Candygram!
Posted on 03/05/2017 1:41:32 PM PST by OddLane
One of the most misunderstood creatures in this country is crotalus, a genus of venomous pit vipers most people simply call rattlesnakes. Crotalus horridus, also known as the timber rattlesnake or canebrake snake, epitomizes the deeply ambivalent relationship Americans have with this animal, which Benjamin Franklin considered a symbol of our nascent country-and which remains a symbol of freedom and defiance of unjust government-yet has been hunted to extinction or near-extinction throughout New England.
The fear and loathing with which most Americans view rattlesnakes is illustrated most vividly by events like the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup, wherein thousands of rattlesnakes are captured, killed, and skinned-often in gruesome ways-as a means of promoting local tourism. This deep revulsion is exhibited towards an animal that in normal circumstances does not threaten or harm humans, who are rarely-if ever-killed when an encounter does occur. It should be noted that some of these fatalities include people who wantonly abuse snakes.
With this sort of deep misunderstanding and distrust, Ted Levin’s insightful book, America’s Snake: The Rise And Fall Of The Timber Rattlesnake, is such a welcome resource...
(Excerpt) Read more at american-rattlesnake.org ...
Holy smokes! That’s alotta snakes! Big ones too! Ours are little out here but they’ll still kill ya.
Holy smokes! That’s alotta snakes! Big ones too!
Ours are little out here but they’ll still kill ya.
U Talkin bout McLame, and Graham ?
Candygram!
That’s gotta be some good eating and easy to clean too.
That is one evil looking snake.
Thank you for your answer. It is a shame people don’t respect these animals as they are excellent at ridding areas of vermin. And, because they don’t chase us, they are guiltless of the damage they cause because we are stupid.
Actually, they are very beautiful. I haven’t seen a snake that wasn’t beautiful. Their coloring is magnificent.
I’m assuming this is what is called a “chevron rattler” in the south. They are huge here. I’ve seen plenty of 6ft+ ones. Not as aggressive as a diamondback but every bit as deadly, I have walked very close to them and had them coil up and NOT RATTLE!
“And, because they don’t chase us...”
I used to think that too. There’s a very aggressive variety of a greenish rattlesnake around here, that some say is a Prairie mix or Mohave mix, that actually will aggressively come at ya! There’s other rattlers around here, and even desert Coral snakes, all of which I don’t mind, but whatever that greenish one is, I just kill them most of the time anymore, but only on my land. Worse, they often don’t even bother to rattle. Some readers may say b.s., but it’s true. I’ve had 2 friends bitten by them, and it’s a really nasty bite. Requires a helicopter trip to Tucson.
Now don't go insulting rattlesnakes like that. McLame and Graham are the lowest of the low, slimy, underhanded, disgusting, dangerous swamp snakes.
Rattlesnakes are not alone in that regard. Several snakes give warnings before striking. Almost all snakes will take a strike posture as a form of threat. Several snakes hiss as a warning and saw-scaled vipers make a rasping sound by rubbing their scales together as a warning. Cobras will hood as a threat. Black mambas and cottonmouths will display their black and white mouths, respectively, as a threat. Almost all snakes would rather warn you away than actually bite.
King cobra
Yep. That’s the kind we have around here. They get big; but
they will sing out and warn you before they strike. They
stay in their areas & we stay in our areas. They got a job
to do. The copperheads out here are sneaky & I sort of
dread warmer weather headed our way. We had a copperhead
on the side porch last year. It was folded up and looked
like a bunny rabbit; but Dub was barking her head off &
Fang sneaked around behind the snake & either walloped it
with a shovel or hoe or may have shot it; can’t remember.
I don’t want to move to town. - The snake almost leaped
back on Fang; but went in the opposite direction.
They’re alive and well, thriving and protected in New York State.
” Candygram!”
“Wrong house!!”
I’ve seen some large black rat snakes; they can grow to 9 feet (but aren’t venomous).
True; along the NJ/NY border timber rattlers are one of the two poisonous snakes (the other being copperheads, which are more dangerous only because they are thick and sluggish - hard for them to get clear before you’re upon them).
I had rattlesnake steak once a long time ago and it wasn’t bad.
Some of them near West Point.
The author has some interesting stories about the conservation efforts local herpetologists have made to preserve them in the state.
Many Mojave’s don’t even have rattles anymore. A friend of mine had one bite his dog last year and it was sans rattles. Very concerning development.
Yikes!
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