Did I mention the snake?
- cherylmurfin
- Sep 21
- 2 min read
We ran into several critters on the Kumano Kodo, from bees to toads to birds to lizards to Japanese freshwater crabs. There were butterflies and skinks and, in a rare sighting because they are so shy, we caught at least one tanuki (also called raccoon dogs) off guard. In Japanese folklore, tanuki are shape-shifting spirits called Bake-danuki who can bring prosperity. On a bad day, they've been known to possess people.
You'll see Bake-danuki statues all over Japan, their raccoon shape accentuated by outsized gonads. As my friend Jonathan explained, large testicles symbolize wealth! There's way more to the Bake-danuki story in Japanese culture: Click here to read more.
Did I mention the snake?
Actually, there were two snake sightings on the trail. The first, my friends Colleen and Mike, smartly did not tell me about it until the second citing. Apparently, they ran across a sizable serpent on the first day of the walk (at which point I would have turned around and run the other direction).
But near the end of the hike, I noticed something moving in a tree at the side of the trail. It was orange with black spots and sliding gracefully across a tree limb. You can bet I looked up all the possible snakes on the trail, studied their spots and danger levels. So, I was quite sure this gorgeous creature was the non-venomous shima hebi (Japanese striped snake). Which is why I stuck my cell phone right between the branches to catch a video.
It turns out it was not a non-venomous shima hebi.
Instead, behold the venomous and poisonous Japanese Tiger Keelback. Notice how I am gently talking to it as if it were my new best friend:
Granted, the tiger keelback rarely kills people these days (antivenom is available). But, a strike can cause internal bleeding), disrupt blood clotting, cause excessive bleeding and blood in urine. And in addition to those problems from a bite, these snakes discharge poison from neck glands, which can cause eye damage if it makes contact with the eyes.
STEP AWAY from the snake, Cheryl.
More wild life from the Kumano Kodo
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