People like this should be locked up

[unspecified42]

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.

What?

It's perfectly reasonable for people to use fear of injury or death to judge something if it's a valid concern! I have far more fear of black widows of brown recluses than I do of wolf spiders, and I would kill either of the former if I found them in my house while I routinely ignore the latter that I find everywhere. I'm a lot more afraid of the flu than I am of a cold, and I'm a lot more afraid of MRSA and VRE than I am of less resistant organisms.

Large dogs are not more aggressive, but they DO have the capacity to cause more harm and therefore should be treated with more caution. I don't think it's unreasonable to euthanize a large breed, aggressive dog if it is posing a risk to humans, and I don't think it's unreasonable to kill a snake that is posing a similar threat. I don't think anyone is advocating proactive slaughter of venomous snakes that are not posing a threat like you are suggesting with this analogy, though.

I'm surprised this was news, frankly. People around here routinely kill the hots in our area. It has never bothered me, really. Human life is more important to me than snake life. I would rather see a dead snake than an injured human. Bash if you want, but I figure the snake would be happier to see a dead human than injuring itself so I'm not sure why that's much different.

It's snake nature to protect itself. It's human nature to do the same.

[h00blah]

this should turn into a poll

right or wrong..

seeing how it is a snake forum, im sure it could prove interesting to see who thought this was right. or if not "right" then "justified" perhaps?

as for me, i think what he did was justified. nobody I know has ever been bitten bc im not friends with 4 year olds.

a venemous snake IS more dangerous than most mammals. it IS venemous... theres no "it COULD be venemous!", yes some mammals CAN carry diseases, but how many times have u HEARD or even SEEN on the news or the paper of someone getting killed bc of a squirrel attack... tbh, if it ever DID happen, it WOULD appear on the news... people kill rats bc they can carry diseases, but the reason is bc they can manage to get into ur house...

[Raptor]

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?

As said, I lack the knowledge to deal with hots. In addition, the cottonmouths are extremely aggressive. There isn't a safe spot on the property to relocate since pretty much all of it is fenced for the goats. There's one spot way back in the back, but it's basically on the other side of the property and required going through several pens and takes at least ten minutes to get there. We discovered the bite marks at the end of the day (goats leave at day break and go to pasture, then come back about 30 minutes before dusk). Mom and I noted that he wasn't walking properly, so we checked his legs and there, we noted the bite marks. The injuries had scabbed over and besides the hind end issues, he wasn't ill. We ended up butchering him the next year and while eating some leg tissue, mom found what appeared to her as a snake fang. I never saw it so I don't know if it was actually a fang or if it was gristle.

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?

Any breed of dog that gets on the property is fair game to get shot. I have no bias.

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.

Sure, I might understand how a venomous snake works. Doesn't mean my animals will. I have animals that will run from something unknown, and others that will go investigate. Which will get bit? I can't teach them to avoid snakes. The only thing I can do is remove the venomous snakes when I find them. I have little desire to lose part of my investment. I'm not sure how much I have invested in the livestock at the moment. Purchasing alone it's well over $10,000. Include feed, wormer, vet visits, and medication? I haven't a clue.

[jtyson123]

I totally understand protecting your investments, pets and family, but killing them is extreme. They are simple to catch and relocate. The snakes aren't doing anything wrong by being there. As I said WE are the invasive species and so is whatever we choose to bring along with us, be it livestock, pets, children, etc. Since we are at the top of the food chain obviously we won't be going anywhere but I think it is only fair for us to do everything in our power to relocate the animals rather than slaughtering them.

Sure its no big deal for people to kill hots, it is common. So is crack cocaine and meth-amphetamine addictions nowadays. So just because something is common doesn't really make it okay.

[JEWSKIN]

Depends on what the mountain lion was doing. If it attacked you/livestock, then yes, you could probably shoot it under the idea of it being a danger to humans/livestock. You'd have to call the game warden afterwards.

for any wildlife you are supposed to call fish and game or your local law enforcement and let them deal with it you are not allowed to take matters into your hands period unless it is directly attacking you or your family

[DarkSean]

Hmmm I think its fine. Aslong as it was a clean cut and the head came off I think its fine. I mean there is all this talk of big breeders culling their normals in reccessive breedings and we all support them directly or indirectly by buying the morphs.

[Raptor]

for any wildlife you are supposed to call fish and game or your local law enforcement and let them deal with it you are not allowed to take matters into your hands period unless it is directly attacking you or your family

Maybe where you are. Oklahoma law says you're allowed to shoot them if they're a danger/pest.

[BiggBaddWolf]

Hmmm I think its fine. Aslong as it was a clean cut and the head came off I think its fine. I mean there is all this talk of big breeders culling their normals in reccessive breedings and we all support them directly or indirectly by buying the morphs.

Very good point, and I KNOW there are breeders who do this!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BiggBaddWolf]

for any wildlife you are supposed to call fish and game or your local law enforcement and let them deal with it you are not allowed to take matters into your hands period unless it is directly attacking you or your family

Bull Mullarkey...In my state you do not have to wait for DOC or law enforcement!!!!!

[mrmertz]

If he pinned it's head and then took the time to hack it off, wouldn't it have been just as easy to turn the snake in the other direction and let it go?

It would have done far more good over it's lifetime eating all the rodents we despise. Out here in southern Arizona we are OVER-RUN with rats. They are everywhere and cause considerable damage - and yet people don't think twice about driving off to the shoulder to kill a snake. I'm dumbfounded - again.