I have lived in Texas and love the state. I almost married a little cutie from Lake Jackson. As for rattlesnakes, sorry, we grow them bigger in Florida. In fact the Florida subspecies of the Eastern Diamondback is the largest snake in North America. That is by weight.Was referring to a place on the Gulf coast in TX, BTW. No need to apologize about having the largest diamondbacks! Keep them, and be proud! Seven-footers were more than big enough!
There are no snakes at all where I live now. Altitude is too high for them.
I have seen only 5 rattlesnakes in Colorado in 10 years, not many, but two of the five were massive, very much like the snake on the rake in the photo.
I avoided playing with rattlers while growing up. They got the hoe or whatever else was handy. ;-)