Rattlesnake Thread (Albuquerque, Moriarty: to live in, cabin, license)

[GregW]

Keep the snakes around. They eat the rodents that eat your garden. Just pay attention so you hear the warning rattle and then walk around the snake.

[RamblinRoseRanch]

Speaking of... we took the kids up to Cades Cove(Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cades Cove (U.S. National Park Service)) yesterday to play in the swimmin' hole and stopped at the CC campground store for some chocolate soft serve and as I was exiting the women's restroom, there was a crowd gathered around outside... a black snake, probably five feet long, was meandering around the walkway, tryin' his (her?) darndest to get into the women's bathroom. These little boys were edging closer and closer, trying to look at him while their moms were nervously pulling them back or telling them to leave it alone. I waited for the girls to come out, because I KNEW if my kids walked out of the bathroom and saw the snake, they'd turn around and go right back in :0)
Before we left, someone came to move the snake to a less populated area and discovered that there were two there- the larger one and one only about half his size.

[tator89]

when i was little my dad live out in the country and the closest neighbor was like three miles away. i was staying with my dad one weekend and i was out in the pasture hiking and i was just standing there looking around then i hear a rattler and i look down and there was on right next to where its home was. i just stood there thinking if i moved the snake probably would of bit me. luckily it went back in its home and i continued on hiking.

[Pipitl]

Tecpatl, thank you for your perspective on the subject. You remind me that we have lost our balance with nature. The white man's way has been to kill and destroy. It has led us to where our world is now: on the brink of the extinction of many species, including ours. I understand people's fears leading them to want to kill the snakes, as it fits their views on life. As long as the paradigm remains, they will continue to feel perfectly rational and entitled to destroy anything around them.
I think of the wonderful mesquite plants that nature in its infinite wisdom has given the desert dwellers. People move to this region from the northern states and start pulling them and burning them because of their thorns. Some research shows that the natives had many uses for this plant, including food (the pods have protein), drinks, fibers for basket weaving, etc. the mesquite saved many lives when there was no other food to be had.
Times are changing and the planet is becoming less forgiving. I commend you on your views and hope some will listen and review their ideas.

[Chilegal1]

Originally Posted by Pipitl

I think of the wonderful mesquite plants that nature in its infinite wisdom has given the desert dwellers. People move to this region from the northern states and start pulling them and burning them because of their thorns. Some research shows that the natives had many uses for this plant, including food (the pods have protein), drinks, fibers for basket weaving, etc. the mesquite saved many lives when there was no other food to be had.

I have used the pods for jelly and its so good! But the fibers for weaving, can you tell me a bit more about that? I would love to add it to my gourds. You can PM me if you want.
Thanks, Jane

[Cathy4017]

Don't forget about the beautiful wood--I'd love to have a mesquite table, but they are heavy and very expensive.

The wood is also wonderful for flavoring grilled beef.

The Apaches and other Indian tribes had multiple uses for everything mesquite--the beans were ground into flour to make flatbread.

[mike b 1]

So, Pissitl say's it's the White mans fault? Isn't that racist (moderator)?

[mike b 1]

The Apache had many uses for Mesquite wood. One of them was to tie a man upside down on a wagon wheel, with his head about a foot off the ground and start a small, hot mesquite wood fire under his head untill it exploded. This is mentioned in the book: ARIZONA IN THE 50's, (auther:James Tevis).

[Cathy4017]

One gristly torture among many.....

[berncohomes]

Wife just looked out of my sons bedroom window and saw a few inches of green striped snake with a rattle on the end disappear from view. She called me and I saw the end of it so I went out and saw nothing except a 1" gap in between old railways ties.

I just googled the description and it kept bringing back Mojave Rattlesnake which is supposedly the most aggressive and poisonous of rattlers! Thing is they are only supposed to be in the very southern parts of NM.

Has anyone else seen one of these or had dealings with them?