Forget those flying ants--worried now about rattlesnakes! (2009, university)

[SunInHair]

We knew they were here but had never seen them in two years--Western Diamond Back Rattlesnakes--but discovered a dandy one under the juniper tree next to our road where we walk. This guy was olive green and 43 inches long! Husband shot him. Wondering how to discourage them (not the husbands, the snakes)

[AlisonL]

If I see any snakes, I will call you to come and safely remove them.

[GregW]

What would you do if Nature combined snakes, ants and made them the size of dinosaurs. Then you might have reason to shoot a flying six legged snake the size of a bus. I suggest just leaving it be. You are too big to eat.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by GregW

What would you do if Nature combined snakes, ants and made them the size of dinosaurs. Then you might have reason to shoot a flying six legged snake the size of a bus. I suggest just leaving it be. You are too big to eat.

Not worried about the eating more worried about the biting and then the aftereffects of that bite.

[tecpatl]

I just did a quickie Google of snakebite deaths, looking for info directly from the SW. Here is a paragraph, and some perspective, from a site about hiking in Arizona.
Note that a majority of bites were provoked by the bitee....probably some Einstein trying to pick up the snake by the tail or tease it. When such people succumb to their various idiotic adventures I call it thinning the herd.
Friday, March 27, 2009

Death from snake bite


There are 17 different species or subspecies of the rattlesnakes in Arizona. There were 202 rattlesnake bites reported to the poison control center at the University of Arizona which serves all of Arizona, except Maricopa County during 2006. However, 50 to 70% of all snake bites reported were provoked by the person who was bitten. From 2002 to 2007, Arizona had about one snakebite fatality a year. For comparison, lightning killed 17 people in Arizona from 1990 to 2003, so you are in slightly more danger dying from lightning than from snake bite.

But to get a handle on reality, in 2007 alone, Arizona had 1,066 traffic fatalities. You are, at least, a thousand times more likely to die in a traffic accident than you are to get bitten by a rattler

[RamblinRoseRanch]

Oh JEEZ! It's poisonous. It can hurt, maim, kill. It's not a damned bullsnake or a black snake or something scary looking that's benign. If she wants to kill the blasted thing, she can. It's not protected, so apparently the powers that be don't deem them worthy enough to protect. And yes, I killed one of the damned things in my garage, he was hiding under a bag of charcoal-right next to the kids' bikes. And if I see another one, i'll kill it too. I'm not hunting them, but if they're on my turf, game over.

Would you take the same stance on the killing of rattlesnakes if they were armed, dangerous humans?

Think about the number of people and animals that are injured or killed yearly because of rattler bites. You, of all people, Drac- experiencing the pain, suffering, tissue damage and lasting affects of something so simple, yet so complicated, as a cat bite, should realize this.

The diamondback is recognized as the snake responsible for the most injuries and deaths of all the rattlesnakes known.

I liken it to being the only survivor on a train besieged by robbers- they didn't shoot YOU, so they must be all right guys. The carnage left in their wake be damned.

[AlisonL]

Originally Posted by tecpatl

Note that a majority of bites were provoked by the bitee....probably some Einstein trying to pick up the snake by the tail or tease it. When such people succumb to their various idiotic adventures I call it thinning the herd.

In the other thread, you are telling us to catch and relocate the snakes. Make up your mind. If we relocate it and get bit, then we are idiotic. You can't have it both ways.

My family comes way before any damn venomous snake.

[chrokee69]

They say that the green mohave rattler is worse than the dbr. All I know is that I don't want to meet up with any of them. It was bad enough to have a copperhead on the front porch.

[ABQConvict]

Drunk drivers and people who can make phone calls or text while driving can be dangerous and kill people. They are far more prevalent in all parts of the state than rattlesnakes.

Yet, I am not allowed to shoot them on sight. :-(

ABQConvict

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by AlisonL

In the other thread, you are telling us to catch and relocate the snakes. Make up your mind. If we relocate it and get bit, then we are idiotic. You can't have it both ways.

My family comes way before any damn venomous snake.

I seriously doubt that the Einsteins that are provoking the snake are trying to "relocate" it. More likely tease it or the classic "Hey, watch this!" that usually preceeds some stupid self-induced injury.
Snakes don't move fast, are easy to maneuver into a cardboard box or bag with a long stick or similar tool. A rake works great, you can usually pick them right up and drop em in a container. I've done it plenty of times, have never come even close to being bitten.
As you can see by the stats. I posted previously, you're putting your family in far greater danger every time you get behind the wheel of a car to take junior and sis to the Dairy Queen. So I hope your family also comes before motorized transportation, the REAL danger in our lives, not the imaginary one.