Rattlesnake season. Lookout.

[Westerly Wood]

 

[Westerly Wood]

That was 3rd one I saw on my walk. Crazy.

 

[davismanLV]

Anytime I saw one close to the house or the barn, I killed it. I like snakes and I'm fine with them. Rattlesnakes, not so much. And if you surprise one, it's usually bad.

 

[JavelinaJoe]

The one in the picture looks like a gopher snake, not a rattler. Don't see a rattle on the tail end. Those are good snakes.

 

[Stuball48]

Cannot appreciate snakes.
I have a friend who puts the rattlesnake rattlers inside the soundhole on his acoustic guitars.

 

[HeyMikey]

There is something very good to be said for winters.

 

[Default]

They taste like a a mixture of 1/3 chicken and 2/3 bass.

 

[matsickma]

Cooked one in butter and garlic back in college. Killed it at the edge of a parking lot. Was surprised of the minimum meat on my specimen. Essentially pulled the meat running along the two sides of the "spine". The taste reminded me of cooked frog legs a home restaurant had on their menu.

Had many a run-ins with them as a kid. Walking the railroad tracks up to the pipeline that crossed the creek that lead to the "snake patch" that overgrew along the pipeline running down from the mountain hallows dam. My dad taught us never to walk in the back mountain roads tire run outs at night. Told us to walk single file on the center road hump because rattle snakes and other snakes were known to coil up in the road tire runout to conserve heat after dark. Actually found the railroad tracks to be more of a issue with snakes. They liked the warmth of the steel rails. We learned to walk on top of the rails at night and if a rattler let off his rattle call we ran like hell on top of those rails!

No one I knew ever got bit but scared the crap out of us especially when you heard the rattles but we're in too much cover to see where the bugger was laying!
M

 

[Guildedagain]

My neighbor puts rattles in his '53 D18.

Keep your eyes peeled. I guarantee you're more likely to step on one than see it.

 

[Westerly Wood]

My neighbor puts rattles in his '53 D18.

Keep your eyes peeled. I guarantee you're more likely to step on one than see it.

I used to hike a lot in surrounding foothills, long ago, after work, so basically dusk till dark. And during all seasons. Literally would not be abnormal to step right over one sleeping on the trail, warming itself.

 

[Guildedagain]

The way the blend in is canny.

With the coral snake type, they can roll over and bite, a typical snake bite scenario, stepping on one.

Crotalidae are not anywhere as likely to or simply unable to bite like that, not that you'd want to find.

Here's a bit of odd rattlesnake lore.

The Eastern Diamondback featured on the Gadsden Don't Tread on Me flag can be up to a 10lb 8' long snake with 1.5" fangs, though typically less than 6', it's still the biggest venomous snake in North America, scary as all get out. This is an apex predator, a very important role, if they make it to adulthood. I'm confused as to the flag's use of the snake since it was routinely and ruthlessly hunted and killed - and eaten - in organized drives throughout the last few centuries, maybe still today, the flag itself from 1775.

I guess the flag basically says don't step on snakes, it's very good as a PSA, or is it standing up for the snake's right not to be stepped on as if we we were empathizing with snakes as victims of oppression because we oppress them?

Choose your favorite!

Timber Rattlesnake vs Eastern Diamondback: What Sets These Fanged Serpents Apart?

Key differences of timber rattlesnake vs eastern diamondback are their habitat and range, physical markings, size and behavior.

a-z-animals.com

 

[twocorgis]

There is something very good to be said for winters.

I was just about to say that I'm glad I live somewhere that they (or any other venomous snakes) don't!

 

[RBSinTo]

Westerly Wood,
Thanks for the reminder.
I shook my Gibson case this morning and something inside it rattled.
Might be the picks or maybe a Rattlesnake. Am currently getting up my nerve to take a peek.
I'll letcha know.
RBSinTo

 

[sailingshoes72]

Cannot appreciate snakes.
I have a friend who puts the rattlesnake rattlers inside the soundhole on his acoustic guitars.

