Day 2 Rattler

[Wishin4a416 2,185]

Another Day, another Rattler. This one a dark phase one. I sure am glad she left the dog home with us. Her dog loves to chase snakes.

[ACman 7,504]

One more reason I like Michigan . We have one poisonous snake , the eastern massasauga rattlesnake . It's rarely seen where I live and I like it that way !

[19richie66 16,857]

That snake = dead snake

[Aldon 4,826]

I'm fine with rattle snakes. Copper heads are nasty!

[Don1977 604]

I usually have a King snake around he keeps the other snakes away or kills them.

[Achto 26,445]

We have timber rattlers in Wisconsin I'm told, I've never seen one in the wild and I'm OK with that. The snakes I have seen don't bother me at all, they're not dangerous.

[tunahead72 2,332]

Damn, you guys are freaking me out with all this snake talk!  We have rattlesnakes AND copperheads at our place in Virginia, and they scare the living p**s out of me.  I'm going down there by myself this next weekend, and I'm so NOT looking forward to this trip.

 

Wishin, can you explain what you mean by "dark phase"?

 

[857 horse 2,581]

Copperheads,,,,,,tax's............Virginia....

         yeah     We got that,,,,

[Ed Kennell 35,484]

   

    Timber Rattlers  come in several colors....dark phase, black and brown and light phase, yellow.

Edited July 18, 2016 by Ed Kennell

[sorekiwi 761]

Think I'd be walking around with a 12 guage within easy reach.  Not a fan of snakes.

 

[rmaynard 14,851]

Just wear high-top leather boots, and keep your ear and eyes open.

[Jb416H 5]

Light phase, taken from jobsite last year

[Ed Kennell 35,484]

     Beautiful animal.   Interesting how the rattle remains black.

Good advice Bob.  When walking in the snakes territory, I also make it a practice to never step over a deadfall. I step up on the log and look around before stepping down.

All wild animals will try to move away or hide from a threat, but If you step on a sleeping animals tail, he will defend himself.

[tunahead72 2,332]

Bob and Ed, I hear what you guys are saying, I really do.  But one of my biggest fears when I'm out walking in the woods, or about to enter one of my outbuildings, even with my long pants and leather work boots and big stick, is that I'll simply fail to recognize the signs that I'm in THEIR territory and need to do things way differently.

 

My very first encounter with a rattlesnake occurred several years ago as I was going in and out of my shed for tools and such one hot August afternoon.  Twice I walked in the door and heard a strange noise next to the step, just to the left of my left leg.  I went about my business without thinking much about it, but on the third trip I heard the same noise, kind of sounded like cicadas, but actually inside the door this time.  I stopped and looked, and saw a coiled-up rattler inside the shed, chattering away at me, ready to strike.  I about sh*t myself, and my visits down there haven't been the same since.  I realized that was the noise I heard next to my leg on those earlier visits to the shed, and to this day I don't know why he didn't strike when I walked in earlier, when he had the chance and was apparently threatened by my presence.

 

I learned a lot that day, and I hope I'm smarter now, but walks in the woods aren't nearly as relaxing as they used to be.  They are more educational now though, and that's not a bad thing.  I've seen more rattlesnakes since then, and my wife has seen copperheads.  I feel like I should have a shotgun handy while I'm down there, but I don't.  Right now we just coexist somehow.  I leave the black snake in the garden alone,  because my wife won't let me have it any other way (she's even named him!), but we're certainly not friends.

 

I just hope I remain "careful enough".

 

 

 

[Ed Kennell 35,484]

Ed,I can appreciate your concern. Problems usually follow  when any wild animal takes up residence near a populated area.    I have an Aunt and a Sister that were nearly forced to relocate from their homes due to their fear of the reptiles that had infested their properties.    These were copperheads in the mountains North of Cumberland, MD.    My Sister actually carried a pistol chambered for .410 shotgun shells while making her daily 300 yd walk to her mailbox to wait for her kids so she could escort them back to the house.

Believe it or not, but the solution to the problem were free range chickens.   I'll never know if it was the activity of the chickens or if the snakes just have a natural fear of large birds, but the snakes left when the chickens arrived.

I'm glad you discovered what was making the BUZZ before you stepped on him.   Just goes to show how patient he was....giving you three warnings with no action.   I'm afraid they are not all that sociable, especially the copperheads.

[rmaynard 14,851]

Okay, Tunahead Ed, all you need down there in Virginia is some chickens.

[Ed Kennell 35,484]

The chickens worked on the copperheads, but maybe turkeys would be better for their larger rattling cousins. 

[rmaynard 14,851]

I think if a turkey decided to pick a fight with a rattler, the turkey would end up on the losing end. What he might need is a roadrunner.

 

 

[tunahead72 2,332]

If we ever move down there, animals will definitely be part of the plan.  Dogs and cats are on the list, and horses for my wife, probably goats or sheep for the autumn olive, and now chickens.  We already have wild turkeys, we'll have to find a way to encourage more.  We also have black bears, coyotes and bobcats, among other scary things.  And foxes, but they're just cool.  And deer and rabbits, lots of deer and rabbits.  And a few groundhogs.

 

--------

 

Just watched your video, Bob.  Go roadrunner!  But I suspect they're not native to Virginia.

 

Edited July 20, 2016 by tunahead72

[oldredrider 2,547]

Tunahead, don't forget the coyote population is growing and moving into the neighborhoods. Just had one in Roanoke attack a woman in her back yard.

Edited July 21, 2016 by oldredrider

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,005]

We have coyotes in Richmond. Years ago the powers that be create parks (woods with a park name) on both sides of the James River . Today's paper had pictures of a coyote that was moving in the park at night. There was also a note about someone dog being attached and killed by a pair of coyotes. So lets develop more land built houses and shopping centers move the wild critters into the towns and cities.

[Wishin4a416 2,185]

Wow! Amazing. We have plenty of Yotes here and no problems with Human interaction or Dogs for the most part. Now in Jan. and Feb when things get harsh, they will feast on cats and very small dogs. Owners have learned to deal with it and take their dogs out on a leash during the dark hours.Have never heard of a Human being attacked in this area. They run like he!! when encountered.

[C-101plowerpower 1,605]

snakes induce two kinds of movement, bowel movement and fysical movement. sh*t 'n run

[roadapples 6,981]

We need more roadrunners...my kind of bird