Is this a rattlesnake? (Denver: neighborhood, live, gardening)

[purselady]

My kid's were playing outside this morning, and started screaming. There was a baby snake in the play area. It appears to have a rattle. It tried to strike at my 7 year old.

[Spot]

Originally Posted by purselady

My kid's were playing outside this morning, and started screaming. There was a baby snake in the play area. It appears to have a rattle. It tried to strike at my 7 year old.

Yes. It looks like one.

[tinynot]

Yes it is, in fact it looks like an Eastern or Western Diamonback. He doesn't really look that small to me, looks about like 8 or nine rattles. I have heard that a young snake is the most poisonous because they do not know how to control their venom. They give it all they have when they bite. I am sure glad you found that bugger. I don't like snakes.

[jazzlover]

I'd say so--the head is the right shape and it appears to have a rattle. If you look at it head-on, you should be able to see the fangs. I don't know where you are, but rattlers about that size are very common in the Front Range foothills extending out on to the Eastern Plains. And, yes, smaller rattlers can be equally as poisonous as their larger brethren. Bull snakes are similarly marked and are often mistaken for rattlers, however they lack the triangular head and rattles. When disturbed, a bull snake will often coil up and imitate a rattler, however.

I don't know what you used to kill the snake, but a long-handled shovel is pretty effective for beheading the critter. I don't generally kill rattlers (they are great rodent controllers) unless, as it appears to be the case here, it was in a place to threaten kids or pets.

They taste like chicken . . . well to me they do. This guy disagrees: http://www.rattlesnakerecipe.us/

[Moonwalkr]

Get a pet Kingsnake, they'll eat all other snakes and are immune to snake venom.

[the3Ds]

Originally Posted by purselady

My kid's were playing outside this morning, and started screaming. There was a baby snake in the play area. It appears to have a rattle. It tried to strike at my 7 year old.

Yep. We've got bull snakes in our neighborhood and they look pretty similar minus the tell-tale rattler. The photo you showed is a snake with a rattle. Unfortunately for you, there is something in your area that attracts those little dudes. My in-laws are in Arizona and for whatever reason, they find rattlesnakes on their property a lot. Turns out, they are attracted to the neighbor's chicken eggs.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that this one just wandered a bit off course. If not, you are in for a hard time of it. My in-laws find at least 5-10 per month on their property...my mother-in-law went in their garage to do laundry and there was one next to the machine. Glad she turned on the garage light. Be very careful and you will have to keep a close eye on your kids because rattlesnakes like to hide in bushes, along the cement of driveways, in the a/c unit outside and in your gardening supplies. If there is a way for one of them to squeeze under or into something, they'll do it if they decide they like your house. If you've got a sand play toy in your backyard or your kid's play stuff is outside, you're going to have to move it.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by the3Ds

Yep. We've got bull snakes in our neighborhood and they look pretty similar minus the tell-tale rattler. The photo you showed is a snake with a rattle. Unfortunately for you, there is something in your area that attracts those little dudes. My in-laws are in Arizona and for whatever reason, they find rattlesnakes on their property a lot. Turns out, they are attracted to the neighbor's chicken eggs.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that this one just wandered a bit off course. If not, you are in for a hard time of it. My in-laws find at least 5-10 per month on their property...my mother-in-law went in their garage to do laundry and there was one next to the machine. Glad she turned on the garage light. Be very careful and you will have to keep a close eye on your kids because rattlesnakes like to hide in bushes, along the cement of driveways, in the a/c unit outside and in your gardening supplies. If there is a way for one of them to squeeze under or into something, they'll do it if they decide they like your house. If you've got a sand play toy in your backyard or your kid's play stuff is outside, you're going to have to move it.

Rattlesnakes tend to be attracted to warmth on cooler nights, so paving, concrete, etc. can be a real attraction at night this time of year. I had a friend who worked the graveyard shift at Martin Marietta southwest of Denver for years. He told of frequently having to dodge rattlers in the parking lot after a long night of work. Steady vibration in the ground will attract them, as well. Another friend, an oilfield geologist, told stories of watching rattlers crawl toward and onto running drilling rigs in eastern Montana.

As to attracting rattlers, lots of rattlers usually means lots of rodents. Truthfully, the risk of serious illness or dying is greater from hantavirus or the plague from rodents than the risk from rattlesnakes.

[bryada]

That's what you got, now make a belt or hat band!

[LisaCACO]

bummer!!! glad no one was hurt. can you tell us in what area you live? yikes!

[denverian]

Yeeechk! Those things just give me the willies! Glad no one was hurt though.