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Hoop Snake
Sightings of hoop snakes have been reported since colonial times in North America and for at least the past century in Australia. This snake grasps its tail in its mouth and rolls after its prey, thereby achieving great speed, especially when going downhill. Hoop snakes have been clocked going over 60 m.p.h. At the tip of its tail is a highly venomous stinger, making this a creature to be avoided at all costs. It is the only species of snake known to have a stinger on its tail, and this stinger is so poisonous that even if it strikes a tree, the tree will instantly wither, turn black, and die.If you should encounter a hoop snake in the wild, the best defense is to run as fast as you can and hope to find a fence to leap over. The hoop snake will have to uncoil to get through the fence, thereby slowing it down. Some have reported that diving through the hoop of the snake will cause it to run away. This, however, has never been verified.
Rolling after me,
A giant,speeding hoop snake
thank goodness it's missed me
Posted by J on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 01:42 PM
A giant,speeding hoop snake
thank goodness it's missed me
Maybe the last line could be changed to: thank goodness, it missed.
That would make it five syllables.
Posted by Alex in San Diego on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 10:23 PM
That would make it five syllables.
Alex,thanks for the suggestion.I agree it was writtenslight ly wrong
Posted by J on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 03:33 PM
Interestingly,this legend seems to have it's roots in reality.Some species of snake curl into a hoop shape for unknown reasons. This is remarkably similar to the amphisbaena of myth.This half-bird half-snake would put it's tail in it's mouth and roll away from danger.
Posted by Thisisnotadrillalienshaveinvadedtheplanetearth on Tue May 29, 2007 at 02:55 AM
This kind of snake appears frequently in Swedish folklore too, where it is often called "Hjulorm" or "Lindorm". A Swedish scientist that did research in folklore, Gunnar Olof Hylt
Posted by Robin Bruhn in Sweden (Lund) on Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 09:01 PM
Hoop Snakes are NOT hoaxes! I live in PA in the country and have seen these back in the late 60's, but none since. They may have died out, or are just very rare. You can read a true encounter I had with one, one summer with my dad, here:
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Dreaded-Pennsylvania-Hoop-Snake&id=1030006
Posted by Robert in Pennsylvania on Sun Jul 06, 2008 at 01:14 PM
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Dreaded-Pennsylvania-Hoop-Snake&id=1030006
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Posted by thisisnotadrillmybuttisonfireandineedsomeointment in asdfasdfasd on Tue Dec 30, 2008 at 07:37 PM
Thank you. You've helped me prove their real.
Posted by mimi in missouri on Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 05:23 PM
hi i was wondering if the hoop snake is real i need to know so please email me back
- brittney
Posted by brittney in ny on Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 02:19 PM
- brittney
thank you for the wonderful emformation 
Posted by brittney in ny on Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 02:22 PM
Hoop snakes were included in the book "Elijah", when the preacher tells Elijah that if a hoop snake stings you, your body will explode, except for your head. Then you must wait in agony for 2 weeks before you die of starvation, since you no longer have a stomach. This, of course, is complete bogus. Unfortunately, I cannot recall the name of this author.
Posted by liddle bum on Sun Mar 15, 2009 at 01:52 AM
this has got to be one of the most childish, patheticly stupid thing to believe in. Snakes cannot even hold themselves upward for more than a few seconds, let alone hold themselves in a perfect circle capable of rolling. Then on top of that.. 60 mph? do you really belive that a wheel shaped piece of rope could propel itself at a cars speed? But wait it gets better.. A stinging tail that kills trees instntly, any venom capable of killing a tree in a few seconds would make any ither victim explode in a fiery cluster of flesh. I find it very humerous that any grown person would belive in anything so rediculous. Well, im off to find Bigfoot, and shoot him with my magic wand.
Posted by NoClip on Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 08:31 AM
the hoop snake is not childish is is very real 
Posted by brittney on Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Young hoop snakes are often a bit childish.. but they are very serious and methodic hunters from early puberty.
Posted by Espen in Gj on Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 03:14 PM
When I was about 10 I saw a snake "roll" itself out of my way. To me, it looked exactly like a wheel. Nobody believed me. Shortly afterward I read that it is an optical illusion. this was in 1979.
