What a Waste

I took a trip to Sabine Pass, TX on Sunday to pay a visit to Sabine Woods, a bird sanctuary owned and maintained by the Texas Ornithological Society. Migrants had begun showing up so I decided to go check it out. Didn't see much so I headed down Hwy 87 towards Sea Rim State Park to see what would cross my path. Not far from the sanctuary I found an eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)in the middle of the road that had been run over. It was still alive when I approached it, but its insides were hanging out from its tail end.




Some people would want this beautiful animal dead just because it's a snake. These creatures have their place in the great scheme of things and have just as much right to live as we do. Sure it's poisonous and for a good reason- its fangs and poison are what allow it to survive. They serve as the mechanism that provides it food. I would never kill one of these unless it was its life or mine. Seeing this really saddens me. With my snake hook I moved it gently off the road into the grass. Its last bit of life was leaving it as I turned and headed back to my truck.......what a waste. If you would like to see other photos of this snake go here.