Posts by Thistle
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Joined
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45 Posts
Yes, it looks like a coral snake. They have a pattern of alternating red, yellow, and black bands. In North America red and yellow bands touching means poisonous. We have them in Arizona.
Snakes that mimic corals have alternating red, black, and yellow bands. Red and black bands touching means they are not venomous.
Children are taught a mnemonic to help remember which to avoid:
Red and yellow kills a fellow.
Red and black, safe from attack.
Joined
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45 Posts
It would be nice if they were a little more elusive and less dangerous where I live. 
Mohave rattlesnakes are abundant, territorial and very aggressive here. Terrifying stuff for me and anyone with dogs. But I think most snakes avoid people when possible. It's just not always easy to avoid them. They are lightening fast, and they don't always give a proper warning notice. There is a theory about that too.
I'm all for science falling under the spell of venomous snakes IF it leads to more research. There is probably some very powerful medicine in snake venom. The Gila Monster produces a neurotoxin which is as toxic as coral snakes. There is now a drug which helps to manage type 2 diabetes. It is a synthetic version of a protein that was discovered in the saliva of Gila Monsters. There is also additional research because this same protein also heightens memory. They think it could help in other health-related areas such as Alzheimer's, ADHD, schizophrenia...
Mohave rattlesnakes are abundant, territorial and very aggressive here. Terrifying stuff for me and anyone with dogs. But I think most snakes avoid people when possible. It's just not always easy to avoid them. They are lightening fast, and they don't always give a proper warning notice. There is a theory about that too.
I'm all for science falling under the spell of venomous snakes IF it leads to more research. There is probably some very powerful medicine in snake venom. The Gila Monster produces a neurotoxin which is as toxic as coral snakes. There is now a drug which helps to manage type 2 diabetes. It is a synthetic version of a protein that was discovered in the saliva of Gila Monsters. There is also additional research because this same protein also heightens memory. They think it could help in other health-related areas such as Alzheimer's, ADHD, schizophrenia...
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