A Coral Snake in Coosa County Alabama

There was an interesting article in the June 29 edition of the Birmingham News. A coral snake was captured and released in Coosa County, Alabama. They are rare in coastal Alabama and very rarely have been sighted this far north.

Coral snakes have the most toxic venom of any snake in North America. However, they are less likely to strike than pit vipers like rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins.

The saying is "red, then yellow, kill a fellow; red, then black, you're OK, Jack." I think I'd second guess myself with the rhyme. I'd just take a picture from a distance.

Here's a blog account of the story:


http://hogfoot.blogspot.com/2009/04/coosa-coral.html

Where I've Been - Chart Your Travel Map

I have found an interesting site.

http://www.whereivebeen.com/

Here you can chart your travels, places you've lived, and places you want to go. Its even got a free picture and video positing section.

Here's my profile:

http://whereivebeen.com/user/billco

Here's my "Where I've Been Map."



Haven't listed all of the cities that I've visited. That will take quite awhile.

Find Lakes Anywhere in the United States

With this Google map application, find over 40,000 lake, reservoir and pond locations. Shows street and highway access, as well as satellite and aerial photo imagery. Zoom in and pan out.


http://findlakes.com/

Never Before Caught a Stingray This Way

I've caught many stingrays on the Alabama Gulf Coast. If you're fishing the beaches and bays with natural baits its impossible not to catch them.

On our last trip to Gulf Shores, I hooked one. I knew it was a ray because my line suddenly went tight. I couldn't budge it. Like many do, this one had buried himself up in the sand. Even small ones are hard to drag out when they do this, and usually the fisherman has no choice but to cut the line, as I did.

I re-rigged and made a cast. I had a hit, but didn't hook the fish. While reeling in I noticed that I had hooked a line. I grabbed the line and pulled the stingray in by hand that I lost.







Notice the barb in the last picture. Even small stingrays like this one have prominent barbs that can be dangerous. Stingrays are gentile and non-aggressive, but they can be dangerous if you invade their space.

Read more about stingrays here