Big Rattle Snake

[travlitt]

Killed a big rattler this afternoon on a property I mow.
Glad I saw him before he could strike me. Believe me he was trying while I was removing his head. 9 rattles.

 

[hawkeye08]

Stay safe..

 

[4get gto]

Hear they make good eating? I'd try it. Not coming to Texas but .

 

[jimjumper]

We get 2-3 a year around my place. .38 snakeshot is very effective! I save the rattles and have a pretty good collection. Be careful with the heads, they are still potent even dead. And no, they don't taste like chicken!

 

[pmsmechanic]

Here it's illegal to kill then though some still do. Up to $50000 fine if convicted.

 

[buickanddeere]

We have a few small populations of rattlers but they are endangered and protected. Only ever seen one behind glass at a outdoors show. Massasauga - Wikipedia

 

[jaxs]

Here it's illegal to kill then though some still do. Up to $50000 fine if convicted.

Same in Tx if that is an Eastern Timber Rattler,which I believe it is. I hate them and have since one killed my dog several years ago. He gave us the slip but Mom and I spent several hours over the following days with cotton hoes in hand and another dog looking for it.

 

[CADplans]

I have seen two, and heard of about ten others near here.
The heat seems to bring out rattlers.,, a big one around here has 7 rattles.
The biggest one I ever saw was the summer of 1985,, 12 rattles,, that was a big snake.
I was too dumb to be afraid of it,, I did not kill snakes then.
My neighbor went nuts when I told him about the snake in the driveway.
He ran out,, with a 22 rifle, and killed it.

Pretty much, for the last 2 decades, we have not seen any,, but, the weather was different this year,,,

 

[jenkinsph]

My Siberian Husky was bit Friday a week ago lucky for her I noticed it right away within 30 minutes and rushed her to the vet. She is fine now and recovering well. Have not seen the snake yet but if I do it will be a dead snake regardless of what type it is. I take up for and will protect my pets.

Lots more snakes this year than most, watch where you step.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I used to clean them up when I was younger but don't any more. We don't have any pets and the grandchildren are too young yet. I've never seen one on the yard where we live either.

Nobody in Alberta has ever died from a local rattlesnake bite. They are valued for rodent control.

The closest I've ever been to getting bit was I stepped on one once. If I could have gone straight up I would have.

 

[Thall303]

I've learned late in life to not automatically kill every snake I see.

Most are beneficial in rodent control and few are venomous!

 

[CADplans]

I've learned late in life to not automatically kill every snake I see.

Most are beneficial in rodent control and few are venomous!

Luckily, we see very few snakes,,, so, the rattlers, and copperheads disappear.
Black snakes, and garter snakes are considered neighbors.

This neighbor came to visit this spring,,,

 

[jaxs]

I don't kill everything I see. Matter of fact there's at least two large rat snakes near the house that I've have chances to kill but didn't. I am uneasy about working up to 20 miles from help and having to walk up to half a mile just getting to the truck or having to ride a horse quite a distance after being bit. For that reason,I control rattler population.

 

[Thomas]

SOB :shocked:

 

[oosik]

Been here 35+ years and never seen even one rattle snake on my property. Down south about 25 miles - holly smokes, look out for them in the alfalfa fields. Here, I've got big 'ol bull snakes, garter snakes and very rarely a rubber boa.

 

[big bubba]

I've learned late in life to not automatically kill every snake I see.

Most are beneficial in rodent control and few are venomous!

completely agree. can only think of a few times in the many sightings of snakes where i might have been in danger, and that was through my own stupidity. above ankle boots will prevent 90% of snake bites. unless you have small children around, let them be

 

[Texasmark]

When I was a teen had a friend whose dad worked for Hughes Tool Co. in Houston. That gave him, his family, and friends access to the Hughes hunting club down South of Angleton on the coastal marshes. Was walking a trail one day with another buddy along side. Was looking for snakes as it was since they were thick down there.

Accidentally I saw a brown diamond through an opening in a bush right next to the path about 3' in front of us on his side. Had my 12 ga. butt on my hip, barrel vertical. Grabbed his arm in a spin rolled him backwards and let go with 3 shots into the bush with the right hand. Guy had 15 rattles. Kept them on my dresser for a long time.

Marsh buggy used down there was old Model T fords. Doubled up on the rears and welded the wheels together stretching chains across the "dually". Worked great. Great sport.

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't kill everything I see. Matter of fact there's at least two large rat snakes near the house that I've have chances to kill but didn't. I am uneasy about working up to 20 miles from help and having to walk up to half a mile just getting to the truck or having to ride a horse quite a distance after being bit. For that reason,I control rattler population.

I agree, I have a problem with venomous snakes rattler but don't have an issue with garden snakes for example.

When my dog was bit last week the anti venom shot cost $500 and the other care totaled $540. I did not go for the anti venom shot as the vet did not think it was necessary. If this had been a small dog I would get the shot. I left the dog in the care of my vet through the weekend and picked her up Monday morning. I am not very good at medicating animals and prefer to have this done by professionals, just not one of my strengths.

 

[Byrdnyrd]

I saw this Copperhead while walking at lunch today! I work in the only place in Massachusetts that has both Timber rattlesnakes and Copperheads. I've been hoping to see one since I started working there.


Only thing I Kill is mice. Not a pacifist, just think everything has a purpose. Snakes ain't out to get you!

'Cept that one on Samuels plane!

BN

 

[War Eagle 2]

Used to work on the oil rigs in S. Texas back in the early 70's. Rigs worked all night so there was a lot of heat around the rigs due to all the equipment running and the big tanks of mud held a lot of heat as well. If you were working the night shift you had to be really careful and on the lookout for rattlers. Seemed they liked to come in to the heat and it wasn't uncommon to have rattlers coiled up on the steps up to the platform or in other unsuspecting places.

Got so that if we had to move around the grounds where the rig was working you always carried a shovel with you for protection.

Some nights we would get 3 or 4 of them that we cut off their head.

Had a local that made hat bands and belts from the snake skins and if the snakes were big enough we would bring them to him to use.

Some of the S Texas rattlers were big. Had one that filled a large paper grocery bag nearly to the top. Had to weigh 15 lbs. I couldn't put the fingers of my two hands around the biggest part of his body and touch my finger tips.