Snakes in the Ocean (at Hilton Head?)

[DVCLiz]

We were paddling around in the ocean at HH last week, and saw a seagull swoop down, grab something that looked very much like a snake, and fly away with it writhing in its mouth. What was it? It looked VERY MUCH like a regular snake - about two feet to three feet long, wiggly, and very slender like a snake - not thick like the eels I've seen. We were about chest deep in the water, and it was maybe another 100 feet or so out to sea, but close enough that I could easily see it in the gull's mouth. Creepy...

Any naturalists out there who can tell me what I was sharing the ocean with?? And thanks, Mr. Seagull, for saving me from certain death, as I would have certainly had a heart attack if a SNAKE had swum past me in the ocean!!

 

[rinkwide]

...three feet long, wiggly, and very slender...

It wasn't Mary Kate Olson?

 

[dis-happy]

Be glad there's snakes in that ocean---it gives the sharks something to munch on besides the tourists.


Seriously, never heard of any salt water snakes here....

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think most common US water snakes, like water moccasins, etc. would take kindly to salt water and waves. And everything I've seen indicates that Sea Snakes evolved from land snakes in the area near Australia. I don't think we have any in US waters. They may be a different type of eel or some sort of large sea worm that are being consumed by the gulls.

 

[DVCLiz]

It wasn't Mary Kate Olson?

 

[DVCLiz]

I don't think most common US water snakes, like water moccasins, etc. would take kindly to salt water and waves. And everything I've seen indicates that Sea Snakes evolved from land snakes in the area near Australia. I don't think we have any in US waters. They may bee a different type of eel or some sort of large sea worm that are being consumed by the gulls.

I expect it was some sort of worm or eel, then. It was definitely NOT a fish - it didn't resemble a fish at all. As I said, it looked...just like a regular snake. I couldn't see any color on it. And it was long enough to be very dangly - at least two feet, and maybe a little longer.

I did see a snake special on Discovery Channel last night, and one scene showed the Black Mamba, I think (it's the snake that can move as fast as a cantering horse and is very agressive) sliding down the beach near the ocean's edge. But that was in a foreign country, not the USA.

I've never heard of any snake that could survive in Atlantic waters, nor do I think one slid into the water from the beach. But it was sure weird seeing it!!!!

On the other hand, NO DOLPHINS all week. Rats!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You need to stay out of the lazy river at TL and BB. People have spotted snakes sliding in or out of the water in some areas.

 

[DVCLiz]

You need to stay out of the lazy river at TL and BB. People have spotted snakes sliding in or out of the water in some areas.

Yes, I've seen that discussed before!!! Somehow I don't think I would be quite as bad - I don't really LOVE a snake right next to me at any time, but if I could see that it was a black snake, or if I could see through the water, I think I would refrain from screaming, at least.

It's all that Jaws training I had as a child - something about not being able to see what's about to eat or bite me!!!!

 

[dis-happy]

Do you think it could have been a jellyfish? They're kind of transparent/colorless and could stretch out long and thin if held at one end. Not sure a seagull would enjoy eating it though...

 

[DVCLiz]

Do you think it could have been a jellyfish? They're kind of transparent/colorless and could stretch out long and thin if held at one end. Not sure a seagull would enjoy eating it though...

Nope - definitely silverish and solid, not clear at all. I guess we'll never know - unless it is the Loch Ness monster...

 

[Judique]

Nope - definitely silverish and solid, not clear at all. I guess we'll never know - unless it is the Loch Ness monster...

Silverish and solid makes me think it was a string of egg cases. You often see them dried up on the beach in pieces.

 

[DVCLiz]

Maybe, but would it wiggle? It was silverish in the sense of a solid-ish gray, not terribly shiny. But whatever it was, it was alive, because it wiggled once the gull had it. Unless it was something dead and the motion of snatching it made it LOOK like it was wiggling.

Ah, a mystery of life...maybe I'll call Disney's HH and ask the naturalist!