06-12-2008, 02:50 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I got that same email from a couple of sources and I posted it earlier on the main board.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]From what I have been able to find out, the "Riverton" is in WYOMING...not Utah.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#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]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#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]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#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]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#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]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]From what I have been able to find out, the "Riverton" is in WYOMING...not Utah.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#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]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#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]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#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]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#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]
[signature]