[cool][#0000ff]Over the years, I have received uncounted pictures and stories of TRUE STUFF...that never happened...or at least did not happen the way it said in the emails I got. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most common these days are pictures of fish, birds or animals that are unusual in size or situation, with captions that are designed strictly for sensational appeal. I especially love the ones of the big wels catfish, from Europe, that are touted as "world record flatheads" from the US...or even as fish that were caught by noodlers in Oklahoma.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also like the pictures of the dolphins surfing with human surfers...but labeled as great white sharks hunting for prey.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I was also amused by the picture of a guy in a Kayak, being followed by a big shark, and the story about how the guy had once befriended the shark and it forever followed him around like a puppy.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]What set off this tirade is a picture I just got that shows a guy holding a huge dead rattlesnake. (see attached picture) Here is the copy that was included in the email.[/#0000ff]
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[b][font "Times New Roman"][red][size 2]THEY GROW 'EM BIG IN[/size][/red][/font][blue] [/blue][red]Tooele County UTAH [/red][blue] [/blue][/b][size 2]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]This snake was recently found at the old[/font][/b][/size][b][font "Times New Roman"][blue] [/blue][/font][black]Wendover Military Base in Wendover Utah Tooele County.[/black][blue] [/blue][/b]
[b][size 2][#000000][font "Times New Roman"]A reminder that these creatures are actually out there and no matter
[b][b]what you believe, sometimes they should get not only prescriptive[/b][/font]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]rights to be there but the full right of way![/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]9 feet, 1 inch - 97 lbs.[/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]No matter what anybody else tells you, kill the snake before you try to do anything else to it! [/font][/b]
[b][font "Times New Roman"]It's the safest way for you and the snake doesn't care anymore.[/font][/b][/#000000][/size][/b][/b]
[#0000ff]I have been an amateur herpetologist for many years (study of reptiles). And I have spent a lot of time in the southeastern part of the US. I recognized the snake as an EASTERN DIAMONDBACK. The only way it could have been found in Utah was if someone brought it here just to scare the locals. Another fine example of internet hoaxes and fake photos.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]But...a big dang snake.[/#0000ff]
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I was a little worried when you said herpetologist there Pat....being in medicine and all[:p].
Big ol snake regardless of where he came from.
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[cool][#0000ff]No...not herpes...herpetologist...snakes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]"Herpes...the gift that keeps on giving".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was a zoology major in pre-med. I have always had a fascination for reptilians and all living creatures. I was reading early and had my own library card by age 5. The first books I checked out were on reptiles and dinosaurs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have seen several eastern diamondbacks between 6 and 7 feet long, but they are rare. The one in the picture would be a record since the OFFICIAL record is right at 8 feet...and weighed under 20 pounds.[/#0000ff]
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That's a purdy snake, even if it is "fake"!
But yeah, I was thinking that 9 feet and 97 pounds would fit a boa of some sort, not a rattler.
And why do we have to kill snakes when we encounter them? Aren't most bites caused by people trying to do something with them? I always figured that if you see a snake first (though sometimes bites come from accidentally stumbling on them without realizing they're there fist), either just stay still until they go away, or move away yourself if you can. Trying to handle them, for any reason, is just silly.
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[cool][#0000ff]You are right. You should never kill a snake...just because it is a snake. If it is taking up residence in a yard or area where pets and small children are at risk of being bitten, you should call animal control to come remove it...not kill it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]During the years we lived in Arizona, we hiked hundreds of square miles of desert habitat and we saw bajillions of snakes...both harmless and venomous. Almost without exception, the snakes made an effort to get away from us as soon as they knew we were near. Never had even the slightest inkling of aggression. In fact, we had times when we would walk by a rock or bush, with a rattler hiding under it, and when we looked back and saw that we could have been bitten, it was scary. But, unless you really get in their face or get them hot and bothered, it is rare for them to bite.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The newspapers in Arizona always warned people in the early spring to watch out for snakes that were migrating after coming out of their dens. The snakes were just moving to summer feeding or mating areas and seldom were a danger. But, there are always the wackos and macho types that have to show off to their buddies..."Here, hold my beer and watch this.". Almost always the cases of reported snake bite were because of some yoyo handling a snake when he should not have been doing so. True, there are bites recorded every year to careless hikers who step on snakes or suddenly appear and frighten them. They are just using their only defense mechanism and often do not have time to rattle...to warn the bitee.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In many areas, the farmers and other residents welcome the presence of ALL snakes. They do a great job of rodent control. And, some snakes seem to come to recognize the human residents of their domain and are very complacent about people coming close to look at them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Still, there are folks like TubeBabe. She is definitely not a "snake hugger". To the contrary, she has a highly developed "snake radar" and a "snake siren". Whenever we are hiking and I hear her hit "high Z" (musical note) I don't ask "What is it". I ask "Where is it". A harmless little blue racer once came across the water and thought she might be a friendly island in her float tube. Poor little thing couldn't understand all the screaming and the flailing of the water with the landing net. It is good that she saw the snake before it crawled up over her in the tube. She would have launched like a Polaris missile from a submarine.[/#0000ff]
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That's how it is with most animals. "You leave them alone, they'll leave you alone" as my dad says.
