When in the desert better check first before you grab...

crcr wrote:
Q for OP: Was there dampness on your mechanic's gloves and/or on your boot that you would suspect was the baby snake's venom?

Good point. I've heard of cowboys on the range throwing away their boots that were bit by a rattler. It's because the venom can stay in the leather and is still potent so that any contact with an open cut can be disastrous. Don't know if this is an old wives tale or not.