<--that is a snake too. By now I had assumed it was common knowledge.
Posted by mario fernandez in new jersey on Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 03:38 PM
The hoop snake is real and in SC.I was 8 yrs old picking black berrys with my Grandma when she said run Norma I said run. I went past her this snake was crawing after her. When I went passed her so did that snake.I saw it when it grabed its tail in its mouth. It looked like a holu hoop to me. I never new it was called a hoop snake till this year. BUT THEY ARE REAL.
Posted by Norma Nichols in Pickens, SC 29671 on Sat May 02, 2009 at 06:05 PM
thats a cool story 
Posted by brittney in ny on Sun May 03, 2009 at 08:24 AM
I was reading this book and a man was telling two little boys about hoop snakes. The man said that if you got stung you would blow up. Now I know that hoop snakes are real but if anyone new what happened to you if you got stung , it would help. Thanks. 
Posted by Hannah in denham springs, Louisiana on Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 10:54 AM
To the scholar above who wrote the following:
********************************************* this has got to be one of the most childish, patheticly stupid thing to believe in. Snakes cannot even hold themselves upward for more than a few seconds, let alone hold themselves in a perfect circle capable of rolling.
**********************************************
him saying that snakes can't hold themselves up for no more then a few seconds, well lets just say he's not near as knowledgable about snakes as he wants people to think. When I was in the Army, in Viet Nam, I went on R&R (rest and recreation) in Thailand. Me and some friends went hiking in the hills. I confronted a huge King Cobra and when he reared up, him and me was eye to eye for almost 8 minutes. Him growling, and close enough I could smell his nasty breath. I froze, knowing not to tempt this venomous giant in anyway. After what seemed like an eternity, he lowered himself and crawled off in the bush. And as far as the gentlemans knowledge of snakes, my grandfather lost a leg because a hoop snake stunk him while thrashing wheat in Oklahoma in 1917. Just because you don't see one or know nothing but whats on TV, it doesn't mean something doesn't exist. Turn off the video games, get out and "learn" and see things. And this applies to the gentleman who said the quote above..............sir, you are VERY SHELTERED. I can back up what I"m talking about, your intelligence didn't impress me. Have a good day.
Posted by Darrell C in Oklahoma on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 05:58 PM
********************************************* this has got to be one of the most childish, patheticly stupid thing to believe in. Snakes cannot even hold themselves upward for more than a few seconds, let alone hold themselves in a perfect circle capable of rolling.
**********************************************
him saying that snakes can't hold themselves up for no more then a few seconds, well lets just say he's not near as knowledgable about snakes as he wants people to think. When I was in the Army, in Viet Nam, I went on R&R (rest and recreation) in Thailand. Me and some friends went hiking in the hills. I confronted a huge King Cobra and when he reared up, him and me was eye to eye for almost 8 minutes. Him growling, and close enough I could smell his nasty breath. I froze, knowing not to tempt this venomous giant in anyway. After what seemed like an eternity, he lowered himself and crawled off in the bush. And as far as the gentlemans knowledge of snakes, my grandfather lost a leg because a hoop snake stunk him while thrashing wheat in Oklahoma in 1917. Just because you don't see one or know nothing but whats on TV, it doesn't mean something doesn't exist. Turn off the video games, get out and "learn" and see things. And this applies to the gentleman who said the quote above..............sir, you are VERY SHELTERED. I can back up what I"m talking about, your intelligence didn't impress me. Have a good day.
When I was 6 years old in 1959 growing up just outside of Hanover,Ohio on a farm on wills road off of 668. I was riding on a hay wagon helping my dad,brother and mom putting up hay,My dad yelled and said look at that it was a hoop snake rolling around the hay field, My dad said don't get off of the wagon and my dad jumped on the wagon with us,My dad said watch because that may be the only hoop snake you'll ever see in a life time.Told me he has seen them when growing up in West Virgina when he was a kid back in the 30s I have only seen one other hoop snake in the 80's and I got to point it out to my kids,Yes people they are real and roll like a hoop,but they are rare to every being seen.My Dad did say they were a poison snake.