Like bats! There's a few roosting under our porch, and I wanted to know if he wanted me to find a way to make them leave. He said "Nah, they're good for eatin' all the bugs". So they're staying. And they're so cute! [laugh]
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[cool][#0000ff]Yep, bats are another critter that are often feared and misunderstood. Lots of "urban legends" and old wives tales about them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just don't get carried away and try to snuggle up to one. They are notorious for carrying rabies.[/#0000ff]
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That's a big sum beech. Highly unlikely it is real like you said, but as you know i am not a snake fan and have my own thoughts on the matter.[
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P.S., i think you posted this same pic last year(or someone else on the board).[crazy]
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I'm so glad someone here at BFT has a high respect for snakes. I share with TubeDude the same respect.
This silly attitude "The only good Rattlesnake is a dead Rattlesnake". Came from a guy that shot a 5 foot "Coontail" Rattlesnake.
Thats what a guy said when my step-dad, my mother and I were fishing a farm drainage ditch where the ditch met the Colorado River, this guy he shoots this 5 foot long Mohave Rattlesnake(they call them "Coontails" locally).
We hear this gunfire go off and he killed it. I could have seen it alive hadn't I walked down the sand dune from the snake.
I was going to walk where the snake was, it was at night and I had my flashlight of course.
When I saw the snake after this guy had killed it. It was huge. 5 foot long. I wasn't real offended when he shot it but still you should respect these animals.
Rattlesnakes help control rodent populations which are abundant along the Colorado River, also the Coyotes, another animal I love, help to reduce abundant Rabbit populations which eat the farmers alfalfa.
Yes I respect snakes, wouldn't want to get bit by one though.
We also seen Rattlers at my asphalt plant where I use to work in Arizona. Most of the time someone would kill them. But hey, the company had to show they were practicing safe work, you know[cool]
You won't ever hear of me killing one of them, nope, never.
Same with Tarantulas they get my respect. Scorpions are wonderful creatures too!
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While we're on the topic of snakes. Here's some pics I was sent of some "locals" comming out for the year. I have since recieved this email almost 10 times and each one has a slightly different story with the same pics. Go figure.
Here's the original message:
[size 2]Yesterday the family went out in the hills West of Riverton. We were rock hunting and picnicing and enjoying a spring day. Patrick, our son in law yelled out saying, 'come look at this big den of snakes'. We all tip toed in that direction for a look. Here is what we saw.[/size]
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So far all the messages have pointed to the South Hills area: Riverton, Herriman, and/or Bluffdale. I have spent my whole life stomping around this area and have never seen anything like this. True or not I don't care, they're pretty amazing animlas.
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[cool][#0000ff]I got that same email from a couple of sources and I posted it earlier on the main board.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]From what I have been able to find out, the "Riverton" is in WYOMING...not Utah.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As a 9 year old kid in Idaho, I once accidentally walked right into the middle of a huge den of timber rattlers just coming out for some early spring sunshine. They were still pretty cold and slow, and I was able to work my way back out. A couple of cousins heard me screaming and tossed me a long stick that I used to flip snakes out of my way as I went. I probably set a world record for snake tossing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]While living in Arizona I did about the same thing, while hiking up the side of a south facing slope. I am usually pretty cautious in snake country and am good at recognizing snakes, but on one hike I suddenly found myself surrounded by buzzing diamondbacks. And, they were warm enough to be active. But, like rattlers everywhere, they felt my vibrations and were just warning me to keep my distance. None of them moved toward me and I was able to backtrack out of the area. Gotta admit that my laundry bill went up though.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have seen quite a few snake dens, and have heard of many more. It is a natural thing for them to group up underground in the winter. They are cold blooded, but by massing together they conserve a bit of warmth until the first warming days of spring.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It really angers me when I hear about macho types that pour gasoline into snake dens and then light it on fire...or use explosives to kill the snakes and destroy the den. Not quite the same as killing puppies or kittens but still not a cool thing to do.[/#0000ff]
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[quote TubeDude][#0000ff][/#0000ff][#0000ff]..."Here, hold my beer and watch this."... [/#0000ff][/quote]
This reminds me of my favorite redneck joke..
Q: "What are the last words of a redneck before he dies?"
A: "Hey, watch this.."
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While it may be true that the photo is a hoax, the reason is NOT because it is an Eastern Diamondback. Take another look at the tail and note the black and white stripes just above the rattles...those denote the Western Diamondback. (That snake has been known to exceed 7 feet.)
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