brisk walks around the Reservoir Park, a beautiful and well-kept place. We visited every evening before the sun set, as the days got shorter.

Last Wednesday evening, other travelers around the reservoir reported snakes along the trail. We didn’t see the snakes, but heard that they were copperhead snakes. As a city girl, I went home and looked on the Internet and read a site that said, “Copperhead snakes are not as harmful as people think. Their venom will only paralyze your limb, but not kill you.”

The next day, we took the path again, around the same time, but at dusk. We approached each corner cautiously. A tall elderly couple approached and said, “We killed a snake.” I was in shock or I might’ve asked more questions. For example, “Why?”

I got a twang of anxiety in my gut. I haven’t had that feeling in a long time. I felt like something had gone extremely wrong. A crime had been committed. A disservice to humanity had occurred. When we approached, someone else stopped to tell us another snake had slithered away from the path, near the now-dead snake.

If you are afraid of something, just walk around it. Avoid it. A snake doesn’t have any reason to attack you. This snake probably was related to the other snake. You killed its companion, possibly its relative.

I was horrified. Was this snake killing your chickens? No. You were actually a guest, visiting the path near the snake’s home.

If something scares you, and you don’t understand it, wait, do not attack it. It takes more bravery to look clearly and see what scares you and why.

Shelley Marlow

Brooklyn, N.Y.

More like this story

not2us 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Seriously? A crime?

I think the crime is that you actually wrote this letter about a dead snake.

Middleman522 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Have you ever seen a dog that was bitten by a copperhead. It's somewhere around $2000 for emergency treatment. If you are average age around here, around 54 between Pinehurst and SP, you can't gamble with a bite from these bad boys. At least the trees got a hug while you were here.

clodfelter37 7 months, 2 weeks ago

She's kidding, right.

skylinefirepest 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Shelley, the copperhead is the most common poisonous snake in this state and creates the most bites per capita. Dogs, children, older people, horses, other livestock, etc. are all very susceptible to danger from these bites. Very painful, can be life threatening ( though not usually ) expensive to treat...I kill every poisonous snake I run across. There are plenty of harmless snakes to control whatever mice you might want done away with.

fugitiveguy 7 months, 2 weeks ago

This is the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. For a crime like this, there is only one man to call.

fugitiveguy 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Alrighty then by Pelleher

fatboy 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Well Ms. Marlow, being from Brooklyn, I'll bet that you don't have many poisonous snakes there. We, on the other hand, have our fair share of them. I have to admit that I also killed a snake a couple of weeks ago. It was a water moccasin, about 4' long. One bite could have killed one of my pets. I will continue to kill all poisonous snakes that cross my path.

wixie 7 months, 2 weeks ago

This is so outrageous! What kind of a person wants to risk a dog or child being bitten! I personally know someone who was bitten and lost much work and schooling because of the painful swelling and some do have serious reactions and for a small dog or cat this is very serious! Shelly I have killed three copperheads since living in my home and I will continue to do so, unless you want me to bring them to live with you then I will trap them for you! GET REAL. Lat week I had a hog nose snake visit, it is still alive and will remain alive because it is not a threat to my children or pets otherwise it would have also got the shovel treatment! PLEASE, I you must be joking.

Toda 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Snakes are more afraid of a human or animal than people should be of them. They serve a purpose and it's sad that the couple had to kill the snake. I wouldn't want to be bitten nor have one of my pets bitten, but just remember, they were here first, and are a part of our earths' ecological system.

Perhaps by-passing the snake to live another day would have been the right thing to do. I have caught several on my property, and took them further into the woods. I don't know of anyone passing as a result of a snake bite. Copperheads have the same venom protein DH5o as a cobra. Walk around and leave them to search for food ... they get hungry as well.

DaveyNC 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Jeez, yet another northerner telling us how to do things down here. She read a book about copperheads so she thinks she knows more about them than those of us who live with them.

Say, Ms. Marlow? Don't y'all kill those giant rats you have in New York?

Oh wait, you're in Brooklyn. Ever run a hipster off the road?

DaveyNC 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Oh man, can't believe I missed this line the first time through the letter:

"This snake probably was related to the other snake. You killed its companion, possibly its relative."

Didn't know that snakes mated for life or had family reunions.

Ms. Marlow, snakes are reptiles. They don't care about their relatives and they don't have companions. Some reptiles eat their young. They mate, lay their eggs and hatch them and when those eggs hatch, they're on their own.

Until someone from New York walks by, then it's off to the races!

fugitiveguy 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Ms. Marlow...Romney or Obama? Just curious.

fugitiveguy 7 months, 2 weeks ago

This is a classic! Disregard the above question, its a given.

Courseaire 7 months, 2 weeks ago

SssssssssSssssssssssS!

smarti 7 months, 2 weeks ago

My favorite line was...."Their venom will only paralyze your limb, but not kill you.”

REALLY? OH, well in THAT case.....

jahuphs1982 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Another lovely Yankee trying to tell the South what should and shouldn't be. Geeeeeezzzzz

I bet she would feel different if she was bitten!!!!!

Thatcher 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I am at a loss for words. Bless you, Ms. Marlow. Cheers!

Thatcher 7 months, 2 weeks ago

And 10 years, 7 months, and 2 days ago, my Lab was killed by a copperhead. This may mean nothing to you, but it means alot to me. Cheers.

RmeMP 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I killed a nice 8 point buck this year; oh wait, we're talking about snakes - well, I kill every one of them i see as well. Not a good scenario to get snake bitten a couple of miles into the woods while hunting. I'd rather not take the chance.

Courseaire 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I'll bet she's more concerned about the killing of a snake then she's concerned about the killing of an unborn child.

Yukonjohn 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I hate snakes so bad that l live in a place that has ZERO snakes!!! We dont even have garter snakes. Give me a Grizzly bear every day of the week. I can walk through the chest deep grass and never have to worry about what is at my feet, just parting the grass and surprising a sleeping bear. The Bible says bruise the serpents head with your heel or something to that effect. Kill 'em all, or live where they aren't, l choose the later!!

MikeNC 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Or live in this guys neighborhood Yukon....

Snake Hide by MikeNC

Yukonjohn 7 months, 2 weeks ago

no kidding Mike!!

pilotreader 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Bless your heart darlin'. If you think killing copperheads is a 'crime' than we're serial killers around here. This is coming from a Yankee who has been here longer than it takes to walk a couple times around the resevoir. Thank you, for making sure the arrogant Yankee stereotype stays relevant.

ncfarmgirl999 7 months, 2 weeks ago

definately Romney!

madstork 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Moonchild's sister has emerged

Toda 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Southern Hospitality at its best ...

Toda 7 months, 2 weeks ago

You have to be kidding ~ Yukonjohn

Snakes in this area don't usually eat people. I'll take a good 'ol southern snake bit any day to being lunch or breakfast for a full grown bear....

Yukonjohn 7 months, 2 weeks ago

Toda, in my job, over the years, l have spent a huge amount of time in the wilderness. We go to places that one has to helicopter/airplane/boat into. In doing so, I have seen literally hundreds of bears. Out of those times, only twice did the bear, Grizzly and Black, have tried to "turn inside/out" to get away once they realized l was there. On the two occassions that they did not, one just hung around and stared (trying to figure out exactlyl what l was) and the other time the Black bear acted like he might advance on me, but then took off like most of the others. l have shot many of them, but not in years, it is just too much a pain in the butt dealing with salvaging the meat that many times taste like rotten fish!! Spring bear and bears eating berries are reallyl good, but not fish bears. I trust a bear more than a dang snake!! LOL