I remember the crazy Crocodile Hunter was in San Diego to hunt down 10 of the most dangerous snakes. This is a guy that has screwed around with spitting cobras, mambas, the Australian brown snake..... and he left the hiking trail when he came onto a young western diamondback. Said those young rattlers could not be trusted as they will bite without the usual “tell” and empty their venom sacs.
First time I ever heard even a smidgen of fearful respect in his voice, bless his soul.
Ever watch Austin Stevens? S. African snake man tours the world hunting dangerous snakes and other animals.
Saw him on an outcropping come across a large Western Diamondback. He was shaken.
Great programs, in reruns.
A couple of years ago, I offed one near my front door that had apparently come down the side of the house....a few minutes later, wifey shrieked that there was another in the backyard, all coiled and rattling like crazy -- I couldn't get the Mutt to him, so called Animal Control.
Anyhow, the guy walked through the front and saw carcass #1 and gave me the usual "rattlesnakes are our friends" speech.....but when we got around back and saw #2, he said "Holy shit - that's a Mojave! If you ever see another, kill it!!" (Mojaves are supposedly 20 times more venemous that Westerns)