Yet another rattlesnake close encounter

[buzgun]

It was pushing 100 degrees today and i was in my back yard doing a small tile project....i set up my wet saw, my stone router and my large drill that i use to mix thinset.......everything was going fine ......i worked off and on for about 5 hours taking breaks because of the heat......well i was winding it up for the day about 45 minuets ago and right next to my tile saw as i bent down to drain the water out of it was this bastard ......i didnt waste time to go and get my shotgun this time......i grabbed a shovel and did battle with the sneaky turd.

Im totally paranoid every time i go outside.......i have had rattlers inside my garden hose reel box, under my patio furniture, in a courtyard in the middle of my house and under a wheelbarrow ...all within the last 3 months ......perhaps i need to call a exterminator to set traps.

[JD Miller]

Guy I know that has a house just up in the hills from me has the same problem with rattlers. His horse stomped one. Had coyotes attacking his colt couple years ago

[Pogo]

That should make several hat bands.

[10 Bears]

Making poisonous snake lose their heads is always a plus in life!

[500grains]

I killed 2 desert rats in the grill at my mom's house in arizona yesterday. One was big like a well fed prairie dog.

[buzgun]

The only good advise i can offer to you guys in rattlesnake country is be very cautious when sticking your hands into places that you cant see.........these things are VERY well camouflaged and its so very easy to just casually walk past one that is right in front of you.....especially if they are motionless.

I have seen some emergency room rattlesnake bite hospital bills posted on line for over 100 thousand dollars......phuck that.

I know there are desert rats around my property....but there are also ground squirrels,rabbits, good types of snakes (king, gopher etc) and many different kinds of lizards and birds........if i set up glue traps around my property which is what a exterminator does out here im sure im going to kill these animals to...and i dont want to do that.

[RTO]

Glad that you didn't get hit.

I have a border collie that sniffs out and goes after any and all snakes. Maybe a pooch would really be your best friend and snake detector.

Not as big a deal but I have to be careful where I put my hands outside because of scorpions. I am allergic to bee stings, so I believe a scorpion would give me a similar reaction which isn't good.

[buzgun]

Originally Posted by RTO

Glad that you didn't get hit.

I have a border collie that sniffs out and goes after any and all snakes. Maybe a pooch would really be your best friend and snake detector.

Not as big a deal but I have to be careful where I put my hands outside because of scorpions. I am allergic to bee stings, so I believe a scorpion would give me a similar reaction which isn't good.

Thank you RTO...im glad too.

You florida guys have to deal with snakes.....are there some years when the population seems to be exploding?

there were no snakes in chicago where i grew up......except for the 2 legged kind

[Sanders]

Cats and dogs will keep your snake population down. I had a dog that used to get snake bit a couple times a year. His head would swell up for a few days, but then he'd go right back at it.

But, unless your property is fenced or walled, the coyotes will keep your cat and dog population down.

[baboon]

Originally Posted by buzgun

I have seen some emergency room rattlesnake bite hospital bills posted on line for over 100 thousand dollars......phuck that.

Anti venom is super costly because very little is made in America. RSA & Australia crank it because snake bites are more common.

[Czubek]

Originally Posted by buzgun

It was pushing 100 degrees today and i was in my back yard doing a small tile project....i set up my wet saw, my stone router and my large drill that i use to mix thinset.......everything was going fine ......i worked off and on for about 5 hours taking breaks because of the heat......well i was winding it up for the day about 45 minuets ago and right next to my tile saw as i bent down to drain the water out of it was this bastard ......i didnt waste time to go and get my shotgun this time......i grabbed a shovel and did battle with the sneaky turd.

Im totally paranoid every time i go outside.......i have had rattlers inside my garden hose reel box, under my patio furniture, in a courtyard in the middle of my house and under a wheelbarrow ...all within the last 3 months ......perhaps i need to call a exterminator to set traps.

That one won't hurt you. He's lost his head.

Brian

[44044]

That looks like it has 8 or 9 rattles

and a button...

[RTO]

Originally Posted by buzgun

Thank you RTO...im glad too.

You florida guys have to deal with snakes.....are there some years when the population seems to be exploding?

there were no snakes in chicago where i grew up......except for the 2 legged kind

Not that I've noticed. We have plenty of friendly snakes on my property, could be why there aren't many poisonous snakes here.

Currently there is a 4' black racer making it's home under the outside A/C unit. It is driving my dog crazy, she chases it every time she sees it make a break for the woods. A few days ago I saw it sunning itself on our back deck. I see it when working in the yard and if the dog isn't around it will just pretty much ignore me and I leave it alone.

[buzgun]

UPDATE: I was grouting the tile i installed today and the dead snake was consumed, intestines and all by a large buzzard....i watched the bastard peel it like a and it was delicate enough to not eat the bones.

[4thIDvet]

buz just get a few hundred feet of rope and put it in a circle around your property. I saw in a cowboy movie they circled their camp with rope and the snakes would not crawl over it?
Keep yer snake bite kit handy in case it don't really work.