Posted by Don Bennett in licking county ohio on Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 09:23 PM
i have no idea what the hell i am doing
Posted by monika in flordia on Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 04:09 PM
right now i am 10 years old and i know the wise guy who wrote that note on how hoop snakes arent real is a word im not yet aloud to say, but ima back that army guy up because even though ive never seen a hoop snake someone who used to be in the army or vise-versa would probrably know more than that crap-head and that is all i will say
Posted by Kaylee in Katy,Texas on Sun Oct 11, 2009 at 03:48 PM
i have a close friend in texas that told me he saw such a snake years ago in texas. i have no reason to doubt him as his tale had no "OH WOW" intent or fantastic nature. i forget how it ended; the snake either climbed into a tree or unwrapped at a tree or bush and crawled along on its way. the man is a university graduate and served in the military.
the ridicule for many stories is deserved as i do not believe the 60 mph part, or the stinging of a tree and instant death. some people tell in a mater-of-fact manner. they could be truthfully telling what they saw.
Posted by marc sefcik in (texas resident) in russia on Sun Oct 11, 2009 at 06:09 PM
the ridicule for many stories is deserved as i do not believe the 60 mph part, or the stinging of a tree and instant death. some people tell in a mater-of-fact manner. they could be truthfully telling what they saw.
Hoop snakes are real cause my grampa died from a bite in 1960
Posted by Kaijene in CA on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 09:31 PM
Many years ago, when I was 8, I was riding w/bro,sis,father, and we saw a snake roling down a hillside and across the road.(in northern ark).we could not believe what we saw. It was about the size of a 24" bicycle tire. Just talking w/my 90 old aunt yesterday and she remembers when she was a child that her uncle kill one and her grandfather told them it was a "hoop" snake. It had a hard stinger in its tail.
Posted by Wendell Davis in Olive Branch MS, USA on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 06:22 AM
In the early 50's my mother and I were driving down a gravel road in SE Kansas, and ahead of us, on the shoulder of the road, was a hoop shake going forward. She slowed down, pointed out what it was, and we watched it for a few minutes. It eventually went into the ditch. The area was nearby a timber area...needless, to say, it did exist.
Posted by C.P. in Southeast Kansas on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 02:39 PM
the author is christopher paul curtis...Elijah of Buxton was the book refering yo hoop snakes.
Posted by michelle on Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 11:03 AM
MY CLASSMATES WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT HOOP SNAKES. WE WAS READING A BOOK BY CHRISTOPHER CURTIS AND IT HAD HOOP SNAKES IN IT.
Posted by JADELYN in GAGGLE.COM on Mon Jan 25, 2010 at 08:23 PM
I work in the office of a landfill and one of our drivers just came in and said that they seen a hoop snake in the landfill. I will have to let him know that they are dangerous, he told us they are rare and not danerous. At first I did not believe him so I had to look it up, but now I think that they are real. I learn something new every day.
Posted by Toni in Oklahoma on Fri May 21, 2010 at 09:06 AM
In 1950, E.Smith had a hoop snake encounter near Hart, Michigan. According to my mom (e.smith), the snake passed her rolling down down a forested incline. Our family listens to her tail (of tails)with some hesitation,but she is dead serious. signed b.shhl (and dont pay any attention to my intials)
Posted by E. Smith in Oceana County, Michigan on Sat Jun 12, 2010 at 09:45 PM
the only natural enemy of the hoop snake is the snipe bird. thats why people go snipe hunting. to rid their farms of the hoop snakes
true story
Posted by jim in Pittsburgh on Tue Jun 29, 2010 at 08:48 AM
true story
I am a herpetologist, Have been for many years.
This is one of the biggest lines of crap that you will ever hear. There are NO Hoop Snakes.
Posted by gene Stevens on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 01:45 PM
This is one of the biggest lines of crap that you will ever hear. There are NO Hoop Snakes.
No snake has bone structure to up right it's self to make a rolling hoop. No snake can hold it's tail in mouth in such a way to make this possible.
Some snakes that are in pain, (useully respirtory) will bite it's self, and have seen them with tail in mouth.
The fear that people have of snakes sometimes causes the imagination to run wild.
