How are you spending this gorgeous Saturday?

[AntTheDestroyer]

I could only wish for a reptile show in reasonable driving distance. But just like you, I cannot stand "crowds". The older I get, the worse it gets. I can't stand people bumping into me or crowding.

So you bought nothing? GREAT self control !!!

You know, mine has gotten worse with age as well. Honestly it was so busy I was not able to even enquire about anything, at least enough to make me feel comfortable buying.

[zina10]

So the day ended a bit on a sad note.
As I was riding my horse, a fellow barn boarder was screaming for me to come over and let her know if "that snake" was dangerous.

So I ride over there and hand her my horse (she was holding hers, too). The snake was in the tie-up area, heading for a horse stall. Of course I wasn't wearing my contacts, so I had to get pretty
close. A eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. Young one. Sigh...

Heading straight into trouble.
I don't like to kill snakes. Whenever possible I SAVE them, and I always educate people at the barn. To keep their area neat (we have duplex stalls, little buildings all over, barn is situated pretty much right by huge woods), not to leave grain out, not to attract rodents, etc.

But that snake meant danger, there were people, kids, horses. I don't have any handling skills with hot snakes and there was nothing there to safely try catch and release with, and time was of the essence. As is, it almost got into the stall.
My Adrenalin was kicking, as the area was littered with stuff leaning on that wall and the snake was up against the wall, trying to get under it, into the stall. All the lady had was a hoe with a short 3 ft. handle. Not good. And I'm wearing shorts, but thankfully leather cowboy boots (yeah i know, shorts and boots, but it was hot...)

But I got it done and I hurried to get a big rock at the end , to crush the brain, and make sure there was no more suffering.

Now I feel bad...

But I honestly didn't see any other way.

Where I board horses there is no shortage of wild life. Its a military installation, so hunting is very controlled and we have a lot of animals that have gotten to be endangered elsewhere. There are snakes all over, many harmless, but also lots of venomous. Usually they aren't in the barn area, or at least, they aren't "seen".

But between the people there, and the horses, I guess the ones one is responsible for have to come first.

It did put a damper onto my perfect Saturday, though.

[rock]

Sorry to read this. I just finished watching a movie with a somewhat sad ending and the whole family except for me is sleeping. I came back to this thread for a little light-hearted reading... But this didn't have the ending I expected either.

Kudos to you for having the courage to take care of things yourself, especially as someone who loves animals and snakes. I believe you did the right thing.

[Lizardlicks]

Stuff like that is why I keep wanting to find some place to apprentice and get skills handling hots. I'd prefer to safely (for both me AND the snake) remove it.

[zina10]

I keep thinking it through, but if I was presented with the same situation again, I would do the same thing again.
As much as I love snakes.

There wasn't time to think then, but even now I can't see any other way. It was trying to crawl under the wooden wall into the stall, where a horse would have no doubt put its nose down to investigate. I couldn't re-directed it, it would have went towards the lady that was holding my horse and hers, the other directions were people, with kids and behind me only went deeper into the barn/riding area.

I had nothing to work with but that tool, no tall buckets, no hook or stick, and no experience to handle such dangerous snakes in a less then ideal situation. I kept thinking, if that had been my horse, and someone hesitated to help...
Usually people that do get bit, are the ones that "mess" with the snakes, so I was aware of that, too.

I know coming with that horrible story to a forum of snake lovers seems odd. But after the third person questioned why I was feeling sad and upset about the whole thing, I felt the need to share with people that understand why I feel that way.

Fully understanding that I may get judged for what I did. If someone else were to tell such a story, I guess I'd be wondering as well, if there wasn't something else that could have been done.

[zina10]

Stuff like that is why I keep wanting to find some place to apprentice and get skills handling hots. I'd prefer to safely (for both me AND the snake) remove it.

I thought about getting those snake tongs, but then, without any skill, this is soo dangerous. The diamondbacks especially are fast and they have attitude. I wouldn't dare use a hook alone. And the situations are so not "controlled". There is stuff laying around everywhere, other animals, people.

I may still look into those catching tools. Mostly I hope not to be in that situation again. We come across many snakes out on the trails and the wood edge, and "we ignore them, they ignore us" which works fine.

[zina10]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought this to this form. I wanted to unload on people that understand why I'm upset. Everyone else was shaking their head about me feeling bad.

I didn't think this through how this would make other snake lovers feel, though. So I apologize.


To change the subject.

I have a WICKED sunburn on my back and neck. That is what I get for bragging about our sunny days and spending all day outside in a tank top while washing the dog and doing yardwork...
I think I may need another beer or a margarita after all.

Thank you all for sharing what you did on this Saturday, it was fun and interesting to read, esp. how wildly different the weather still is. We are having another hot and sunny day coming up and I shall start using sun screen. Esp. now ..

[rlditmars]

No judgment here. Sometimes common sense or practicality has to prevail. If the choice is between a person, an equine pet, or a snake, the snake is going to lose every time. Also, this is a forum for sharing, good or bad. Your thread started out on a completely positive note. But as life sometimes does, it took a turn that couldn't be avoided. Don't beat yourself up.

[Craiga 01453]

^^^ well said ^^^

[AntTheDestroyer]

I would urge you to call an expert to remove the snake next time, as killing a snake is an excellent way to get bit.