So you want to play with rattlesnake? Make sure it’s dead first. This Arizona man learned it the hard way. Okay kids, if you catch a live rattlesnake in your backyard, let it go! Good. We got that out of the way. Posted on 09/26/2017 5:11:45 AM PDT by w1n1
So you want to play with rattlesnake? Make sure it’s dead first. This Arizona man learned it the hard way. Okay kids, if you catch a live rattlesnake in your backyard, let it go! Good. We got that out of the way.
Some guy in Arizona didn’t exactly heed that same advice, though, and tried to barbecue one. Unfortunately, poor decisions can result in terrible consequences. In the case of this man trying to show kids how to handle a rattlesnake, that’s exactly what happened.
As the story goes, the whole family was enjoying a birthday in their Arizona hometown when a rattlesnake slithered into the yard. It was at that point Victor Pratt decided he wanted to show everybody that rattlesnakes are nothing to be afraid of. So, as any man would do, he grabbed it, started rolling around on the ground, and kept holding it by the head with intentions to cook it. Read and see the rest of the story on man plays with snake gets bitten on his face video here.
Step number one is always chop the head off.
I had that down by age seven.
he could have been a real contender... for this years Darwin award.
Step two is to bury the head with the same shovel you used to cut it off with.
Didn’t you grow up with rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins everywhere?
This is basic kids growing up stuff.
Stupid is as stupid does. He deserved what he got. Sadly, he probably failed to learn the lesson so next time he just might get that award.
actually I didn’t but I still knew that a recently severed rattlesnake head can bite you. Up here in northern Ohio where I grew up we have Massasauga rattlesnakes but they’re pretty rare. Other than that, the local snakes are non-venomous. I never even saw a rattler till I moved to Texas where I saw plenty.
We have Massasauga rattlesnakes here in NY up by the Great Lakes. The state has made them endangered, so if you have to kill one shoot shovel and shut up. The elsewhere in the state are timber rattlers and copperheads. Never saw any. But my son ran into one timber rattler on a trail being used by his Boy Scout Troop. Animals with hypodermic needles in their mouths have been summarily persecuted and eradicated in the Empire State. Now the tree huggers would bring them back
And the “idiot of the day” award goes to Victor Pratt of Arizona.
Water moccasins were particularly bad because they will infest your swimming hole and you have to kill them - they wont leave.
Proper preparation for water moccasins is to get your dad's shovel and several other kids with their dad's shovels. Then bang the area where the snakes are.
Every kid should be in a circle and there needs to be enough of you to intercept snakes attempting to flank the kids - snakes aren't stupid. When a snake appears everyone close chop it, everyone further away look for the rest of the nest to come. Fling each snake as it is chopped.
When no more snakes appear, bury the heads. If someone’ dad knows how to make belts or hatbands, take the snakes to their house. If not, hang the snakes in the tree by the swimming hole.
“Hey, hold my beer and watch this”........
I’d suggest there were a few beers consumed prior to the incident. Dumb ass for sure!
An idiot who lived in my hometown in Arizona lost his thumb and half his hand to a similar stunt. Yes, he was very drunk at the time.
Beer - 0
In Florida,as a kid, I had to deal with Moccasins and Rattlesnakes.
First thing you do, pick up the hoe, and chop off the head.
Snakebite Bad... Man Idiot.... Darwin Award 3rd class...Probably a 1st Class award in this guys future.
It wasnt a Mohave green I would bet.
The Mohave is about 17 time more toxic than a Sidewinder, and a Sidewinder is several time more toxic than a Western Diamondback.
Beside all that, a Mohave has a couple types of venom.
We got lots of them around here...some do not have rattles and it is false that they always rattle before they strike.
Oh, and DO NOT kill a King Snake. They prey on Rattlers.
Mohave Green is also very aggressive. Was test-riding a horse in the west end of the Antelope Valley near Palmdale, Calif & was on a fire road, going downhill. Saw snake—thought I could just ride around it.
NOOOOOO—That SOB started uphill at a pretty fast rate towards me & horse. Other rider said—turn around—that is a Mojave Green & they don’t quit or just get off the trails. When I lived in So Calif, I wore my gun in the springtime when snakes were shedding.. Got 7 in one spring alone.
We have killed 10 water moccasins/cottonmouths on our farm since hurricane Irma roared through here two weeks ago.
Cutting the head off of one that my cat was playing with resulted in the severed head striking several times at the cat after the head was completely severed off of the body.
These snakes are very venomous. Deadly. I chased the cat away and stayed away myself until I know it is dead-dead.
I'm not going to test the theory by messing with it.
Right. They’ll aint shy thats for sure. A guy down the road was putting in wire for his yard lights and was crawling under his deck. He turned around and there was one about 6 feet from him. His wife handed him his 22 pistol with bird shot and he emptied the gun on that thing before it kicked off...about 3 feet from him. Within striking distance. Said it was headed right for him.
And they are not always the green color either.
This for the folks on here that dont know how to ID a Mohave Green. Many people just assume that all rattlers are MG.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVwmCkFiav8
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