Please, understand this genetle readers...Snakes are not afraid of ferrets.
A ferret is a potential dinner to a snake.  A snake will consider striking
at and eating any live animal that is equal to or smaller, in diameter,
than the thickest portion of its body.  Obviously, a garter snake isn't
going to be interested in a ferret, but my boas would be..some of them are
easily 9 inches in diameter.
 
PLEASE READ THIS!!!  BIG, please let this short, non-ferret item through!
Well meaning but incorrect information was offered in last night's FML.  A
venemous reptile does NOT necessarily have a triangular head.  Only the pit
viper family of snakes has a rectangular head.  The coral snake here in the
US has a small, bullet shaped head, just like king snakes, gopher snakes,
rat snakes, etc., and it is the most venemous snake in North America.  In
the world, the deadliest snakes also have bullet-shapped heads.
 
Best advice..........if you see a snake in the wild..steer clear of it.
Even if you do know reptiles!
 
Oh heck...if I am gonna get shot down by BIG............the 'smell' organ
in a snake is called a Jacobson organ.  The flicking tongue catches
molecules of 'scent' and is translated into 'smell' by this organ, located
in the roof of a snake's (and lizard's) mouth.  Contrary to popular belief,
there are no chemical or scent barriers that will work with a snake.
 
MC  The Rude One
[Posted in FML issue 2441]