Letters To The Editor August 2016

Join Your Local HISSSS Club 

Dear GON,

Based on the snake article in the June issue of GON, I am requesting membership to the Evans, Georgia Chapter of HISSSS. 

Years ago, my parents took my brother and I to a creek to cool off. We spent the time trying to catch the minnows and crawdads. At one point, I went to climb up on a bridge. When I reached for the trestle, a snake hithed (yes, I spelled it right) and shot toward the nearest shore. I screamed like a girl and shot toward the opposite shore. According to my father, I covered the entire 15 yards to shore without breaking the surface of the water. This may explain why he used our Lord’s name in vain whenever he addressed me. I have no idea how big the snake was or what kind it was. I just knew that I had to get away from it and would have thrown my little brother at it to escape. I am pretty sure that this meets the requirement to join HISSSS. 

Once accepted, I will recruit one of my neighbors. He came to my house to ask me to get a snake out of his yard. He will make a great HISSSS leader.

Robbie Seal, Evans

Snake Article Needed More Realist Info Included

Dear GON,

Thanks for your snake article, “The Deadly 6,” in the June issue. While there was much educational information, there was also a high fear factor to the article.

Many people consider snakes out to get them and will kill them given any opportunity. Although this is legal, I feel comments such as, “More people are bitten by copperheads than any other venomous species” misses the fact that more people are actually struck by lightning than are bitten by snakes.

Mr. Scruggs cautions not to put your hands or feet where you can’t see are very well taken. However, many bites occur due to carelessness. A recent Cobb County bite occurred as a worker tried to pick up a copperhead from the back of a lawn service trailer.

As a classroom teacher, I have had several presentations of rattlesnakes in my classroom by Okefenokee Joe. 

So thanks for your efforts to continually educate readers to situations and hazards they might encounter while outdoors.

Tom Jones, Cumming

Coyotes Aren’t Only Problem

Dear GON,

I agree that coyotes are a threat, but I also think farmers hunting permits are reducing the herd. A young farmer told me last year he killed 10 does in one day. On average, a doe produces two fawns each season. That means that not only did he kill 10 does but also 20 fawns for a total of 30 deer. Another farmer killed deer and left them lying in the woods. There seems to be no supervision of these permits. Yotes are a threat but humans may be a greater threat.

Jerry Price, Patterson

GON Social Media

Peyton Johnson (left) and Peyton Holder caught this 23-lb. catfish on June 10 at Lake Oconee on an ultra-light rod while crappie fishing.

@KennyRitchie3 tweeted this picture to @GONMagazine on July 12.