Ended BYC's 2022 Spooktacular Halloween Hatch-Along!—Creepy Critter Photo Contest

[Ineke9909]

View attachment 3297589

To who ever thought it was sad, this is a copperhead, venomous. Both my dogs have been bitten by one. Almost killed the little guy

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

To who ever thought it was sad, this is a copperhead, venomous. Both my dogs have been bitten by one. Almost killed the little guyView attachment 3314199

Wasn't me who thought it was sad. I live in a very wooded area, and during the warmer months I'm careful to stay on cleared paths due to abundant copperheads. I think my dogs can smell them because I see them walk carefully through the leaves with their noses near the ground, UNLESS they sense a chicken predator and quickly give chase. A neighbor has been bitten after he stepped on one in the dark, and another neighbor's dog has been bitten. Both bites involved severe pain, expensive trips to the E.R., and fairly lengthy recoveries. Copperheads are mostly non-agressive unless stepped on. But despite my best efforts to avoid doing so, several times I have nearly stepped on one myself. With its rectangular head, pits behind the nostrils and elliptical pupils, I view copperheads as truly creepy. Very interesting that the one of in your photo got caught in a rodent trap.

 

[Cynthia12]

I missed out..who won?

 

[BesideStillWaters]

To who ever thought it was sad, this is a copperhead, venomous. Both my dogs have been bitten by one. Almost killed the little guyView attachment 3314199

I know what you mean. I hate killing anything, but copperheads are evil. I've had several dogs bitten. The vet had them on cephalexin and benadryl. They survived but one dog, Macy, got bitten in the neck twice by two different copperheads. She killed both. I also had two chickens bitten. Both survived but it was rough on one of them. Glad ypu dog survived. Looks like a sweet little thing.

**edited to add:

This is Helga. She found a baby copperhead. It bit her so she ate it.

 

[MamaWolf7]

Wasn't me who thought it was sad. I live in a very wooded area, and during the warmer months I'm careful to stay on cleared paths due to abundant copperheads. I think my dogs can smell them because I see them walk carefully through the leaves with their noses near the ground, UNLESS they sense a chicken predator and quickly give chase. A neighbor has been bitten after he stepped on one in the dark, and another neighbor's dog has been bitten. Both bites involved severe pain, expensive trips to the E.R., and fairly lengthy recoveries. Copperheads are mostly non-agressive unless stepped on. But despite my best efforts to avoid doing so, several times I have nearly stepped on one myself. With its rectangular head, pits behind the nostrils and elliptical pupils, I view copperheads as truly creepy. Very interesting that the one of in your photo got caught in a rodent trap.

You should consider moving somewhere safer, like Alaska. There are no snakes, lizards, freshwater turtles or venomous insects. You can see and hear a bear or wolf coming and never have to worry about accidentally stepping on one.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

You should consider moving somewhere safer, like Alaska. There are no snakes, lizards, freshwater turtles or venomous insects. You can see and hear a bear or wolf coming and never have to worry about accidentally stepping on one.

I used to want to move to Alaska and escape the hot humid climate of the Texas gulf coast where I grew up. But now I'm sure I would find living in Alaska much too cold. But is living with bears and wolves safer than venomous snakes?! Hmm I think I had rather deal with avoiding stepping on copperheads than deal with bears trying to breach my home and chicken coop!

 

[Rise722]

My grandson son comes running and yelling, Nanny, come see the creepy spider. I thought I would see some little bug. Black Widow. Glad he didn't pick it up. She was big..yes, I said, was. View attachment 3298130

Black widows are one of the few spiders I do exterminate...

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I know what you mean. I hate killing anything, but copperheads are evil. I've had several dogs bitten. The vet had them on cephalexin and benadryl. They survived but one dog, Macy, got bitten in the neck twice by two different copperheads. She killed both. I also had two chickens bitten. Both survived but it was rough on one of them. Glad ypu dog survived. Looks like a sweet little thing.

**edited to add:


View attachment 3321210

This is Helga. She found a baby copperhead. It bit her so she ate it.

Poor Helga! I'm amazed that she survived a copperhead bite. She is a very lucky chicken!

 

[MamaWolf7]

I used to want to move to Alaska and escape the hot humid climate of the Texas gulf coast where I grew up. But now I'm sure I would find living in Alaska much too cold. But is living with bears and wolves safer than venomous snakes?! Hmm I think I had rather deal with avoiding stepping on copperheads than deal with bears trying to breach my home and chicken coop!

I miss the hot humid summers around the great lakes. Now I live 100mi from Alaska. Wolves avoid humans like the plague. I have never encountered a grizzly around my area. Black bears venture through a few times a year. They occasionally investigate my raspberry patch but mostly just eat the soapberries along the creek. We have an electric fence around the coop and run. The only chicken killer here is my husky (great for dog mushing in the winter). The cold is brutal, but I will take it over venomous snakes, spiders and insects!

 

[Pyxis]

The judges have finished judging, and we have our winners
@BesideStillWaters, @JustBabyMargo, @Poultrybonkers, & @EverythingDucks​

First Place - @BesideStillWaters

Entry #1:

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Second Place - @JustBabyMargo

Entry 1: Piper, the black cat.

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Third Place - @Poultrybonkers

Entry 1

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Fourth Place - @EverythingDucks

Entry 1.
Isn't she cute?

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@BesideStillWaters, @JustBabyMargo, @Poultrybonkers, & @EverythingDucks, I will send you instructions on how to claim your prizes momentarily!

A HUGE THANK YOU to all who participated. This contest wouldn't have been possible without all of your entries!!!!

Great job, everyone, this was so much fun!!

~ Shout out to all the judges who took the time to judge all the contests. I know they were incredibly difficult to judge, and I appreciate all of you! ~

And THANK YOU to our BYC Sponsors (click to view & support them)​