Giant Rattlesnake Found in Neighborhood

[Racerbvd]

Gotta Love it Here!!!! Only about 30 minutes from my home,,,,
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/mostpopular/news-article.aspx?storyid=145897&provider=top

Giant Rattlesnake Found in Neighborhood
Dave Wax Ann Butler Jessica Clark Created: 9/30/2009 11:27:19 AM Updated: 9/30/2009 3:39:42 PM Recommend (12)Print ArticleEmail ArticleLargerSmaller


ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- A venomous snake over seven feet long was discovered in a neighborhood over the weekend.

It was an eastern diamondback rattlesnake that measured 7 feet, 3 inches in length. According to the University of Florida, the record size for that type of snake is 8 feet, so this was definitely a large snake.

Homeowner Howard McGaffney saw the snake on the perimeter of his neighborhood, Tuscany Village, near State Road 16 and Interstate 95.

Someone called the sheriff's office and A1 Trapper Man, a local wildlife trapper, to deal with it.

Although UF says the snakes are a benefit to man because they prey on mice and other pests, trapper Brandon Booth said he chose to kill this one for two reasons.

For one thing, he is not licensed to transport live venomous snakes, so he would have had to leave it or kill it.

The other reason is that many children live in the neighborhood and he says he was worried for their safety, so he decided to kill the snake.

The snake is about a foot shorter than it was; that's how much Booth cut off to be safe.

Also, Booth's freezer is quite full. He's keeping the snake there until he can make it into a belt. He chuckled and said, "I've got a big belly."

In the meantime, McGaffney isn't quite ready to rest easy. Booth told him rattlesnakes rarely travel alone, preferring to pair up with a member of the opposite sex.

McGaffney says he just hopes the second one is considerably smaller

[TheMentat]

Ho - ly - Schit! That thing is HUGE!

[GH85Carrera]

Why is it that no one ever puts is tape measure next to the snake? That snake could be just 3 feet long. That picture is useless.

[ben parrish]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Why is it that no one ever puts is tape measure next to the snake? That snake could be just 3 feet long. That picture is useless.

"It was an eastern diamondback rattlesnake that measured 7 feet, 3 inches in length. According to the University of Florida, the record size for that type of snake is 8 feet, so this was definitely a large snake."

[livi]

Magnificent specimen.

[URY914]

It ain't no lizard....

[BrokeMyCar]

... and the first test for whether charleskieffner can resist posting begins....

[911mnypt]

Man...that gives me the pee pee chills!

[lowyder993s]

Originally Posted by brokemycar

... And the first test for whether charleskieffner can resist posting begins....

hahahaha!!!!:d:d:d

[Racerbvd]

Did you guys see this one???????

[Tobra]

Too bad, that thing is a beauty, shame it will be a belt.

They ought to let the kids in the neighborhood eat it, rattlesnake is pretty tasty.

[kycarguy 935]

WOW 7 foot rattlesnake...who would have thought it.

[tabs]

Yikes...

[porsche4life]

That's shootin' size!

[911pcars]

"......Although UF says the snakes are a benefit to man because they prey on mice and other pests, trapper Brandon Booth said he chose to kill this one for two reasons.

For one thing, he is not licensed to transport live venomous snakes, so he would have had to leave it or kill it."

Or they could have called someone with more expertise.

"The other reason is that many children live in the neighborhood and he says he was worried for their safety, so he decided to kill the snake.
..."

Sounds like trapper Booth coveted eating snake meat more than trapping the snake. His excuses sound weak. Here's the mindset: "Hey, there's a large (you fill in the species). Let's kill it."

Sherwood

[pwd72s]

Great pool cue case material...snakeskin

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

"......Although UF says the snakes are a benefit to man because they prey on mice and other pests, trapper Brandon Booth said he chose to kill this one for two reasons.

For one thing, he is not licensed to transport live venomous snakes, so he would have had to leave it or kill it."

Or they could have called someone with more expertise.

"The other reason is that many children live in the neighborhood and he says he was worried for their safety, so he decided to kill the snake.
..."

Sounds like trapper Booth coveted eating snake meat more than trapping the snake. His excuses sound weak. Here's the mindset: "Hey, there's a large (you fill in the species). Let's kill it."

Sherwood

You nailed the idiot, he traded the snake off to a local shop for future car repairs.. I feel they should have reloced it to South FL to take on the Pythons....

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

You nailed the idiot, he traded the snake off to a local shop for future car repairs.. I feel they should have reloced it to South FL to take on the Pythons....

Hey, we agree for once.

I wonder about "trapper" Booth's urges when he sees an elephant at the zoo or attends an NBA game?

Sherwood

[Crepitus]

BYRON! Get over here and clean this coffee up off my desk! (while I send your utube link out to the long list ;-)