Tis the season for rattlesnakes

[TXBryan]

Realizing this may run contrary to the majority here but on our property in Central Texas we have a "we don't kill snakes" policy. We don't have stock or chickens and understand that can make for a different policy. The cats seem to know which ones they can play with and which ones to avoid. Certainly the snakes make an effort to avoid the cats.

Almost universally snakes seem to want very little to do with us. Hard to imagine we wouldn't be up to our necks in vermin if not for snakes around here and I cannot imagine killing one that does not represent a threat. To each their own.

 

[Farmer17]

A few years ago guy who lived West of OKC had a "live and let live" policy on snakes. He was by the trash cans on the side of his house right after sun down and bent down to pickup a piece of trash on the ground and was bitten on the hand by a Pygmy Rattler and jumped back and fell down on a Copperhead. The two poisons put him in Critical Condition in the ICU for many days. I kill the venomous snakes around my house but all others I let live except for the one Rat snake that ate my ducks eggs.

 

[Iggy]

We have had curious calves, dogs, and horses all bitten on the nose.
Fortunately, all survived, their faces swelled up and they had difficulty breathing.
I used kill and skin them and use the skins for saddle, holster, pistol grip decorations, and hat bands.

 

[walkin jack]

It's mostly copperheads around here. very few rattlers in this area. Some variation in snake activity species presence from year to year.

My "snake charmer" is my 617-6. One of Hickok-45's favorite .22 revolvers.

 

[ameridaddy]

I guess it's time for my annual posting of this one.

Rattlesnake mosh pit. What band was playing?

 

[yaktamer]

Rattlesnake mosh pit. What band was playing?

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vudA72hibg[/ame]

 

[Fishinfool]

You wouldn't think it, but PA has a healthy Timber Rattlesnake population. I have met up with a couple, while taking a break, sitting on an old stone wall, up in the woods. Didn't hang around for pictures...

Lots of them on the state forest backroads, soaking up the heat. Pic one is an average size one who didn't make it across the road. Picture two is a big, 13 button timber rattler I stopped for, and "herded across".

Snakes don't bother me, just give them the respect they deserve. One place I will not put up with venomous snakes is in the yard, around pets & people.

Larry

 

[TX-Dennis]

Venomous snakes in the yard get dispatched. I don't need another dog or worse bitten by a rattlesnake. Anywhere else they are free to go. Any other snakes in the yard are free to go as well.

Lots of western diamondbacks in the neighborhood. I kill one about every other year in our yard. Neighbors report them somewhat more frequently. Perhaps they are more observant than I. Toads come onto the porch at night to catch bugs under the porch light. Sometimes snakes come onto the porch to catch toads.

 

[SMSgt]

Snakes, phooey. It's iguana season here!

 

[charlie sherrill]

Remember, they don't always rattle. We've got mostly Eastern Diamondback Rattlers. I used to carry snake catching equipment in the trunk of the cruiser because where I worked we frequently got snake calls. Rattlers over 6 ' are not uncommon around here. The timber rattlers are usually a little smaller but hurt just as bad if you get a bite from one of them. I've lived where I am for over 20 years and have killed 6-7 over 4' long, the largest 6 1/2'. If they're not too close to the house I'll catch and relocate them. If they're close to the house "BOOM!" When I was a teenage I was riding on a deer hunt putting out standers with my uncle. It was cold and the ground was icy and I saw a rattler with it's hear sticking out of a gopher turtle hole. I told my uncle and he told me to load my shotgun with birdshot, He took a syphon hose, sucked some gas up in it and squirted it into the gopher hole. Five Easterns and a timber rattler came out of the hole. They were pretty good fried.

 

[ladder13]

The Badlands. Like I need a warning.

 

[steelslaver]

While I do not want any in my yard, for the most part all rattle snakes want to do is eat mice etc. I have spend a lot of my 71 years beating around in rattlesnake country and the number of times I have "discovered" myself with in striking distance of one is a single digit number. A 5' rattler is unusual and one that big would have to strain to strike 2' . They crawl slower than a man can walk. Just walk away.

Most people get bit either sticking their hands were they shouldn't or trying to mess with them Don't be stupid.

Somewhere in eastern Montana

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Something got to my pet duck yesterday. He's all covered in dirt and won't raise his head.. Told the wife to leave him alone-he'll either get better or won't. Since he is walking around and eating/drinking my money is on getting better.
Sorry for the thread drift but got no interesting snake stories

 

[Eric300]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgy7PLAgF-Y[/ame]

 

[Bald1]

The problem with snakes ( and spiders) is you never see them coming. They're just suddenly there and startle you. I see occasional water snake and garters around my pond when I mow. It's amazing how big some of the garter snakes get. They must be eating the frogs.

 

[anoblefox]

22 shotshells work just fine, the one I shot with the Model 18 took the head off completely, could not find it either; just aim for the head, not the body.

 

[Doug M.]

steelsaver, you have gotten yourself put in the box with Iggy for that photo. I won't say what box, for fear of the points.

 

[arjay]

I've tripped over a few,but my son,when he worked in the oil fields in eastern colorado sure got his fill of them. One pad was shut down when it was practically over run by a den full of them

 

[JohnRippert]

Still some of my favorite pics I have taken. A canebrake rattlesnake that was a good 5 feet long. Biggest rattler I have ever personally seen. Shots taken using a large zoom lens from about 15 feet away.

 

[ASA335]

You have to establish the terms...

My general agreement with "Joe No Shoulders" (snakes) is: Don't startle me and I won't turn you into a bowl of chili. So far I've only had two that didn't want to agree to these terms.