Rattlesnake just missed

[gwmac]

Walking the dogs in the desert, sun in my eyes, thinking about my Monday and hear the buzz and jump just as he strikes.Missed by no more than two three inches. Wow that got me going. Big beautiful four and half to five footer, about as big around as two inch pipe.
Largest I have seen in many years.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Dead now I hope?

[herr_oberst]

Jeez, living in the desert of the Southwest United States isn't for pussies, is it?

Scorpions, rattlers, cactus' falling on your driveway in the middle of the night. It's a life that will drive men and women to brown liquor, I daresay!

[sleepy911]

My place in the gold country has plenty of rattlesnakes. My policy for them is the same as for spiders. As long as they stay out of the house they are ok. I usually relocate them to the far end of the property. As a side note definitely get your dogs the snake vaccination. Most of the dogs up here get bit, usually in the face, if they got the shot they usually survive.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Dead now I hope?

Why would you kill a snake that is in its own habitat? They do serve a purpose in the animal kingdom.

[winders]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Dead now I hope?

Why?? Snakes, even Rattlesnakes, are good and necessary for the ecosystem. This is just as bad as people killing sharks....

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by slodave

Why would you kill a snake that is in its own habitat? They do serve a purpose in the animal kingdom.

+1000

I don't see the point in killing snakes unless they're in your house or yard. And even then it's a judgment call. Rattlers, if they give warning, are not going to chase you. Steer clear and leave them be. If one bites you, the damage is done and killing it won't help your situation. Now, if you really want a belt or a hat band, that's a different matter.

[Hugh R]

3 feet from my back door. I see them in the back 18 acres, I leave them alone.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by gwmac

Walking the dogs in the desert, sun in my eyes, thinking about my Monday and hear the buzz and jump just as he strikes.Missed by no more than two three inches. Wow that got me going. Big beautiful four and half to five footer, about as big around as two inch pipe.
Largest I have seen in many years.

Good result but if it hadn't missed how dangerous is their venom? Or would you be able to walk to somewhere for help?

[Bill Douglas]

Reminds me of the Lone ranger Tonto snake joke.

[TCracingCA]

how did he taste???

Always looking for new recipes!

depending as to where he gets you, whether you can stay calm while getting to where you can get help, and whether it is one of those super neuro- toxic ones- generally a half hour mostly till it could have some permanent damage tissue etc, to up to an hour max is the window. With good immediate aid and stabilizing- that could possibly get extended, but it is different based on dose and location of bite!

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

3 feet from my back door. I see them in the back 18 acres, I leave them alone.

I'm with you Hugh. Out in the field or the orchard and I leave them be. They eat avocado eating rats and squirrels. Once they hit my patio…It's rattlesnake and eggs for breakfast (this one actually killed by my dog).

[Hugh R]

I've heard the anti-venon can cost $100K at the hospital. I kicked one in my house about ten years ago. I was coming in from the spa a little tipsy and kicked it in the dark. I heard the rattle and thought WTF! My MIL who has since passed used to keep her door open for her rat dog. I told her not to, but she did anyway. So the snake, her and her rat dog were in the room at the same time. More or less naked, I put on my cowboy boots and went after it with a flat blade shovel and proceeded to grind its head off on my brand new $25,000 hardwood floors.

Outside, I now use a 12 ga.

[LeeH]

Just saw this video yesterday. Glad I haven't run across anything like this when hiking.

Video shows den of rattlesnakes striking GoPro | myfox8.com

[gwmac]

Did not dispatch snake.