[texican]

I dislike killing rattlesnakes, especially timber rattlers... they're getting scarcer and scarcer. But no matter how scarce they are, they can't hang out around the house, as our goats haven't got a single ounce of caution around one. This afternoon, Birdiegirl (my HT SO) was walking up to the barn, to see if I wanted to take a swim break. I heard her half shout "snake".... then "big snake", "really big snake"... I dropped my work, and moseyed out to see what kind it was. Stopped and grabbed a haystring, picked up a stick, and while walking the 100' down to her and her entourage of 4 barking dogs, and 8 curious goats, made myself a snake stick. Turned out to be an old hawg of a timber rattler. This one was as large as the first one she got to help relocate. For that snake story, see http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=121770&highlight=rattlesnake

Todays snake....

and

I'm thinking it (Birdiegirl wanted to know if it was a she.......I offered to let her 'sex' it, if she wanted... she declined for some reason ) was well fed, as it's midsection wasn't bulging, but solid thick, as my calf. Doubt I could have wrapped both hands around it's midsection.

 

[Feral Nature]

That was one lucky snake. I have "failed to relocate" about 1 big fat rattler every year here. Cane Brake rattlers, a timber rattler cousin. They run about 5-6 foot long, huge things. If they are not right up in the yard or in the goat pen, I leave them alone. I will handle non-venomous snakes, but leave rattle-snake roundups to the pros

I have lost goats to snakes and worry alot about it. I keep benedryl and epi on hand but that would have little effect on signifigant snake bite.

 

[Jim S.]

Guy at work killed one and brought it in in his truck bed yesterday. 12 rattles! About 5 or so feet long. Old timers where I farm say it used to be rattlesnake country til they ran cattle on it for years, and the cows run the snakes off. :shrug:

 

[Standupguy]

Beautiful Snake....I have a pygmy rattlesnake as a "pet"...had him 5-6 yrs now...would never keep a larger specimen...have friends who do though...

 

[Reptyle]

Beautiful animal...Always thought about keeping a copperhead or a pygmy rattler, but for some reason the wife is against it...Guess I'll have to stick to the pythons...

 

[fordy]

....................Since I grewup in west texas I'm thinking that color scheme is somewhat darker than the rattlers we have in WT. And , I can't ever remember seeing any rattler that BIG . Those east texas rattlers must be on rat stamps or steriods or something to get that large , LOL . , fordy

 

[farmergirl]

It looks smaller in the picture than what you describe for the width. Sounds HUGE! How long was it?

 

[Dahc]

That was one lucky snake. I have "failed to relocate" about 1 big fat rattler every year here. Cane Brake rattlers, a timber rattler cousin. They run about 5-6 foot long, huge things. If they are not right up in the yard or in the goat pen, I leave them alone. I will handle non-venomous snakes, but leave rattle-snake roundups to the pros

I have lost goats to snakes and worry alot about it. I keep benedryl and epi on hand but that would have little effect on signifigant snake bite.

If you live in an area with a lot of poisonous snakes, buy a stun gun or scavenge an old cord off a junk appliance and skin the ends. Shock the site of a fresh bite and the electricity will neutralize the poison. This is big science down in south america.

You don't believe me do you? Look it up. It's true.

 

[scorpian5]

you could try lots uf stuff but why waste the time and get to a ER?

 

[Dahc]

you could try lots uf stuff but why waste the time and get to a ER?

For some folks the closest ER is 80-100 miles away. It's not "trying" anything, the electricity neutralizes the poison. It's basically a poisonous snake bite "cure". Doesn't sound to me like a waste of time anymore than taking anti-biotics for a bacterial infection. It's the cure.

 

[quietstar]

Beautiful, well fed snake, but the pattern seems a little bit unlike the other big one you caught ansd relocated. Good going, but I sure wish Birdiegirl would do her part and confirm the gender...Glen

 

[Highground]

I can see the headlines now........................man dies from electrical shock trying to cure snakebite.

 

[TedH71]

I've seen rattlers over 9 feet long and that was at the Cleburne state park in Texas. It basically crossed the road casually knowing that it wasn't in danger of being killed. Saw it eating a cottontail a day later. That snake was a monster!

 

[Reptyle]

I've seen rattlers over 9 feet long and that was at the Cleburne state park in Texas. It basically crossed the road casually knowing that it wasn't in danger of being killed. Saw it eating a cottontail a day later. That snake was a monster!

That snake was truly one of a kind...They usually don't get that big anymore...Many many years ago I read an article about an 11-footer than turned up dead in a pile of brush, when some workers were clearing the land...Usually, they are killed by people long before they have a chance to get that size.

 

[Shadow]

We have one large over 6 ft king snake that stays around the shop, hates people and everytime one of us walks by him he strikes at us. We laugh at him push him back out of the way if he gets in the way.
Have only had one rattler, but copper heads are always around., We never kill just for the sake of killing but poisonous snakes, rabid animals and people that intend me or mine harm are shot. In the past that means several poisionus snakes, one rabid skunk, one stray dog, and two armed robbers were not relocated, well one of the robbers was relocated to a prison after a stay in the hospital for a gun shot. The other was dead at the scene.
I just will not take the chance that I did not prevent the death of a loved one when I could have. Have seen what a snake bite will and can do to a person several times and thats enough. Just my opinion, and my 66 years of experence.
As for the electical shock thing only one in 500 die from poisnous snake bite with out medical help. At least here in the states (our snakes are not the worst in the world) unless they are very yourg, small or old and already weak and or sick. But the bites can cause serious tissue damage and the loss of fingers, toes and sometimes hands or feet., Have a friend here that had to have a foot removed because of a bite that had compulclations. The electical shock thing is a old wives tale that just gives you something to do if you can not get to a doctor. Seen it tried in South America twice one time he survived the other time a small child did not.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

You may not grow them in great numbers Texican, but the ones you do have are huge. You and Ms. Birdie take care in your relocation efforts.

 

[Raptor]

If you live in an area with a lot of poisonous snakes, buy a stun gun or scavenge an old cord off a junk appliance and skin the ends. Shock the site of a fresh bite and the electricity will neutralize the poison. This is big science down in south america.

You don't believe me do you? Look it up. It's true.

There is NONE, not a single home remedy that is effective on poisonous snake bites. Look that up.

 

[texican]

It looks smaller in the picture than what you describe for the width. Sounds HUGE! How long was it?

The trash can was one of those 30 gallon jobs from TSC. Reckon it was around 6'. It's as long as the one we caught back in the spring, and that one was taller than me (I'm 6'). This one was a lot fatter. It's head was as big as birdiegirls hand. I know, I know, I tried to get her to put her hand next to it 'for scale'...no luck there :grump: In the following pic, you can see it climbing out of the 30 gallon trash can... .

birdiegirl gets less flustered with rattlers than she does with junebugs...

As far as sexing one, I try to be as gentle as possible, and I'd hate to get into some trouble sexing with a she rattler ....now that would make a good story, maybe even fox or cnn... seriously crazy texan bitten by rattler after trying to determine it's sex!