We fear what we don't know, educate yourself, and don't pass those fear on to your kids.
Posted by gene Stevens on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 01:58 PM
Some snakes that are in pain, (useully respirtory) will bite it's self, and have seen them with tail in mouth.
The fear that people have of snakes sometimes causes the imagination to run wild.
We fear what we don't know, educate yourself, and don't pass those fear on to your kids.
To Gene Stevens; I'm sorry to say you are so wrong,if I hadn't saw two in my life time I may think the way you do.I haven't seen a lot of snakes and don't want to,but I do know the Hoop is out there.
When I was 6 years old in 1959 growing up just outside of Hanover,Ohio on a farm on wills road off of 668. I was riding on a hay wagon helping my dad,brother and mom putting up hay,My dad yelled and said look at that it was a hoop snake rolling around the hay field, My dad said don't get off of the wagon and my dad jumped on the wagon with us,My dad said watch because that may be the only hoop snake you'll ever see in a life time.Told me he has seen them when growing up in West Virgina when he was a kid back in the 30s I have only seen one other hoop snake in the 80's and I got to point it out to my kids,Yes people they are real and roll like a hoop,but they are rare to every being seen.My Dad did say they were a poison snake.
Posted by Don Bennett in Licking County Ohio on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 03:13 PM
When I was 6 years old in 1959 growing up just outside of Hanover,Ohio on a farm on wills road off of 668. I was riding on a hay wagon helping my dad,brother and mom putting up hay,My dad yelled and said look at that it was a hoop snake rolling around the hay field, My dad said don't get off of the wagon and my dad jumped on the wagon with us,My dad said watch because that may be the only hoop snake you'll ever see in a life time.Told me he has seen them when growing up in West Virgina when he was a kid back in the 30s I have only seen one other hoop snake in the 80's and I got to point it out to my kids,Yes people they are real and roll like a hoop,but they are rare to every being seen.My Dad did say they were a poison snake.
WHAT EVER!
Posted by gene Stevens on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 03:36 PM
Hi. Pliz check out my link for news and videos on hoopsnakes. We work to recieve funding for teaching prevention and control of the hoopsnake. The interest for theese marvelous creatures are gaining momentum. 
Posted by Espen in World on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 03:39 PM
Posted by Espen in a bliss on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 03:41 PM
No evidence of it ever happening. Only un-wise tails, no pun intended. People with great imagenations. I have handeled and studied snakes from all around the world. No snake can do what you think you saw.
TO BELIEVE THAT, you need evidence, scientific proof...there is none. The physical bone structure of a snake, (any snake) makes it impossible. There is no missing link people, only missing link is that of the human brain and reality. Tell the story enought times and one starts to believe its true.
O, By the way...snakes don't sting!
Posted by gene Stevens on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 03:50 PM
TO BELIEVE THAT, you need evidence, scientific proof...there is none. The physical bone structure of a snake, (any snake) makes it impossible. There is no missing link people, only missing link is that of the human brain and reality. Tell the story enought times and one starts to believe its true.
O, By the way...snakes don't sting!
No evidence of it ever happening. Only UN-wise tails, no pun intended. People with great imaginations. I have handled and studied snakes from all around the world. No snake can do what you think you saw.
TO BELIEVE THAT, you need evidence, scientific proof...there is none. The physical bone structure of a snake, (any snake) makes it impossible. There is no missing link people, only missing link is that of the human brain and reality. Tell the story enough times and one starts to believe its true.
O, By the way...snakes don't sting!
I'm not a person who lies, but you are a very sad person to think you know it all.
Posted by Don Bennett in Licking County Ohio on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 06:37 PM
TO BELIEVE THAT, you need evidence, scientific proof...there is none. The physical bone structure of a snake, (any snake) makes it impossible. There is no missing link people, only missing link is that of the human brain and reality. Tell the story enough times and one starts to believe its true.
O, By the way...snakes don't sting!
I'm not a person who lies, but you are a very sad person to think you know it all.
Did not say you lied. just that maybe your fear of the unknown caused you to see something that was not real. I DO KNOW SNAKES, THEY DON'T TURN THEMSELVES INTO HOOPS ROLL DOWN HILLS CHASING AFTER PEOPLE, SNAKES DON'T STING...THEY BITE.
