Sesame found a rattler today while on her walk at the park that we visit twice a day. She was with her best friend Pancho. Suddenly the two of them went of like a three alarm fire. Me and Pancho's mom called 911 and in minutes had two cops on the scene. The rattler was a diamond back. It was stuck in some chicken wire fencing and could not get out. After spitting venom at the cop they decided to shoot it. Then they laid it out to measure; 4' long, 2.5" diameter, 7 rattles, an big ol snake.Just so ya know you have to kill them when they're found in places that people frequent. Rattlers are territorial and people get bit. Rumor has it the anti venom is so expensive our local hospital does not carry it, you'd have to be helicoptered to Albuquerque.
If you look close at the pic you can see him stuck in the fence. If there was any doubt, summer is officially here.
5 comments:
How does your dog react to a rattler? Asking cause that's one of my biggest fears I have letting my dog run free while with me. I usually see one a year here in PA. I imagine you see more. Thanks!
Both my dog and my friends dog clearly knew to be afraid. they were scared and responded by sounding an alarm. they stepped way back, barked and had all the signs of fear and concern.
Go Sesame. Go Pancho.
"Just so ya know you have to kill them when they're found in places that people frequent. Rattlers are territorial and people get bit."
As a trained herpetologist, I can assure you this is definitely NOT true. Old wives's tale, at best. If you don't want to leave them be (which I can certainly understand with one in the park), they can be easily herded with a broom into a garbage can, relocated, released, and never seen again (free to fulfill their very, very important role in the ecosystem). I do it all the time when they show up on my porch, in the barn, wherever. A 4 ft. western diamondback has a strike range of about 18" to 24", depending on the substrate, so use a standard length broom. (Duh!) Snakes will not chase you; they want to get away from you at least as much as you want to get away from them. Rattlesnakes are not aggressive but, when aroused, western diamondbacks can be downright ornery in their defensive actions.
By the by, we have so many rattlesnakes here that it is common to give dogs a rattlesnake vaccine annually (about $60-80). My dog was bitten two years ago and I'm confident the vaccine helped; by the time I was able to drive to the nearest emergency vet clinic for care, he had already started to recover. I renew the vaccine every year without fail!
where do you live patricio? here people tell many stories of releasing them and having them return. even the cops tell of it and so it has become city policy to kill them when they are where people frequent.
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