I found this cuddly stray outside the back door, viewed from a side window. I believe it was patiently waiting for one of us to pet it then take it for a romp around the yard.

I don't have a leash for it. Can someone recommend one that's easy to put on and remove?

I felt a bit guilty that it was just waiting outside. Should I install a pet door so it could come into the house freely?

This stray shows its friendliness, wagging its tail when we're around. I've never seen any other wag its tail that vigorously so this must be a particularly friendly and affectionate one. Also makes a funny sound while wagging its tail; almost sounds like it's lightly growling with excitement.

It appears to like to lick people. It sticks its tongue out often. I bet if I stick its head next to someone's face, it will lick that person to death.

Do you think I can teach this one to hunt? I've seen a different variety chase a bird once.

Everyone at home, residents and visitors alike, are constantly reminded to check outside before stepping out, in case the cuddly stray is waiting outside. After all, we don't want it to get stepped on, do we?

I can visualize it climbing into bed and curling up on my pillow.

















The stuff nightmares are made of!

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NRA Benefactor - Life

Years back I remember both Skeeter and Jordan mentioning these cute little things. Out West it appears quite common, back East where I live other than a couple well know spots we do not have those things near us.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Did it die of lead poisoning

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

I don’t have any problem with the non poisonous ones. Rattle snakes, they loose their head.

When there’s one, there’s more... .

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NRA Life Member

During World War II, one of the largest bomber training bases was Pyote Air Force Base, located in the middle of nowhere in West Texas. No one called it by that name, as it was commonly referred to as "Rattlesnake Bomber Base", due to the tens of thousands of rattlesnakes that popped up during its construction and afterwards. Being stationed there should have qualified personnel for hazardous duty pay.

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What, me worry?

Got mice? If not, I think I know why.

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Release the Kraken

When I first moved into my place in Minden, Nevada, (actually, halfway between Minden and Carson City), I discovered that there were rattlesnakes in the back acreage. Sometimes people visit me with their children and/or grandchildren. I do not want these kids to be kept hostage inside the house because of rattlesnakes. I started to sharpen my shooting skills, first with my S&W K22 Masterpiece and then with my Browning Challenger. It seldom takes more than one shot to the head to eliminate Mr. Rattler. Now, I seldom even see a rattlesnake. I think they have moved to a different location.


One of my co-workers before I retired was very opposed to shooting rattlesnakes. He was also against anyone owning guns. He told me that the best way to get rid of a rattlesnake was to walk up to it, hit it on the head with a stick, and it would go away. I really want him to try that with one of the 5 or 6 foot rattlesnakes, and i want to make a video of it for youtube.

On my place I only take pictures of dead rattlesnakes.

No problem...with a 10' stick.

They taste like chicken you know?

It is a good thing I do not have an emoji for the Single Digit Anglo-Saxon Salute. I am not sure how that would go on the infraction scale.

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NHI, 10-8.

When I was at the FLETC IN Artesia NM I took advantage of the superb workout facilities they had there ( I always thought of it as a college campus where everyone is majoring in shooting.) I also enjoyed their nearby track, running before breakfast and daybreak. The staff said enjoy, but remember that the rattlesnakes like sleeping on the warm track during those cool dessert nights..........
I was wide awake when I stepped on that track.
Bill S

I'm a city boy, I thought it was chicken.

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SOS USA

Actually, it's the stuff hatbands are made of.

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The best I can with what I got

It will not go well. I know from personal experience.

Silly me, I was expecting to see this:

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Only a cold warrior

That's not the middle of nowhere, It's just about 50 miles west of me.

Oh, wait; I guess that is the middle of nowhere.

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Or something like that . . .

Ya'll may not know it, but I believe in handling snakes........

Usually with a 38 with snake loads, or a sharp hoe, and in a pinch a large rock, and as a last resort, a 12 gauge shotgun.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

I was riding my zero turn last summer and armed as usual when I spotted a 4' rattler heading toward my tractor shed. I really didn't need him hiding in there amongst my junk. Needless to say, he didn't make it. One shot with a 9 mm Ranger from my M&P 2.0 and it was neutralized. The largest I have dispatched was 6'6". Fried that one up with some fish and frog legs. I can't count the number I have killed on snake calls as a LEO.

As far as rattlers, and most snakes, really, I have a live and let live policy. In the wild. My house is a different story. I will not live with snakes. No legged or 2 legged.

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The best I can with what I got

Is that one of the Sonorian Rattlesnakes that have a much more deadly bite??

If that cute little licker were to show up on my doorstep, there would now be a divot in the concrete, where it's tail wagging head used to be.

What was left would get short little walk across the yard, where I would deposit it in my neighbor's hog pen.

Shoot it! Shoot it now!!

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No baby we aint

One of my three tamed feral cats was tossing what I thought was a piece of rope. He killed a snake and was playing with his prize.

True story. I never lost it infront of my son. I’m fishing and hooked a little turtle. I reeled it in only to have a water snake dart out from under the rock I was sitting on to go after the turtle. I took the tip of my rod and tossed it away. A minute later it’s back. I whipped it good with the rod tip knocking it out. Again it’s back. It veered up at me to bite me and I lost it. I threw it up on shore and smashed it with a rock. There’s little kids fishing in this spot too. I fear for them. I hate snakes.

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Plant garlic in the fall

Lots of rattlesnakes here in southern Colorado, and I have taken care of several over the years. When I retired in 2015 we moved into a new home right on the edge of the city limits, other side of the fence is miles and miles of high prairie with an abundance of critters. Since then I have had 2 or 3 on my patio every year and I have gotten very good at taking care of business with a garden shovel.

First time I found one I was sitting on the patio reading a book and enjoying an adult beverage. Some movement caught my eye about 3 feet from my left foot; juvenile prairie rattler with just a button on his tail. I was flailing away with the shovel, banging into the gravel, making a little racket. Wife opened the back door and asked what I was doing. I told her to go back in the house. She insisted on knowing what I was doing, so I told her I was killing a rattlesnake. Back door banged shut, deadbolt lock clicked into place!

Took a while to convince my wife that the patio is perfectly safe, so long as we take a quick look around before stepping out the door.

Good idea to give the surrounding area a good look after dispatching one rattler. About half the time I will find another one nearby.

After that first snake I mentioned it to our maintenance contractor, told him I had killed it with a shovel. He told me he uses a weed-eater or a lawn mower.

This one brought rain! Old Southern tradition, if you hang a rattlesnake over a fence during a drought, it will soon rain. We weren’t really in a drought, but it was getting dry. Sure enough, two days later, got 1/2 inch rain. Last summer. Got him with the trusty mini-revolver and magnum snake loads.

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Georgia On My Mind

...during our U.S. visit, particularly in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, in my constant vigilance for snakes.

Turns out Inwas right all along

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View from down under

I have one already.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

One of my best friends moved from being the chief deputy sheriff in a very rural county to being assistant chief in a large city. He said the biggest change was the drop in the number of calls to the department for snakes and varmints in or around homes. All the varmints in town were two legged he said.

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Possum—The other white meat!