Rattlesnakes

[hykurs]

I have encountered rattlesnakes close to Humber Park. Usually the very dark (almost black)variety. I almost stepped on a fat one last year that was stretch out behind a trail break and he never did buzz me. I've always felt pretty safe above 7000'. I'm curious - were the rattlers encountered near Saddle Junction on the trail or were you bushwacking in the rocky areas? Just curious...

[lee]

http://www.star-telegram.com/467/story/196725.html
Posted on Thu, Aug. 09, 2007
The Associated Press

Beheaded snake sends man to hospital

Turns out, even beheaded rattlesnakes can be dangerous. That's what 53-year-old Danny Anderson learned as he was feeding his horses Monday night, when a 5-foot rattler slithered onto his central Washington property, about 50 miles southeast of Yakima.

Anderson and his 27-year-old son, Benjamin, pinned the snake with an irrigation pipe and cut off its head with a shovel. A few more strikes to the head left it sitting under a pickup truck.

"When I reached down to pick up the head, it raised around and did a backflip almost, and bit my finger," Anderson said. "I had to shake my hand real hard to get it to let loose."

His wife insisted they go to the hospital, and by the time they arrived at Prosser Memorial Hospital 10 minutes later, Anderson's tongue was swollen and the venom was spreading. He then was taken by ambulance 30 miles to a Richland hospital to get the full series of six shots he needed.

The snake head ended up in the bed of his pickup, and Anderson landed in the hospital until Wednesday afternoon.

Mike Livingston, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, said the area where the Anderson's live is near prime snake habitat. But he said he had never heard of anyone being bit by a decapitated snake before.

"That's really surprising but that's an important thing to tell people," he said. "It may have been just a reflex on the part of the snake."

If another rattlesnake comes along, Anderson said he'll likely try to kill it again, but said he'll grab a shovel and bury it right there.

"It still gives me the creeps to think that son-of-a-gun could do that," he said.

[phydeux]

I've never worried too much about snakes. They are around at the lower elevations, but give them room and they'll wander away. If you're really concerned, wear some thicker (or leather) mid-height boots.

I'm more concerned about the local squirrels and chipmunks. In the more popular areas they've become so accustomed to humans that they'll stay close to you and steal anything you leave unattended for even a moment. Food, shiney pocket knives, compasses - they'll drag off anything.

[zippetydude]

Sounds to me like they're developing a Squirrel Commando Squad. Be sure to post if they begin to steal fire arms.

z

[Hikin_Jim]

For what it's worth, my little technique for dealing with rattlesnakes is to roll pebbles onto their back. If a rattler coils on me, I just gently roll some pebbles with a bowling like motion on to his back (from a distance!). Invariably, the snake slithers off, and I a) don't get bit and b) don't have to hurt the snake.

One note: rattlers, although you do see them, aren't so common that you're going to encounter them at every turn. Keep your eyes open, treat them with healthy respect, and everything should be OK.

Gun-wielding squirrels? Now, that's another matter entirely.

[phydeux]

Sounds to me like they're developing a Squirrel Commando Squad. Be sure to post if they begin to steal fire arms.

z

Not too worried about them yet. However, I'll really start worrying when they start sporting gang tats and driving SUV's with 22 spinners, X'd windows, pumped sounds, and wearing Oakland Raiders' logo gear.

[Hikin_Jim]

It's all that dang squirrel "bling" around their necks that really gripes me. It just isn't natural. Why, back in my day, the squirrels ...

[HikeUp]

...wearing Oakland Raiders' logo gear.

When will they finally realize that the Raider's are no longer an L.A. team?