U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics [Hardcover]

Scott Shupe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2005

Stoeger's U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics is a quick and reliable guide to identifying the small percentage of snakes that pose a real threat to man. This carefully researched volume contains detailed information on the natural history of each species and subspecies region by region. Detailed full-color photographs provide a completely accurate representation of both venomous snakes and harmless non-venomous species that closely resemble their toxic relatives. U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and their Mimics clearly explains the use of scientific names and provides clear and accurate range maps, plus a useful glossary of herpetological terms. No matter what your outdoor activity -- hunter, angler, backpacker, gardener, etc. - you will find this concise, easy to use volume an invaluable addition to your library.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Determining the differences between venomous snakes and their harmless and beneficial look-alikes is now easier with the help of this book. This is a quick, informative and reliable guide to assist you in identifying the small percentage of snakes that pose a real threat. This is a carefully researched 160-pages of detailed information on the natural history of each species and subspecies of venomous snakes. Color-coded range and region maps and full-color photographs provide a complete and accurate guide to all U.S. venomous snakes and their non-venomous imposters. Within these pages you will find education and information about snakes that dispel myths and misconceptions and offers a great appreciation for these fascinating creatures. -- Mike Roux, Outdoor Guide Magazine, Early Summer 2005

Guide book teaches about venomous snakes and their mimics Killing every snake that might cross your path is not a great idea. Killing harmless snakes is hurting the environment. Now there is a great new book from Stoeger Publishing Company that teaches you about the venomous species and the harmless snakes that look like their dangerous cousins. U.S. GUIDE TO VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THEIR MIMICS by Schott Shupe is a great addition to your collection of identification books. -- Jim Foster, South Padre Press, March 31, 2005

New Guide to Poison Snakes Handy for Outdoor Enthusiasts Anyone who lives in a rural area or who ventures afield for hunting, camping, fishing or other reasons needs to have basic knowledge about venomous snakes, and a number of guides to them have appeared over the years. Unfortunately, most directed at the general public tend to cite only the four main groups: rattlers, corals, copperheads and water moccasins ("Cottonmouths"). There is wide variety within these divisions, and many non-venomous species superficially resemble some of the dangerous ones. The books that delve into much detail, particularly those with good color photos, tend to appeal more to professional scientists and serious amateur naturalists than they do to Joe and Susie Sixpack. (Maybe we'd better call them Charlie and Claire Hunter here...)

There has been a real need for a book easily used by hunters, campers, anglers, Scout leaders, and others who aren't interested enough to spend maybe $60 on a snake book, but who may need detailed photos and text to enable them to identify snakes encountered in the field. If such a book could also function as a really good field guide for the enthusiast, and sell for a modest price, the world would be a better place.

Well, the world just improved! Stoeger, famed for the Shooter's Bible gun annual, has just released US Guide to Venomous Snakes and their Mimics. How important is it? Considering that the broad category of rattlesnakes alone contains some 62 known species and over 80 subspecies, one can see that it is important to identify which one of them has bitten someone. This is especially crucial when similar looking species differ significantly in venom.

The color photos are clear and profuse, adding greatly to the ease of identifying the reptiles. The different geographic zones in which certain species are found are well defined, and the author admits that there is some overlap at the fringes.

US Guide to Venomous Snakes and their Mimics is a profound new work that will be of interest to outdoor enthusiasts of every kind, to doctors and wildlife professionals. -- Jim Williamson, The New Gun Week, April 10, 2005

Shupe has spent much of his life "tracking" snakes to their varying lairs, and passes that information on to readers. -- Glenn Ayers, NC Times News, August 14, 2005

About the Author

Scott Shupe began his professional career in 1971 at the famed Ross Allen Reptile institute. A professional naturalist with over 30 years of experience in a wide array of wildlife study, education, and wildlife videography, his special interest remains in the field of herpetology. He is founder of the Natural History Educational Company Inc., an organization of professional naturalists that promotes wildlife education and conservation for thousands of schools annually. His writing has appeared in numerous publications and his nature and wildlife videography is considered basic learning material in many schools across the country.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Stoeger Publishing Company (March 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883173026
• ISBN-13: 978-0883173022
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,649,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pairs full-color photos and range maps with discussions of each species and subspecies by region, December 5, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics (Hardcover)

If you're looking for a quick guide to identifying the few snakes in the U.S. which are venomous, you can't go wrong with Scott Shupe's U.S. Guide To Venomous Snakes And Their Mimics, which pairs full-color photos and range maps with discussions of each species and subspecies by region. Author Scott Shupe has been working with snakes for over thirty years in Florida as a professional naturalist specializing in herpetology: if there's only one book on the topic to be purchased for a library collection, make it his.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Useless, March 29, 2011

By 

Sofonda - See all my reviews

This review is from: U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics (Hardcover)

This book is apparently written on the premise that (1) you will have the book with you at the exact moment you meet-up with a questionable snake or (2) you will remember the smallest/most minute details/markings of a snake on the move to compare to the book, once you have the opportunity to look at the book. Either way, it not really a "guide" at all. The book is somewhat interesting, however.