Be Extra Careful in the Woods

[Rapier]

Guys, a very serious warning; If you live in an area where the hog population is getting bad, watch yourself in the woods and try to avoid going out in the woods before daylight or after sunset. I now have had multiple reports from all over our area, of diamond back rattle snakes that do not rattle at all. People are walking up on them, then looking down to find a big rattler coiled at their feet, without any sound ever being made by a very dangerous snake.

The hog population is exploding and the hogs are killing the snakes the minute they make a sound. So as I understand the idea put forward by biologist, the snakes, in defense, have stopped rattling. This is going on all over the south. A rattle snake that does not make a sound before it bites is a very, very dangerous critter in the woods as far as I am concerned. Please warn your kids and your wives to look where they are walking if they go out in the woods or even the yard, if you live near an area where snakes may den up.

I just had two more incidents reported, with photos, yesterday and the first thing I asked was "did they rattle" and the answer in both instances was NO. This is now near a dozen reports of the exact same thing occurring, this year, from Pensacola to Marianna, FL. If it is occurring here it has to be going on in other hog infested areas as well.

Be careful, do not get bit.
Ed

[GoodOlBoy]

Rattlesnakes won't ALWAYS rattle if you have hogs or don't. Rattlesnakes only rattle if they detect you FIRST. If you are beeboppin through the woods at a good clip it ain't hard to surprise one and get struck. Remember this rattlesnakes, like cottonmouths, are born ticked off. Hot weather just makes them cranky, cold weather makes them mad, and medium weather turns them psycho.

GoodOlBoy

[Rapier]

GOB,
What I am telling you is that diamondbacks have stopped rattling in our area, period, at all times.
Ed

[Mr. 16 gauge]

We only have one venomous snake in Michigan (Massasauga rattlesnake)....fully protected by law; shoot one and you go to jail. We had a guy walking the trail at a nature center and he was bit by one and ended up in the hospital....didn't die, but was quite ill. Was walking with his younger children and was on a clear foot path when he was nailed.....he was walking close to the edge of the path and the snake was there.
I guess it kind of reasons that "natural selection" would now favor snakes that DIDN'T rattle....rattle, and you get your head blown off, eaten, picked up with snake tongs, ect. Don't rattle, and you go unnoticed.
I've noticed that other snakes (cotton mouths and copperheads) will vibrate their tails when nervous or excited....if there is dry leaves undernieth, it can sound like a rattlesnake. I've seen common banded water snakes (nonvenomous) do the same thing while trout fishing.

Rapier, I curious....do you have any problem with all the pythons that have supposedly been released in Florida? Some folks are pooh-poohing the problem and others relate it to Armageddon.....What is the Dept of Game & Fish stance on these critters? Are they "takeable" or are they to be left alone? Sure would like a pair of "python skin boots":D

[GoodOlBoy]

Interesting rapier, I would suggest calling a local university and letting them see if they want to try to get grants to study it (I am serious) I mean why not help them out by giving them another grant source, and let them document the incidents for prosperity. Down here it isn't as big a problem because we are up to our necks in copperheads this year. No rattling period so everybody is keeping a few extra eyeballs open.

GoodOlBoy

[buckhunter]

Iam sure glad we do not have them here (except for a small section of the metro area). I hate snakes.

[popplecop]

We have two different rattlers in Wisconsin, the largest is the Timber Rattlesnake and the other the Massasauga (Swamp) Rattlesnake. Years back have come across both species in the wild, never had a problem with them. I do have a lot of respect for them though. Both are now protected and the Massasauga consider endangered.

[Adam Helmer]

Guys,

We have rattlesnakes here in northcentral PA and all are "Protected" and monitored by the Boat & Fish Commission. I "protect" every rattler I see and fail to notify the Fish & Toad Folks. ah, yup, I knowed it right off. The ONLY Good Rattler is a ......!

Far too many protectionist folks NEVER saw a rattler in the wild. A .38 Special with snake loads keeps the yard safe for kids and pets.

Adam

[skeet]

Here in Wyoming it is considered your civic duty to protect dogs kids and ol folks by using a 38 with snake loads

[Jack]

38 shot loads work OK - 44 shot loads work better. :)

[skeeter@ccia.com]

The educated snake that don't rattle is along the same lines a few of us have figured out with the spring turkeys. I have so far had 2 cases where coyotes snuck in on decoys and attacked them....so with all the questioning as why don't the spring gobbler gobble anymore like they use to?....we figured if you make noise, you get eaten..I am sure turkeys and snakes in this case can learn???...squeaky wheel gets the ...38 load....hey that reminds me too..I know a bunch of other squeaky wheels lookin for grease....I also wouldn't like the kind of critters you have down that way...copperheads are pretty much everywhere around here this yr...

[GoodOlBoy]

I really enjoy seeing coyotes sneak up on anything that is within range of my current smokepole..... I can always use the practice....

GoodOlBoy