I've dealt with a lot of rattlers, especially while I lived in the Valley of the Sun (the metro Phoenix area). Every one has ended up the same way - deceased! The means of achieving that ranged from .22s through .44 mags and 12 guage shotguns. Shoot the head, and don't get freaked out by the fact that the snake will keep moving for several hours after it is dispatched.

That is far too dangerous a snake to allow to inhabit your yard, it won't be too long before somebody is struck. They strike without warning far more frequently than after rattling - the rattling is a warning to possible threats that are far enough away to possibly cause a retreat, if you're close, they strike without warning. You are darn lucky the snake didn't strike you when you didn't realize you were in close proximity. They can, and do, strike from any position other than completely stretched out, and can effectively strike up to approximately the snake's total body length.

Oh yes, the one you photographed does appear to be a different snake; however, I would like to remind you that rattlers (Western Diamondbacks are NOT protected, BTW, despite what the snake-lover told you) are not solitary creatures - they live in dens, with numerous other snakes. I'll guarantee there are a LOT of additional rattlers in close proximity, especially since you have one (or more) breeding females there. My recommendation is to kill the snake, and kill every other rattler you see. If you live in town, and can't get away with shooting them, either use a long-handled shovel and decapitate it, or call the fire department (I don't know if they still respond, but they used to come out and kill them). Make sure you don't handle the snake's head after killing it, as the fangs still contain venom, and can do serious damage if you scratch your skin with them - definitely an item to be thoroughly disposed of.

Good luck, and keep your eyes open!

Certainly you have the only real say, but if that were MY property, there'd be 1 less rattler roaming around. Can't say for sure if they're the same one, but I know from having lived in PHX for 6 years, WD are not at all protected. Unfortunately, there seem to be more and more rattlers who "forget" to rattle. (Could they be 'learning' that that is the red flag they don't want to be raising? I think not.) But if there are ever any children, pets, friends, family or fools in that general area that animal should be removed, either through relocation or 'permanantly.' And, yes, I have shot rattlers with .44 mags, both shot shells and 240 grain slugs. From a 6 1/2" barrel they each killed straightaway, mostly with head shots, and I didn't get a lot of post shot mobility from them. Obviously, at the kind of ranges I would shoot them the shot shells were preferable. Less noise, recoil and chance of missing.

The only diamondbacks I allow anywhere near my house are Colt Diamondbacks. Come to think of it, I shoot them too

Lenny, as so many others have said you have a Tragedy waiting to happen, and a potential law suite waiting as well. You really need to get rid of that snake before someone gets hurt; IMHO not to do so is being careless in the extreme. Please be careful around that area.

No rattler is protected when I'm around.

Get rid of that darn thing as soon as possible.

I agree with most all the posters here. Shoot it. And shoot any other than comes on your place.
We have grizzlies here and I would shoot everyone that came onto my place and wrecked havoc if I could get away with it.

Dangerous animals are fine out where they belong but they don't belong on my place. You are playing with fire.

John

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