I have heard of that tradition, especially with Bluegrass and Country musicians. I believe it started with fiddle players and then was taken up by mandolin players and guitar players. In folk tales the rattle can help ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Bill Monroe was said to keep a rattlesnake rattle in his mandolin.

Here's the most common explanation of the origins of the practice that I've read: (from a post on AGF from user "catdaddy")

FWIW- The origins of placing a rattlesnake rattle in an instrument started in the 1800's with fiddle players. It was a common belief among "mountain folk" that the devil played the fiddle, and women would often refuse to allow fiddles to be kept inside their house for that reason. As a consequence fiddles were often kept in a barn where mice were inclined to nest in them. Fiddle players, in an effort to prevent the mice from making a home of their instruments came up with the idea of placing a rattlesnake rattle inside their fiddles to ward off mice. In time the belief developed that these rattles actually benefited the sound of the fiddle by "singing" along with sympathetic vibrations. Eventually, some guitar players took up the practice in attempt to enhance the sound of their instruments.

Does it work? I have no idea, but I'm not inclined to attempt to separate some member of the Crotalus genus from his tailpiece to find out!

 

[Stuball48]

Sailingshoes72
You second explanation is what was handed down to me by my father (born 1898) and always had an old guitar around to thump on at get togethers on weekend country dances.
Yep, "keeps them mice and rats away."

 

[geoguy]

I'm confused as to the flag's use of the snake since it was routinely and ruthlessly hunted and killed - and eaten - in organized drives throughout the last few centuries, maybe still today, the flag itself from 1775.

I guess the flag basically says don't step on snakes, it's very good as a PSA, or is it standing up for the snake's right not to be stepped on as if we were were empathizing with snakes as victims of oppression because we oppress them?

I've seen rattlesnakes in New York, near the New Jersey state line. Have yet to see one in New England, but I assume they are around, perhaps in the Berkshires (western Mass., near NY). Have also come across copperheads in western Connecticut.

A rattlesnake was used by Ben Franklin to represent the American colonies in an early political cartoon, back in the day.

Here's some backstory info re: the symbolism of rattlesnakes in the American colonies, and the Gadsden (Don't Tread on Me) flag:

Gadsden flag - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[fronobulax]

I'm confused as to the flag's use of the snake since it was routinely and ruthlessly hunted and killed - and eaten - in organized drives throughout the last few centuries, maybe still today, the flag itself from 1775.

The Wikipedia article on the flag, does not set off my BS detector. The use of the rattlesnake in the colonies dates back to at least 1751 and it was seen as a symbol of the colonies - something the New World had that the old world did not.

In December 1775, Benjamin Franklin published an essay in the Pennsylvania Journal under the pseudonym "American Guesser" in which he suggested that the rattlesnake was a good symbol for the American spirit and its valuation for vigilance, assertiveness, individualism, unity, and liberty:

[...] there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, "Don't tread on me." [...] she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders [...] The Rattle-Snake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary for their preservation [...] 'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. [...] The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her.

Describing what may be local history for you at some time in your past the snake was used on the flag of the Culpeper Minute men because

the rattlesnake had special significance. Like liberty, the rattler was found only in America. But that wasn't all. That wily serpent was usually just a harmless, humble creature. But aroused, angered, and prodded, first it warned with violent rattle then it struck with a deadly bite.

It would seem that the rattlesnake has acquired a negative reputation over the centuries. No surprise considering the turkey was once a viable candidate for the national bird.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Westerly Wood,
Thanks for the reminder.
I shook my Gibson case this morning and something inside it rattled.
Might be the picks or maybe a Rattlesnake. Am currently getting up my nerve to take a peek.
I'll letcha know.
RBSinTo

Never open that case again, RB.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Our last house had more land and we’d find rattlesnake skins all over. Shedding. But no rattlesnakes did we ever see. Cause there was a King snake that also lived on our property and they eat rattlers. King snakes are good!

 

[Guildedagain]

We got bull snakes here, and the babies are out right now.

Great video.

Bullsnakes vs Kingsnakes (Behavior, Diet, Habitat, Pet Care) – Fauna Facts

faunafacts.com