This was sent to us by the realtor who sold our condo in Reno. They were out hiking in the south hills last weekend and stumbled onto another family. I've run into a lot of rattlesnakes in my time, but this one gives me the willies.

jmtgt wrote:Zane,

They are pulling your leg on that one. It was in the news. That was found in a development in Kingman AZ.

No shit? Damn, better put it on Snopes.com. I knew that was a possibility. Stupid email.

You can spend hours in here perusing the "fauxtography."

http://www.snopes.com/photos/photos.asp

having grown up and spent 99.9% like in alaska...I hate spyders and snakes. I have some lots down near kingman, the few times Ive been there I walk around on tippy toes looking for them!

Really though I have never found one in many hours tromping thru the sand and rocks...

So why do you guys think there are so many bunched up like that????



paul

Holy smoke! Anybody can a gallon of gas & some matches?
No, just kidding-- I'm sure rattlers have their role in the scheme of things, keeping down the rat (or whatever) population. Kinda spooky though... I'm glad there are no poisonous snakes on the Olymp[ic Peninsula. No grizzlies either....

So why do you guys think there are so many bunched up like that????

Probably a winter den, as rattlesnakes hibernate in large groups. I've come across similar sights in Idaho.

I kept a rattlesnake as a 'pet' for several years, though I damn sure didn't pet it. An interesting animal, and moody as any person. There were days you could lift him out of the cage and let him run around the yard for exercise, and he was as placid and content as, well, a placid and content rattlesnake. Other days he'd start buzzing if you got to within fifteen feet and it was clear that anything that went inside his cage was going to get bit.

I use to be real afraid of rattlers, then I spent several years in countries where the snakes don't rattle, they just lay quiet until they bite, and then you die a horrible though fairly quick death. Made me appreciate the virtue in a snake with an attached noisemaker.

I now appreciate rattlesnakes for several reasons. First off, they are one of the few things that are actually exciting to come across when you're out and about. Seeing an eagle is neat, but it doesn't get your heart rate up like that buzzing sound.

Second, rattlesnakes live almost entirely on burrowing rodents. Burrowing rodents carry hantavirus and the bubonic plague, and they dig up airstrips...three things a whole lot more deadly to a pilot than the one in fifty-thousand chance of getting snakebit. Last I knew hantavirus has a fifty percent mortality rate and there is no cure...hell of a lot more deadly than any rattlesnake.

Last time were were camping at the Chicken Strip a rattlesnake came through camp while we were eating dinner under the wing. He checked out each of the tie down ropes and eventually slithered off towards the tail. We never quit eating and eventually lost sight of him, at which time we just forgot about it.

Showed pics to wife...I agree with what she said;

"Give me an old bear any day over them nasty snakes"

I've heard almost all rattlesnake bites are on young adult males and usually on their hands or arms (stupid people trying to mess with them)
Anyone for a Darwin award?

I used to kill them when I was younger, foolhardily thinking that they were pests and that I was protecting my dogs and cats from a threat. Now I know that what Hammer says above is the truth of it. They are an important component in the eco-system to control the population of rodents and pests that carry disease.

They are undoubtedly creepy but they are important nonetheless. Just make sure you sleep in a tent in rattler country.

Plus, what else are the fundamentalists in Appalachia going to play with while speaking in tongues?

If you want to test your heart rate...just step on one of those buzzy tails!
I don't mind them too much if I see them first but after stepping on a couple tromping through the tall grass they will get your attention. The old wives tale about rattle snakes and bull snakes not living together is BULL!
In our country the small prarie rattlers seem to very docile but the bull snakes can be very aggresive...have been chased several time by bull snakes while using the riding mower..too bad for the snake.
I do not kill snakes out away from the buildings on the place but if they get in too close a .22 with bird shot or .357 with bird shot do the trick nicely. Don't get too many rattle snake bits in this area but they can be deadly to small children.
Love to shoot prarie dogs out on the ranch but it seems if there are prarie dogs about, there will be rattle snakes around too.
The picture......looks like snakes just coming out of a den...come out to get some sun but not warm enough yet to get very far from the den.

Rattlers,

Trouble is ya gotta be able to hear them rattle!!

My son and I were hiking up to the observation tower at Moose Creek last Friday with me in the lead. I came within a stride of stepping on a rattler which was hurrying down the trail, trying to get out of my way.

It was small, about 20 inches long and didn't want to leave the trail so we could pass. Finally it curled up and started rattling. I could see the movement but not hear the rattle. Too many years of flying round engine piston pounders, Rolls Royce turboprops and noisy B-727s. Anyhow...my 30 year old son could hear it loud and clear.

We have few rattlers here in Missouri. This was the first one that I had ever encountered in the wild. I threw some dirt at it to finally make it move away. Would have killed it but my son is a nature lover. Me too....but poisonous snakes make me nervous.

Bob

I was a bowhunting giude in New Mexico in the late 80s ,early 90s
and the only time I have had a problem with snakes was on the golf course in Auburn.
I would bet that pix was taken in the winter and like Hammer said, they are trying to get warm.
I would love to have seen that in the wild.From a distance for sure.
Make a hell of a set of boots tho,and maybe a belt that will fit an Orca
Cool pic.C-ya C

I think the only reason that they would get together was for sex.

It can make even snakes do stupid things.


flyer

speaking of rattle snakes, has anyone ever eaten one? I have heard that they are pretty good bar-b-qued but don't know personally.

you bet...take em home alive...lop of the head....don't mess with it..reflexes can make a severed head dangerous.....gut and skin it....slice it into chunks 1/2 -3/4 thick and drop em into a saute pan with clarified butter and fresh dill....toss a couple of times..drain on a paper towel and they are finger food.....taste is between tuna and chicken....real delicate flavor...would be a shame to drown the taste with BBQ sauce.....

And keep an eye on your dog while the lopping off of the rattlesnake head is going on. That's the LAST thing you want your dog chewing on.