Just as it was getting dark it was time to go turn the sprinkler off so grabbed the torch and off we went down the stairs, as I turned the corner I noticed something on the concrete path infront of me. Hmmm a small snake stretched out, thought is it poisonous,probably not so grabbed it behind it's neck and took it back upstairs and walked I to the house. This did not go down well with the wife or kid who was eating her dinner anyway it was put in a container and pictured, later I found out it was a harmless young wolf snake which was released later somewhere up the road. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153629620302995&l=e625f5a032
saw one on the dirt road home in bacong years ago.. It was brownish black with yellowish stripes running from head to tail.. It moved like a tree snake able to extend almost half its length unsupported while reaching out from a position.. And it was really thin.... I showed a group of knee high kids and they went straight for it and grabbed it like a harmless twig... Maybe they knew something i didnt.. I warned em to be careful and helped them bag it so as to not have them hold it and get bit even if it wasnt venomous.. My friend on cebu tanawan side had a 10-12 foot type of python show up and get killed in the low hills above his place...
There are plenty snakes here on negros but unless you are out and about or live in wilder areas they are not usually seen, we have had a few species here inc vine snake, rat snakes, wolf snake. Spotted a 12 ft reticulated Python a few years back crossing the road early one morn. The only snake not seen yet is the waglers pit viper which is nocturnal and mainly lives in the trees. It's a docile snake but you dont want to get bitten by one as no anti venom on this island. Our worker announced to me yesterday they had caught one in apolong,Valencia in a bottle and were somehow going to use it for medicine. Caseroro falls is a common place to find this one and surrounding areas.
The only use I have heard it being used for is on a family member to stop them from using Shabu... they never use shabu again after experiencing the medicinal values of a viper bite.
When i first moved to Don Salvador Benedicto in the mountains near Bacolod area, I checked on DSB face book site, and one local there wrote in " We Have ANACONDA here!" ... I knew it wasnt any anaconda, but whatever he saw up there was certainly real and put the fear of anaconda in him... Huge snakes in the huge north mountains of Negros. You still have huge old growth tree forest up there in North negros and thats where the Flying foxes have a thriving colony- Worlds largest bats species.. I saw a 4-5 foot tree or vine snake up there once in my back yard, that was the biggest of those i ever saw.. Same as what i saw in Dmgte Bacong, but much bigger in north negros mountains...
Don Salvador benedicto is a place on my list to visit sometime soon and surrounding areas, looks a nice place to visit. The snake you mention would be a reticulated Python as this the only species that grow this large and known for having a bad temper. Just collected a juvenile waglers pit viper from our helper in a coke bottle so will transfer it and try and get some pictures.
And here she is, quite happy and relaxed sat on a branch. Reckon she is around a couple months old. Later they will change colour as they get older. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153646510047995&l=bb258e4c2f
