What are these?

[Kassaundra]

That's the name of them on some of the posters. Other posters call them Racer Skinks. Kids call them Blue Tails. We also have Alligator Lizards, Blue Belly Lizards, and another Lizard similar to the Blue Belly but much more plain. Our Alligator Lizards are so large they can startle ya. Actually, they are the most timid of them all. We also have Garter Snakes, Gopher Snakes, and a snake some folks call a Rat Snake. I haven't seen the striped Snakes here yet. Yes, we do get Rattlers too. I think most Rattlers around here are a version of Timber Rattler that I've seen, but Western Diamondbacks are around also. Yes, we get a good number of Black Widow Spiders. I personally do not mind them, but since there are children around, for their safety I do give the Black Widows an instant death. I have twice seen Brown Recluse Spiders. Those I squish immediately and repeatedly. All other spiders I fully encourage in my garden.

Black Widow spider bites for most people are not as bad as commonly thought. They make a red spot silver dollar sized, with the skin dying off in the middle, and it is always recommended to at least call the doc if bit. Some folks are sensitive and get reactions, and sometimes a person can develop sensitivity and not know it. So even if a person thinks they are tough enough for a widow bite, they may not be next time, or this time.

Recluse bites are definitely dangerous. Weird thing is, sometimes they do not inject, other times they inject enough to kill, and usually they will inject enough to cause tissue death that untreated turns to gangrene. Thay are always dangerous, and nobody is immune, not even that guy from Krypton.

We also have Scorpions here that do sting. I understand it feels like a "hammer pounding a nail into you", but so far I have not seen one in my garden. I hear tell their poison is about like Yellow Jacket poison, and mostly just hurts, except of course for those who are sensitive.

Anaphalactic Shock is not a good thing when the nearest town is 35 miles away over dirt roads.

You need to talk w/ your Dr about the possibility of an epi pen, explaining why you may need one w/o prior hx of anaphalaxis, if your heart health is good enough the Doc may prescribe one for you. Speaking as a person who has had an anaph. reaction and survived it, not ever something I would care to repeat (the reaction not the surviving part). I am hyper sensitive about precaution now.

 

[897tgigvib]

Oh, it's not me that gets that anaphalactic shock. In the summer I take care of lots of campers here at the lake. At least one of the regular campers has had it. Yes, I have mentioned to the powers that be that we should have in at least one of the first aid kits, an anaphalactic shock kit.

Heck, I'd like to talk a retired medical doctor into moving up around the lake somewhere. In the 3 or 4 summery months the flatlanders come up here and play, and they do stuff playing that is more dangerous than they know. (we actually need a cell tower and a med facility)

 

[catjac1975]

That's the name of them on some of the posters. Other posters call them Racer Skinks. Kids call them Blue Tails. We also have Alligator Lizards, Blue Belly Lizards, and another Lizard similar to the Blue Belly but much more plain. Our Alligator Lizards are so large they can startle ya. Actually, they are the most timid of them all. We also have Garter Snakes, Gopher Snakes, and a snake some folks call a Rat Snake. I haven't seen the striped Snakes here yet. Yes, we do get Rattlers too. I think most Rattlers around here are a version of Timber Rattler that I've seen, but Western Diamondbacks are around also. Yes, we get a good number of Black Widow Spiders. I personally do not mind them, but since there are children around, for their safety I do give the Black Widows an instant death. I have twice seen Brown Recluse Spiders. Those I squish immediately and repeatedly. All other spiders I fully encourage in my garden.

Black Widow spider bites for most people are not as bad as commonly thought. They make a red spot silver dollar sized, with the skin dying off in the middle, and it is always recommended to at least call the doc if bit. Some folks are sensitive and get reactions, and sometimes a person can develop sensitivity and not know it. So even if a person thinks they are tough enough for a widow bite, they may not be next time, or this time.

Recluse bites are definitely dangerous. Weird thing is, sometimes they do not inject, other times they inject enough to kill, and usually they will inject enough to cause tissue death that untreated turns to gangrene. Thay are always dangerous, and nobody is immune, not even that guy from Krypton.

We also have Scorpions here that do sting. I understand it feels like a "hammer pounding a nail into you", but so far I have not seen one in my garden. I hear tell their poison is about like Yellow Jacket poison, and mostly just hurts, except of course for those who are sensitive.

Anaphalactic Shock is not a good thing when the nearest town is 35 miles away over dirt roads.

I always say I'm not afraid of bugs, etc.. However I think that would change if I lived near all those creatures.