When Red Meets Yellow...

Very few people LIKE snakes but they are a fact of life in many parts of the US, especially South and West USA.  Hidden Valley RV Park has even been graced by an occasional reptile of the long and slender type. An article in the August 2002 New England Journal of Medicine states that an estimated 2000 Americans are bitten by venomous snakes each year, but deaths from snake bite average only about five per year. Incidentally, Florida has the most cases.

Two main groups in the US, coral snakes and pit vipers.  

The Corals hail from Texas to the Carolinas with the exception of the Arizona Coral which inhabits its name state and New Mexico.  These pretty babies bite with small teeth instead of fangs.  Although there are snakes that are similarly colored, a coral can be identified by the alternating bands of red, yellow and black stripes, the red always touching the yellow.  The very similar Scarlet King Snake is nonvenomous.  The axiom "when red meets yella it's a dangerous fella," is one we've employed here at the valley.

Notice the Venomous version with the red bracketed between yellow

Pit Vipers include, rattlesnakes, water moccasins and copperheads and they can be found anywhere in the US.  Their name comes (I always thought it was because they liked pits) from the tiny "pit" between their eye and nostril.  The pit makes it so they can detect heat enabling them to find prey at night.  These more drab looking reptiles have retractable fangs which shoot venom into their prey or an unsuspecting human. There is the possibility of receiving what's commonly called a "dry bite" meaning one without venom.  Bites from old and small snakes have less venom.  Some have felt that venom from smaller snakes is somehow more poisonous or dangerous however recent studies have refuted that belief.

Notice the "Pit" and the "Rattle"

Bites from both types can range from hurtful to debilitating to death dealing if not treated immediately.  Symptoms can range from a merely a stinging pain to inability to breath due to swelling to affecting the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment, Old and New

Over the years, methods of treatment have included tourniquets, making "X" cuts at or above the fang marks and sucking out the venom (eeww) and icing the site to slow down the venom.  These have proven highly ineffective and currently experts advise

• washing the bite area with soap and water 
• keeping the affected limb still and placed lower than the heart 
• Keeping the victim calm
• seeking medical help immediately.  

Just as with other allergic reactions the site may become swollen or bruised looking and bleeding could exist.  Even with a small amount of venom you may experience faintness or numbness of the tongue.  These are evidence of shock and need quick attention.

When you get medical attention, a doctor will use and antivenom serum that is produced by injecting a small amount of serum into an animals blood (usually a horse) which then causes their immune systems to produce antibodies to combat the venom. The antibodies are then harvested from the animal in a concentrated form so that it can act quickly to neutralize venom in a person bitten by a snake.  Many persons can have an allergic reaction to the serum itself and are usually given epinephrine to counteract the allergy.

Can Snakebite Be Prevented? How?

As with many emergencies, preparedness is the best policy.  The Center for Disease Control (and some years living in snake country myself) provides these tips for prevention whether enjoying the outdoors, boondocking, camping or hiking in the wild or even in residential areas:

• Do not play with or aggravate snakes
• Keep landscape clear of brush and debris
• Wear shoes (even in your RV and house-we found a coral snake in our closet once)
• Wear boots when walking in snake country
• Develop a habit of watching where you step and place your hands (even/especially when gardening)

Especially are these tips essential for RVers who are involved in gateguarding since the sites are in virtual snake playgrounds.

Live and Let Live

Whereas some may go by the adage "the only good snake is a dead snake," there are at least four  reasons to just let them be.

• They will most likely just leave YOU alone
• Many snakes are non-poisonous and benefit society
• Snakes prey on rodents that can be a damaging nuisance and health risk themselves
• Snake venom, when extracted, is used for various applications including treatment of breast cancer as well as stroke victims and it can also help in heart attack treatment. Venom is also used in the medicines of blood pressure.

So, in all, snake venom is very helpful for mankind.  So think twice before hating any snake.

Teri Blaschke is the RV Park operator of family owned HiddenValley RV Park in San Antonio, TX and writer of the park blog “A Little Piece of Country in San Antonio.” Teri contributes to various other blogs with a focus on either travel or social media and how it relates to the outdoor hospitality industry but her passion is serving the RV travel community by providing a memorable RV camping experience and growing the Hidden Valley RV family.  Connect with Teri on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter@HiddenValleyRV and our RV Country Daily Magazine and don't forget to Say hello to the voice of Hidden Valley 

Critters of Hidden Valley

  For those of you who may have missed our newsletter commentary on the the many animal friends we have at Hidden Valley, here's a summary:

    Imagine it is the 1860’s.  Mexican soldiers, Texicans, eastern frontiers persons and Native Americans were roaming around this currently called ‘South Central Texas’ location.  On horseback, on foot and by covered wagon they traversed the rich land we now know as San Antonio.  Little did they know it but history was being made during their very lives and created by their very actions.  But in the course of their everyday life they came across something in their daily activities that we at Hidden Valley are greatly gifted to share, a wealth of varied wildlife.  From the waterfowl who frequent the water features in their season, to the occasional visiting gator, there is a wide selection of creatures that grace our “little piece of country in San Antonio.”