I do not nor have I made claim to knowing everything...BUT I DO KNOW SNAKES! In that I am almost an expert. If you know anything more about them (other than Hoop snakes) please enlighten me. I've got a minute.
Posted by gene Stevens on Fri Jul 02, 2010 at 07:32 PM
I do not nor have I made claim to knowing everything...BUT I DO KNOW SNAKES! In that I am almost an expert. If you know anything more about them (other than Hoop snakes) please enlighten me. I've got a minute.
I am so sorry to find so many stupid people in one place. THERE ARE NO HOOP SNAKES. I don't care about your story of what you saw with your own eyes. Get off the drugs. Stop with the BS. Call Dr. Phil...anything...just get help.
Hell, heres a noval idea, Google Hoop Snake.
Dumb Shits
Posted by Gene Stevens on Fri Jul 23, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Hell, heres a noval idea, Google Hoop Snake.
Dumb Shits
There are in fact hoop snakes. I have seen several, growing up in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, but the snakes are very rare.
Researchers at the University of Calgary in Alberta Canada have have a secret research program at the Canadian Rockies and Foothills Biogeoscience Institute at the Barrier Lake experimental station in the Kananaskis valley. (The G7 meetings were held in the valley several years ago, with world leaders in attendance, including George W. Bush. Hoop snakes were clandestinely used for back up security by the CIA during that conference.
This program must be kept secret, as the venom is so terribly poisonous and there is no known antidote. If it was to fall into the hands of terrorists, like Al Qeda or one of the weird militias or other such losers, it could be catastrophic for the planet. The institute staff are sworn to secrecy and will deny all knowledge of these rare snakes and this program.
Interestingly, this has nothing to do with the super poison venom. Alberta, a major energy producing area, funds energy research, and this is one of the projects. They want to unlock the secrets of how the hoop snake propels itself.
It appears there is a micro bio radiation nuclear reaction at the cellular level within the spine of the hoop snake. This splits atoms and changes mass to energy as predicted by Einstein
Posted by Clovis Righthand in Alberta Canada on Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Researchers at the University of Calgary in Alberta Canada have have a secret research program at the Canadian Rockies and Foothills Biogeoscience Institute at the Barrier Lake experimental station in the Kananaskis valley. (The G7 meetings were held in the valley several years ago, with world leaders in attendance, including George W. Bush. Hoop snakes were clandestinely used for back up security by the CIA during that conference.
This program must be kept secret, as the venom is so terribly poisonous and there is no known antidote. If it was to fall into the hands of terrorists, like Al Qeda or one of the weird militias or other such losers, it could be catastrophic for the planet. The institute staff are sworn to secrecy and will deny all knowledge of these rare snakes and this program.
Interestingly, this has nothing to do with the super poison venom. Alberta, a major energy producing area, funds energy research, and this is one of the projects. They want to unlock the secrets of how the hoop snake propels itself.
It appears there is a micro bio radiation nuclear reaction at the cellular level within the spine of the hoop snake. This splits atoms and changes mass to energy as predicted by Einstein
@ Research janitor. Man! You have way to much time on your hands! If these people ever find out you posted this information, your life is over as you now know it. You are taking a big chance. wikileak will look like child play.
Posted by Gene Stevens on Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 01:20 PM
I dont care, I will be satisfied that the truth is out there. This is real. See the links below to the university and this research center
And the G7 that was held in 1992 there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28th_G8_summit
http://www.ucalgary.ca/
http://bgs.ucalgary.ca
Just look for yourself. Idyllic spot. No one suspects what they are doing there.
I repeat this is real. HOOPSNAKES ARE REAL, and may hold the secrets of the salvation of the planet.
Posted by ClovisRighthand in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 02:30 PM
And the G7 that was held in 1992 there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28th_G8_summit
http://www.ucalgary.ca/
http://bgs.ucalgary.ca
Just look for yourself. Idyllic spot. No one suspects what they are doing there.
I repeat this is real. HOOPSNAKES ARE REAL, and may hold the secrets of the salvation of the planet.
