Little Diamondback

So this afternoon there was a little two year old female rattler in the front yard. Put her in a container to move her later this evening.

Go out later to check for mail, which is at the end of my 22' driveway. Used a flashlight going and turned it off heading back to house. Reach the sidewalk and a rattler starts buzzing right behind me.

He's EXACTLY where I had just walked and fortunately he didn't hit me. Must have been the female's boyfriend - after all it is mating season. Evidently he was outside the garage trying to locate the female. It would have been my fault as I really know better. I was just plain lucky. They went for a little ride down the street where they can play to their impassioned heart's content.

That makes for seven or eight in the past year.

AND that's why I don't live in AZ! Screw that! I am a bit ophidophobic.

I need to avoid where you live.

Diamondbacks (here, not everywhere) are pretty mellow. It's the Mojaves that are scary. They look just like a db but are very nervous and have a very toxic venom. They will strike right away but fortunately they rattle as soon as they see you. They will also spring about 5' to get away from you. They've done it twice to me and scared the mess out of me. Gonna have to start wearing "Oops I Crapped My Pants" brand adult diapers.

In reply to Hasbro: It's gator mating season here in Florida.

I wonder when our BIG snakes are going to get frisky. We have over 100,000 pythons in the Everglades, and they are breeding quickly. Bunch of gators, big iguanas, wild hogs, bears, rattlers, water moccasins, coral snakes, and pesky New Yorkers.

cwh wrote: Bunch of gators, big iguanas, wild hogs, bears, rattlers, water moccasins, coral snakes, and pesky New Yorkers.

Gators, hogs, bears and snakes? Them's is good eatin's. Can't say for the New Yorkers though.

cwh wrote: I wonder when our BIG snakes are going to get frisky. We have over 100,000 pythons in the Everglades, and they are breeding quickly. Bunch of gators, big iguanas, wild hogs, bears, rattlers, water moccasins, coral snakes, and pesky New Yorkers.

I'll take the rest over the New Yorkers any day. New Yorkers are a lot more trouble and there's no hunting season for them.

Difficult to clean, too.

Do they let you hunt the invading snakes in the Everglades? I read that they were trying to sterilize them instead of kill them...didn't make much sense to me either.

killerkane wrote: Do they let you hunt the invading snakes in the Everglades? I read that they were trying to sterilize them instead of kill them...didn't make much sense to me either.

Yes, they do
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/02/22/snake-hunting-season/
http://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nonnative-species/python-permit-program/

Sweet! So the second link says you have to be a Florida resident and that you cannot use firearms, but the first one says you can use pistols, centerfire, and shotguns?

I'm disappointed that out of state residents can't get a license.

Sometimes I run into a bunny rabbit in my driveway. Less scary.

pinchvalve wrote: Sometimes I run into a bunny rabbit in my driveway. Less scary.

Dropping your guard will get you killed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCI18qAoKq4

Hasbro wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: Sometimes I run into a bunny rabbit in my driveway. Less scary.

Dropping your guard will get you killed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCI18qAoKq4

We just need the holy hand grenade.

Salanis wrote:

cwh wrote: Bunch of gators, big iguanas, wild hogs, bears, rattlers, water moccasins, coral snakes, and pesky New Yorkers.

Gators, hogs, bears and snakes? Them's is good eatin's. Can't say for the New Yorkers though.

I've eaten a New Yorker or two... they squirm a lot and yank your ears.

I think you might be talking about a Jersey girl. Close, but not the same.

byron12 wrote:

Hasbro wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: Sometimes I run into a bunny rabbit in my driveway. Less scary.

Dropping your guard will get you killed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCI18qAoKq4

We just need the holy hand grenade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrgLj9lOwk

Hasbro wrote: It's the Mojaves that are scary. They look just like a db but are very nervous and have a very toxic venom. They will strike right away but fortunately they rattle as soon as they see you. They will also spring about 5' to get away from you. They've done it twice to me and scared the mess out of me. Gonna have to start wearing "Oops I Crapped My Pants" brand adult diapers.

Never heard of them, but they sound scary. Did some quick searching to learn more about them and came across this picture.

Yikes! Adult diapers would definitely be needed by me!!

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

Salanis wrote:

cwh wrote: Bunch of gators, big iguanas, wild hogs, bears, rattlers, water moccasins, coral snakes, and pesky New Yorkers.

AAAYYY!!! Ba dUm tsch! Gators, hogs, bears and snakes? Them's is good eatin's. Can't say for the New Yorkers though.

I've eaten a New Yorker or two... they squirm a lot and yank your ears.

dyintorace wrote:

Hasbro wrote: It's the Mojaves that are scary. They look just like a db but are very nervous and have a very toxic venom. They will strike right away but fortunately they rattle as soon as they see you. They will also spring about 5' to get away from you. They've done it twice to me and scared the mess out of me. Gonna have to start wearing "Oops I Crapped My Pants" brand adult diapers.

Never heard of them, but they sound scary. Did some quick searching to learn more about them and came across this picture. Yikes! Adult diapers would definitely be needed by me!!

Yeah, they are little devils. I remove snakes as a side job (good money) in my development and this winter a big male came out for some sun, been trying to get this guy for 6 months. I came around the corner of the house and he was already up in striking position before even seeing me. He was so cold from sleeping he could barely strike 6 inches. But he sure tried. They will do some serious damage and can put you in the hospital for a month.

awww...snake? Thats nothing exciting...I though this thread was going to be about Diamond Backs

I hear they taste like chicken. I'd be more for eating them than just moving them. If you move them they breed and then there's just more of the little buggers to deal with.

carguy123 wrote: I hear they taste like chicken. I'd be more for eating them than just moving them. If you move them they breed and then there's just more of the little buggers to deal with.

They make nice hat bands as well.

In reply to carguy123:

+1 for eating what you're gonna kill.