Beware the snakes are out and about

[Desert_Captain]

For those of you in or coming to the southwest a cautionary reminder about our rattlesnake population. Spring has sprung as we are on our second straight week of mid to high 80 degree temps. The snakes have been denned up all winter and with the warmer weather they are very active and aggressive.

In short they are all out looking for a meal and a mate, not necessarily in that order and being hungry and horny does nothing to improve their already nasty dispositions. I spent five years working on the local golf courses as a Marshall and every spring it was the same. You are likely to encounter them at any time of day or night, never walk anywhere at night without a good flashlight. This time of year if you see a rattlesnake I can almost guarantee you there is another nearby and it is the one you don't see that can really ruin your day. This is the only time of year I ever had one actually come after me... probably because I was trying to move a potential mate and they are a lot quicker than you might think. :E

Be especially cautious with your pets as well. The anti venom is unbelievably expensive for people or pets and not every medical insurance plan covers it. The basic rule is simply to never, and I mean NEVER, put your hands or feet where you cannot see. Keep in mind that the natural camouflage of the rattlesnake is unbelievably effective and no they don't always rattle a warning. Be safe out there! :C

[Jloucks]

Pay attention when hitting the wood pile for the first time of the season. I have found several when doing that, ...fortunately harmless ones,,, still startling.

[Raften]

fla-gypsy wrote:
Rattlesnakes, Water Moccasins, Coral snakes, sharks, alligators, all just part of the Florida experience.

Ya know, I don't have any desire to visit Florida. I'll stick with the odd rattle snake and earth quakes here thank you.

[MarshaNichols]

Traveling through Arizona-New Mexico in Sept. Are those rattlesnakes still around? I HATE them!!

[Supercharged]

That's is wright Washington D.C. is on break right now.A D.C. snake could be in your home town right now.

[Fulltimers]

Your right. We came upon this guy while hiking in Arizona today. Diamond Back.

[Charlie_D_]

Took basic training at Ft. Bliss-El Paso in May 1968. On night manuevers, the D.I.'s warned us not to relieve ourselves in any areas except at the latrine we had dug. It was well lit. Said that snakes strike the warmest area of the body. That was enough warning for me.:)

[Artemus_Gordon]

Don't need to be in the wild. Two years ago I stepped out of my car at Sacramento Airport. Steeped right on top of a two footer. Lucky my big foot landed just behind his head. He struck my foot twice!

[Supercharged]

I killed about 25 around our home in Cave Creek when we lived there. The dog would tell you when they got near.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
They make tasty hors d'oeuvres.

Another "warning"!!:W

Depending on the snake (3 rattlesnakes included) those could be $10K hors d'oeuvres - along with possible "hotel" time in ARIZONA!.:(

Scroll down to - "Snakes"

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[ol_Bombero-JC]

fla-gypsy wrote:
Rattlesnakes, Water Moccasins, Coral snakes, sharks, alligators, all just part of the Florida experience.

You forgot . . . . . Mickey, Minnie & Goofy..:B


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[wny_pat1]

Had the snowblower out today, but the only thing that came out the chute was snow snakes.

[MarshaNichols]

westend wrote:

old guy wrote:
thanks for the heads up as we are leaving for AZ tomorrow afternoon. I know they are in the Phoenix area as I have seen them in our friends back yard. I was at the flea market and talking to some guy who told me that if I killed a snake in AZ that I have to cut the head off and bury the head so the bees don't get into the venom and then the bee bites you and it is the same as being bit by the snake. sounds like good advise even here in Oregon.

Did that guy at the flea market have an "old wife" with him? That is one of their tales. Can't happen.

CAN happen and did to a friend of mine many years ago...was stung..she got sick..dr. at the hospital said there WAS rattlesnake venom also...no joke and not a tale...I was there!

[PAThwacker]

We have timber rattlers in PA. I have only seen two in the wild. We have the measley copperheads, but thats about it. Pesky ticks are the other hand drive me nuts.

[mistressofdistr]

Where I live we have timber rattlers (also called canebreak rattlers) and my 12 pound yorkie was bitten by one, we got him to the vet in about 45 minutes. The vet said they no longer use antivenom, instead they use massive doses of antibiotics and morphine as the pain is extreme.

Two days and 600 bucks later my dog was home and there have been no after effects except he did lose the hair on his face, which has since grown back. He did not feel well for about a week, vet said due to large amount of medicine.

He was bitten on the nose and didn't want to give up the fight as that is what terriers do.