People like this should be locked up

[PurplePython]

I've never been charged by any of my animals. Males that show aggression towards me are either promptly sold or castrated. Sometimes both. I have no tolerance for my animals being aggressive. Perhaps this is why I can go out and handle my male animals during the peak of breeding season when they should be at their most aggressive.
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Since several people had said that those who kill snakes should be put in jail/killed..Come get me. I'm sure a judge would find your reasons laughable.

and im sure judges are complete animal experts too. yep none of them are ignorant rednecks

[Jeremy78]

I've never been charged by any of my animals. Males that show aggression towards me are either promptly sold or castrated. Sometimes both. I have no tolerance for my animals being aggressive. Perhaps this is why I can go out and handle my male animals during the peak of breeding season when they should be at their most aggressive.
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Since several people had said that those who kill snakes should be put in jail/killed..Come get me. I'm sure a judge would find your reasons laughable.

Like I said before jail is a no for me.
But do you condone the sensless killing of venoumous snakes? Or would you rather learn what to do about it?
And if you have had to sell or castrate your bulls then they were still agressive... Now just someone else has to deal with it.

[Raptor]

Like I said before jail is a no for me.
But do you condone the sensless killing of venoumous snakes? Or would you rather learn what to do about it?

I have little problem with it. There's also little I can do about it. I live out of city jurisdiction so there's no calling animal control (can't even take animals to the city shelter for this reason). I have no experience dealing with hots, so I can't capture it. I also reside on 80 acres so I can't relocate it (provided I had the experience to deal with hots) without dumping it on someone else's property. That would essentially be dumping the problem on someone else..Plus no doubt cause a massive amount of stress on the animal.

Additionally, I don't deal with cattle. I deal with goats, usually the ones sold are yearlings and weigh in at around 60-80 pounds. Not as large or potentially dangerous as a bull, but they can still do damage with horns.

Castration removes testosterone which takes the aggression down a great bit. Selling them usually involves taking them to the sale barn. Often times, they're bought by a meat buyer.

[blackcrystal22]

It's one thing doing it out of the safety of your family and neighbors if you don't know how to do it safely in any other manner.

Making a public show out of it and calling the presses to come make a news story out of what a macho man you are.. is a completely different thing.

[Jeremy78]

I have little problem with it. There's also little I can do about it. I live out of city jurisdiction so there's no calling animal control (can't even take animals to the city shelter for this reason). I have no experience dealing with hots, so I can't capture it. I also reside on 80 acres so I can't relocate it (provided I had the experience to deal with hots) without dumping it on someone else's property. That would essentially be dumping the problem on someone else..Plus no doubt cause a massive amount of stress on the animal.

Additionally, I don't deal with cattle. I deal with goats, usually the ones sold are yearlings and weigh in at around 60-80 pounds. Not as large or potentially dangerous as a bull, but they can still do damage with horns.

Castration removes testosterone which takes the aggression down a great bit. Selling them usually involves taking them to the sale barn. Often times, they're bought by a meat buyer.

Thank you. (drools mmmmmm goatttt). Sorry off topic...
But anyways. It's not that big of a problem for you. And I agree this guy shouldn't have waved it around like a hillbilly... And thanks for the information. I'm sure if there was a large problem with hots in your area though something could come of it. Maybe someone local who doesn't mind removing and moving it to crown land or something.

[Raptor]

Thank you. (drools mmmmmm goatttt). Sorry off topic...
But anyways. It's not that big of a problem for you. And I agree this guy shouldn't have waved it around like a hillbilly... And thanks for the information. I'm sure if there was a large problem with hots in your area though something could come of it. Maybe someone local who doesn't mind removing and moving it to crown land or something.

I haven't seen any hots up close for quite some time. It's mainly limited to cottonmouths and copperheads. Admittedly, I'm not a fan of killing snakes. I'm fairly familiar with the local species and I can tell which are venomous and which are not. I often go snake hunting when I'm hiking and I see a beauty. However, I've had a goat bit by a venomous snake before on the inner thigh. He ended up losing some function in his back end. He couldn't run properly: he couldn't coordinate his legs properly. He couldn't stand up on his hind legs: they'd buckle under him. I have no idea what kind of snake struck him. I just know that it effected him quite a bit and I have little desire for that to happen to any of my other goats. Luckily, he's the only one that's been bit, and I've probably had a total of almost 150 goats here, counting the ones that have been sold/died.

[jtyson123]

Killing the snake...eh I dont know. Cutting its head off and making a big story about it, STUPID.

I have a sort of mixed opinion on this topic. I started catching wild snakes when I was 4. My parents knew nothing about snakes and killed every snake they saw, rattlers, bullsnakes, garters, etc. I ended up educating them. I myself have killed rattlers before when I was really young if I felt that they were a danger to my little sisters or my dogs. But I also started catching them when I was 8. Anyone who has half a brain could easily trap the snake and relocate it themselves or call someone who will.

I mean seriously I know venomous snakes are scary because they are dangerous, but really all you have to fear is freaking out and not handling it correctly. I do suggest tongs if you have them, but even grabbing them with your hands isn't all that hard.

Its weird to see posts on here by snake lovers who are scared of venomous snakes. I don't really understand it. How can you differentiate your opinion of the animals based solely on their methods of hunting and defense? Seems a bit ignorant to me I guess.

[Raptor]

Its weird to see posts on here by snake lovers who are scared of venomous snakes. I don't really understand it. How can you differentiate your opinion of the animals based solely on their methods of hunting and defense? Seems a bit ignorant to me I guess.

Probably because a venomous snake can kill a human much more easily than a nonvenomous.

[Jeremy78]

Probably because a venomous snake can kill a human much more easily than a nonvenomous.

Since you have 80 acres is there a safe haven on your property you could relocate them? I don't recommend using your hands but maybe a stick or or something?
After the goat was struck was the meat still edible or did you have to put it out of it's misery/ count your losses?

[jtyson123]

Probably because a venomous snake can kill a human much more easily than a nonvenomous.

Its ignorant for people to use fear as their basis for judgement on any topic.

As far as all pets go, should we kill pit bulls and rottweilers as they tend to be more aggressive (or so they are portrayed by television and movies), yet save everyones blue heelers because they are less likely to cause as much damage?

If you understand something entirely and know how it works, you have no reason to be scared of it. You can learn to respect the danger of a venomous snake and do what you can to avoid them. After all technically WE are the invasive species. Not them.

I personally know a half dozen people who have been bitten by the rattlesnakes here in New Mexico, and NONE have died. All were forced to seek immediate medical attention, but none died. And all of them were bitten because they were either stupid and messing with the snake, or because they accidentally stepped on it. Not the snakes fault, just its problem. And it took care of its problem the only way it knew how and used what it is equipped with.