Rattlesnakes!

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Dude, seriously, what? Not a good move, they can strike a long way.

They can only strike 1/2 the length of their body.. a few years ago I took a snake handling course just for kicks..

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Seann45

They can only strike 1/2 the length of their body.. a few years ago I took a snake handling course just for kicks..

Interesting! I'd like to see a class like that. Not that I'm interested in "snake handling", but I would enjoy learning more about them.

Okay, 4 ft rattler can strike 2 ft then (reasonable size for my area, killed one longer than that a couple years ago in my front yard, and even my long-handled shovel got me closer than I'd like). A stick, (even a "long" one) is a little too close for comfort to a rattler IMO.

And poking one to hear it rattle is ill advised in my book. I've always been taught to give venomous snakes a WIDE berth, and not to harass them.

I've spent A LOT of time outdoors where rattle snakes, copper heads and water moccasins are common. I actually prefer rattlers because at least you have the potential for a warning when you get too close. The others you don't know about until you're right on them, if even then.

[SmokerBill]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Interesting! I'd like to see a class like that. Not that I'm interested in "snake handling", but I would enjoy learning more about them.

Okay, 4 ft rattler can strike 2 ft then (reasonable size for my area, killed one longer than that a couple years ago in my front yard, and even my long-handled shovel got me closer than I'd like). A stick, (even a "long" one) is a little too close for comfort to a rattler IMO.

And poking one to hear it rattle is ill advised in my book. I've always been taught to give venomous snakes a WIDE berth, and not to harass them.

I've spent A LOT of time outdoors where rattle snakes, copper heads and water moccasins are common. I actually prefer rattlers because at least you have the potential for a warning when you get too close. The others you don't know about until you're right on them, if even then.

I guess I'm just an adrenaline junkie, then. Before I screwed with the snake, I judged its length and the position it was in, and distance I was from the critter. It wasn't coiled into into its strike position (necessary for maximum strike distance), it was fairly cold outside, which would cause the snake to be more sluggish, and as I was pushing it with the stick, I determined to my satisfaction that there would be no way for it to reach me.

Also, according to the materials I've read, the Western rattlesnake isn't too aggressive, though certain individuals might be more nasty. It wasn't like I poked the snake without considering my safety as a priority. I've dealt with snakes quite a bit too in my past.

But even though I did what I did (worth the minimal risk I believed myself to be in), I would also strongly recommend others to give poisonous snakes a wide berth, especially if they don't actually have correct knowledge of the strike characteristics of snakes.

And I do appreciate you comment and concern, Camper_Bob. Nice to have someone watching out for me.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

I guess I'm just an adrenaline junkie, then. Before I screwed with the snake, I judged its length and the position it was in, and distance I was from the critter. It wasn't coiled into into its strike position (necessary for maximum strike distance), it was fairly cold outside, which would cause the snake to be more sluggish, and as I was pushing it with the stick, I determined to my satisfaction that there would be no way for it to reach me.

Also, according to the materials I've read, the Western rattlesnake isn't too aggressive, though certain individuals might be more nasty. It wasn't like I poked the snake without considering my safety as a priority. I've dealt with snakes quite a bit too in my past.

But even though I did what I did (worth the minimal risk I believed myself to be in), I would also strongly recommend others to give poisonous snakes a wide berth, especially if they don't actually have correct knowledge of the strike characteristics of snakes.

And I do appreciate you comment and concern, Camper_Bob. Nice to have someone watching out for me.

[SmokerBill]

And Camper_Bob, just to let you know, it's kind of in my nature to take risks. In the past I've done a lot of mountain biking in places where I wouldn't want to walk nowadays. And I used to drive around chasing tornadoes in Kansas with my video camera. Makes a person feel alive! LOL

Have a good one,

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

And Camper_Bob, just to let you know, it's kind of in my nature to take risks. In the past I've done a lot of mountain biking in places where I wouldn't want to walk nowadays. And I used to drive around chasing tornadoes in Kansas with my video camera. Makes a person feel alive! LOL

Have a good one,

LOL!! I used to be a risk taker too. Both my wife and my sister-in-law have asked numerous times how my brother and I survived this long!!

I think in this case your risk may have been appropriately calculated. Not saying I would do it (not now, but perhaps as a younger man), but I'm sure the snake got over it quickly, and you learned something about him/her.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Except for the four years I was in college in TX (longest decade of my life), I've lived in AZ since '56 Before becoming old and decrepit, I used to do a lot of hiking, camping, etc. all over AZ and I encountered a rattlesnake only once. That was on the Cholla
Trail on Camelback Mountain in Phoenix around 20 years ago. That sucker was easily 5' long and was taking his own sweet time crossing the trail in front of me. I had been pounding down the trail when I spotted Mr. Rattler and quickly applied the brakes. Some guy came puffing up from behind me saying he had been trying to keep up me and was wondering why I stopped so suddenly. I pointed ahead and said, "I believe that gentleman has the right of way." The guy's eyes got as big as saucers when he laid them on Mr. Rattler.


That was the same day and trail I saw the only Gila Monster (venomous lizard) I ever saw in the wild. Scorpions are another story.