  Come along for a virtual walk through some of our trails and the more secluded spots at the Park and let the pictures recount the story that was a “day in the life” for the early settlers and natives of this South Texas paradise.

  Birds

This is "Roxanne" who along with her mate, "Roadie," have become our affectionate mascots at our San Antonio RV Park.  Their roadrunner family has grown over the years and it seems they remain here all year long.  They have moved their home to different locations on our entrance road and pretty much make their selves at home here. 

 


Behind site 14, Dr. Whooot, as we've named him, spends most of his time by his self-made nest on the edges of the nature trail.  He's not pesty but he does let us know when he's home with a characteristic "who, who."

  

This gobblin' gal stopped by for a bit of 
deer corn.  She's in a hurry to eat as much 
as she can before the rest of her flock 
arrives and she has to share.

 

 

 

 Lizards

Not sure of the scientific name of this amphibian but we call them "long lizards" and they are everywhere this year.  They seem to love gardens where they can hide but sun themselves at the same time.  They scoot around like lightning from one spot to the next.

 

Mammals, etc.

This little armadillo fella is a baby from a family with four siblings, birthed right here in 2011 by the Medio Creek.  Once they were old enough to walk and root, mama migrated with them to the Bonfire Cove area, undoubtedly because of all it's protective brushy bushes and trees.  During any quiet morning walk you can hear them rooting around in the leaves and ground cover for their breakfast bugs and worms.  Yum.

Grey Fox

   

This happy grey fox was photographed near 
our night vision motion activated camera in 
a quiet corner of the acreage.

   

Pigs

Pigs are plentiful in the valley and although I wouldn't call one, ("Here, piggy, piggy,") they're fairly tame and seem to be oblivious of us when we pass near them on the road.  They sure hover around our deer feeders at dinner time.

   

 

Horses

Our horses used to be here in this road side field which borders the RV Park and our Nature Trail but due to the Texas drought this year we've had to move them to the lower 40 to graze.

    

Deer

  Our favorite visitors by far, are the deer families.  No matter how many times you see it, there's nothing more awesome than catching site of a deer or two feeding in the field or along the road,

 

Bobcat

 These guys are rarely seen.  This one was captured by our motion camera near a deer feeder.  We do see feline tracks fairly often but bobcat sightings are very rare here in the valley. Umm, that's good news.  But we do see their large paws tracks in the sand.

 

Another seldom seen Hidden Vallian creature 
is Gaylord, our gator guest.  The gators traverse the nearby Medina River and get access to 
 the Medio Creek but generally they just make 
a pass through the park and head on down 
the River.  Occasionally we'll find a slide 
into the water that the gators used often enough 
to make it obvious on the water banks.

   

 L'il Stinky is thankfully a shy fella and minds his own business.  
We've never had one spray but occasionally their musky scent
will touch your nose if one has recently walked by.

 

As you walk along the creek you'll often hear a quiet splash and it's usually
a sunbathing turtle trying to hide from you by taking a dip into the water.

Not many birds were included here but our blog has featured several articles on birds over the years and you're are welcome to go there and check them out.  Here is a link to the latest post about birds.  You can also do a search on our blog for "Birding" and you'll get a series of related articles.

These are but a few of the critters we've had the privilege to see during our time here at Hidden Valley and we are working with the Parks and Wildlife Management to continue to promote a safe and hospitable environment for more and more species of Texas wildlife.  When you visit ask about our 5 step wildlife management program.

Teri Blaschke is the RV Park operator of family owned HiddenValley RV Park in San Antonio, TX and writer of the park blog “A Little Piece of Country in San Antonio.” Teri contributes to various other blogs with a focus on either travel or social media and how it relates to the outdoor hospitality industry but her passion is serving the RV travel community by providing a memorable RV camping experience and growing the Hidden Valley RV family.  Connect with Teri on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter@HiddenValleyRV and our RV Country Daily Magazine and don't forget to Say hello to the voice of Hidden Valley