Mary Doo Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 (edited) Sorry to be pedantic - do you mean poisonous or venomous ? Interesting, you made me look up the difference. "Venomous" involves an animal injecting venom into other organisms, using a specialized apparatus, such as a fang in the case of a snake. Poisonous is more generic. Garden snakes such as the garter snakes we see on this forum are described as "mildly toxic", Their venom stuns the prey but nothing life threatening for humans. Generally they are more afraid of humans than the other way around; and bite only when they are provoked in self-defense. An interesting anecdote: As I was standing on the grass talking to a gardener the other day, he obviously felt something at his feet when he said "Oh a snake". So he just nudged it away with his foot as if nudging a cat; and we went on chatting as the garter snake slithered. So I gather he must have a lot of them in his 40-acre garden. Edited August 1, 2017 by Mary Doo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Parsons Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 Hi, Mary, The distinction, as I understand it, is if it bites you and injects poison, it is indeed venomous, but if you eat it and get poisoned that way, it is poisonous. Not that I go around biting snakes, you understand ! Every year in Britain there are 'numerous' (to quote the gutter press - greatest number in any one year is apparently four) instances of people dying after being bitten by an adder (or viper), Britain's only venomous snake, but these are always the very young, the elderly with a heart problem or someone in whom the venom induces anaphylactic shock. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 Hi, Mary, The distinction, as I understand it, is if it bites you and injects poison, it is indeed venomous, but if you eat it and get poisoned that way, it is poisonous. Not that I go around biting snakes, you understand ! Every year in Britain there are 'numerous' (to quote the gutter press - greatest number in any one year is apparently four) instances of people dying after being bitten by an adder (or viper), Britain's only venomous snake, but these are always the very young, the elderly with a heart problem or someone in whom the venom induces anaphylactic shock. Never thought about that distinction. I suppose I learn something new every day. Thanks Tony. BTW, as far as I know Mary is Chinese, and so am I. Southern Chinese do eat snakes .... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Doo Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 BTW, as far as I know Mary is Chinese, and so am I. Southern Chinese do eat snakes .... I was trying to stay away from this discussion but you said it. Haha. I had eaten snake soup. Not sure what kind of snakes are used for this "gourmet item" though. I swear I hadn't died. ;) By the way, I heard a human bite is more dangerous than a dog bite. So I'm not sure why the UPS and FedEx guy is more afraid of my dog than me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Weishaupt Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 I eat mushrooms, you eat snakes, We all eat berries and some of us get grapes. Some eat birds and deer or elk. Some eat conchs or make rattles from welks. Some eat dandelions, but I don't know why. They taste kind of funny and make the mouth feel dry. You gotta question your love for nature When you're thirsty and there's only funky ice from a glacier. I'd never eat nutria no matter what, but gator is fine and so are geoducks. So grab your camera and shoot away, Then go eat, drink, and be merry at the end of the day. :D 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Doo Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 (edited) I had tried day lily and polk weed (not their berries) from my yard. They are OK. Naturally I love the variety of mint and sage. Good natural stuff! Tried elk and bison in the Midwest and Alaska. Also tried ostrich and "ox balls" in Africa. Haha! Edited August 2, 2017 by Mary Doo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Parsons Posted August 2, 2017 Share Posted August 2, 2017 By the way, I heard a human bite is more dangerous than a dog bite One of my kids was not good at dealing with anger or frustration - whenever I visited her and her mother, I could guarantee coming away with at least one bite ! Oddly enough, this behaviour must have been reserved for me alone, as she was the first to present me with grandchildren. Lovely twin girls - when she was fifteen ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Doo Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 One of my kids was not good at dealing with anger or frustration - whenever I visited her and her mother, I could guarantee coming away with at least one bite ! No kidding (pun intended)! ;) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Parsons Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 Ouch ! That hurt ! Her nickname was 'The Ferret', and they bite as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Doo Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 Ouch ! That hurt ! Her nickname was 'The Ferret', and they bite as well. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Vongries Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 A toothful tale! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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