Rattler Encounter (PICS)

This was the most exciting find of the week for me on vacation last week. I didn't actually find it, my Bro-in-law and niece did. It was slithering right into the middle of our campsite! If my little nieces and nephew hadn't been camping with us I would have tried to just let him go on his way, but with the little kids around it had to be moved. I admit I was pretty dang nervous.

*DISCLAIMER* I had no previous experience handling venemous snakes and do not recommend it to anyone. Had it been avoidable I wouldn't have handled this one. In some pics the sticks I was using look kinda short, but check the pic I will also post of me with the sticks, they were quite long (no way was I gonna get closer than necessary). I don't recommend handling venemous snakes to anyone but those with experience, and don't plan on doing so again myself.

The snake was moved out of our campsite with no harm done to it, although when my mom told some neighbor campsites about it their first questions was "You didn't kill it?" geeez, some people.....

Norther Pacific Rattlesnake (correct me if I'm wrong)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...25/Rattler.jpg

Me in the process of moving it

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...entRattler.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ntRattler5.jpg

Me and the sticks used to move the Rattler

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...tlerSticks.jpg

HEHE those have some fun venom, to be sure. Might want to put on some shoes!

Seriously though glad you didnt kill it and advised against others running out and trying it.

Glad you were able to protect both the kids and the snake. Sounds like a success to me. Shoes would have been an improvement on the plan, though.

Camping at the lake for a week. I didn't take any shoes at all, which makes it difficult to put some on!

Also (definitely not advised), one time up in interior BC when I was just a kid trying to catch garters, I saw a tail disappearing into a bush. Well, completely unawares that we even had rattlesnakes in BC, I grabbed it by the tail. It was maybe about a foot long or so. Luckily, my best friend spotted the head just as I grabbed it and yelled at me to drop it and I did. It darted away and we were fortunately unharmed. Definitely the most exciting field herping experience I've ever had.

I'm sure your experience was even more exciting. Your niece probably thinks the world of you now, if she didn't already before. Job well done!

My niece LOVES snakes thanks to my BCI, but luckily knows well enough to not touch a snake if it isn't Uncle Kent's.

Nice save man. It looks like you've at least read something about handling venomous snakes by the technique you are using.

Just goes to show, first hand, that venomous snakes aren't overly aggressive and vicious killers like most people think. Sometime I wonder if animals have a sixth sense as far as knowing when a person wants to hurt them, or means no harm.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by led4urhead

Nice save man. It looks like you've at least read something about handling venomous snakes by the technique you are using.

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I've read a lot of well detailed posts about venemous snakes on redtailboa.net posted by BWSmith. Lots of good pics too. All that came to mind when handling this guy.