Rattlesnake Season Caution

[MrTShirt]

https://mynews4.com/news/local/rattlesn ... ern-nevada

[yuggnikih]

You guys have those deadly Coral snakes!  Every time I venture out when I'm down your way, I recite that little poem about their color rings: "Red Touches Yellow, Could Kill A Fellow" - "Red Touches Black, Is A Friend Of Jack".

Just another tidbit of knowledge is that "triangle-headed" snakes are usually deadly, regardless of color.  Another clue (if you get close) is the pupils in the eyes.  Venomous snakes have oblong pupils (cat eyes) whereas nonvenomous snakes have round pupils.

To me, it's an adrenalin rush to be hiking all alone in the deep forest wondering what danger lies ahead.  I guess I enjoy the edge?

Chicagobob,

...just to further clarify the part of your post I highlighted--there is an exception to that oblong pupil "rule" for snakes here in the US--the Coral snakes (poisonous) that have been mentioned. They have circular pupils and also don't have the triangular-shaped head since they aren't Pit-Vipers like the other 3 types of poisonous snakes in America (rattle snakes, water moccasins, copperheads), which have heat-sensing "pits" near each nostril that allow them to quite effectively hunt at night by striking at the heat source emitted by their prey. The Pit Vipers also have retractable fangs, unlike the fixed-length fangs of the Coral snakes, making the Pit Vipers fangs much longer and able to inject poison much deeper into their prey (or victim).

...regarding the triangle-shaped head of the Pit Vipers (poisonous) --it's more like an equilateral triangle (all sides equal), so it's more noticeable than the head of a non Pit Viper as that is more like isosceles triangle (two equal sides) and a bit more of an elongated head, so it can still look like a triangular head with a skinny neck but just not as pronounced as that of a Pit Viper. I mention this because I lost count of how many water moccasins (poisonous) my uncle killed & brought me to identify that turned out to be just common water snakes (non poisonous)--he didn't want any poisonous snakes on his property fearing his kids might get bitten.

[Prospector Bob]

When I was a wee tyke, every other summer, we would go on vacation out to California. There was mom & dad, grandma & six snot nose kids - my 4 siblings, a cousin (same cousin in my previous post in this topic) & me. The whole bunch of us were packed into my dad's 1950 Dodge sedan & hit the "Mother Road," US-66. US-66 was all two lane highway back in those days. The interstate system didn't exist yet.

I don't remember exactly where we were when my grandma said something to my dad in Spanish. Dad pulled off the highway, grandma got out of the car & headed for the bushes a few feet away. She wasn't gone long when we heard her scream. Yup, for sure, grandma peed on a rattler.  :o  She came hopping out from those bushes with her skivvies still around her ankles shouting, "Cascabel, Cascabel!" That's Spanish for rattler. I don't know what else grandma was saying but I'm pretty sure it was a whole lotta cussing with a bunch of "Dios mios" thrown in.

Mom & dad got out of the car to help grandma & tried to clam her down. She eventually calmed down after she had some of her medicine - raspberry flavored schnapps. Grandma never left home without it.   

Family vacation trips could be just that! A trip!  :o  LOL!

[AlexaWu]

My first encounter with a rattler was when I was visiting one of my friends in Arizona.  He took me out 4X4'ing in his Jeep and when we stopped for a rest, I was checking out the area when I heard that infamous rattling sound ...LOL.  He warned me before we headed out into the wild about the snakes and whatnot that we might encounter, so to be aware of where you're stepping at all times.

Needless to say, it scared the bejeezus out of me at first, since I knew it was a rattlesnake, but I didn't know which direction it was coming from.  Then my friend point out where the beast was located.  It was a huge diamond back about 20 feet from us, sitting under some brush. :o  Needless to say, we didn't hang around there for too long.  My friend said that he encounters rattlers all the time when he goes out 4X4'ing and hiking.  I guess when you've lived in rattlesnake country for years, you get use to having them around after awhile ...LOL

[emoji15] glad you guys were ok. That’s so scary and an adrenaline rush for sauté!


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[AlexaWu]

We love hiking and miss the dry western mountains. We’re always concerned about snakes and other wildlife... bears, coyotes, mountain lions.  Never want to hike alone.

Hurry and come over. This dry mountain misses you [emoji3064]


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[Dr. Who]

[emoji15] glad you guys were ok. That’s so scary and an adrenaline rush for sauté!


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I was in good hands, since my friend is well versed in survival training in the wilderness.  I've also done quite a bit of camping/fishing in my younger days with my dad and older brother, but mostly in the midwest.  Although, I still consider myself more of a city boy and I haven't gone on any camping/fishing trips in ages ...LOL

[Florida Couple]

Hurry and come over. This dry mountain misses you [emoji3064]


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