re: Saw a Massive Timber Rattlesnake Yesterday

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was just telling my wife yesterday about big fricking rattlesnakes at Radnor. She thought I was exaggerating. I'll have to show her this. We used to see them there all the time as kids when the park was less traveled. Bastards as thick as my calf. They're all up in those hills that run south in to Brentwood. A friend had a farm back on Holly Tree Gap, and they had a hollow called rattlesnake holler that was infested with those guys.

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Someone that we passed up the trail after seeing that one said that one was sitting on the trail and they tried to poke with a stick to go into the woods and it just sat there

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So leave it alone then. I allowed for that possibility. But I'm not handing out praise for that.

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I don't think anyone suggested "praise" for simply observing a wild animal.

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I didn't say shite about public safety or threats to it.

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Then why do you feel as though it should be killed??

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I don't think anyone suggested "praise" for simply observing a wild animal.

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This is exactly what I responded to:

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Good on you for not killing it

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I just don't agree with this.

There are giant expanses of land we've characterized as "wilderness," never to be civilized. In fact, there's more such land in many states than land that can be developed.

I encourage people to respect the law on such questions, but I have mixed feelings about it. I do not agree with the idea that the jungle is some kind of paradise that Man's civilizing influence has corrupted.

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I just don't agree with this.

There are giant expanses of land we've characterized as "wilderness," never to be civilized. In fact, there's more such land in many states than land that can be developed.

I encourage people to respect the law on such questions, but I have mixed feelings about it. I do not agree with the idea that the jungle is some kind of paradise that Man's civilizing influence has corrupted.

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I still don't quite understand your point.

Beyond your feelings that no land should be off limits to human development, what would be the actual reasoning behind killing an apex animal in it's natural habitat that poses about as much threat to humans as a lightning strike??

What is your reasoning for killing it, besides "because I can?"

Beautiful snake - I’m dying to catch a canebrake. Tried a spot in New Orleans East recently but came up empty (more worried about getting shot over there), Caught a couple dozen cottonmouths though this year, including this fat pregnant momma who was in a mulch pile next to my grandkids’ playhouse a few days ago...



They get ornery when you chase them down, but most are pretty docile once you pick them up.

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Tried a spot in New Orleans East recently but came up empty (more worried about getting shot over there), Caught a couple dozen cottonmouths though this year, including this fat pregnant momma who was in a mulch pile next to my grandkids’ playhouse a few days ago...

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There are a lot of animals in New Orleans East more dangerous than a cottonmouth.

Leave it be. Don't be scared, they won't harm you unless provoked.

Tin flipping for snakes

I’ve re-located probably 15 Timber rattlers out my yard in 20 years I’ve been here.They’re surprisingly non-aggressive ,they coil up and rattle like hell.When I try to get a grip on their heads with my snake catcher,they pull their head in the coil.Eventually when they realize I’m not leaving them alone they uncoil and try to get away.I catch them,put them in a feed sack and haul them off 5 miles or so to un- populated area.I’ve only ever had 2 strike at my snake catcher.
I see pictures of rattlesnakes guys killed ,proud like they slayed a dragon.People that don’t know any better are impressed.
Copperheads I find in my yard are a different story,I kill them ASAP.They are aggressive when they feel threatened and readily strike.I don’t want to chance grandkid or dog to get bitten.Out in the woods,I don’t mess with them.
Rat snakes in my chicken house I kill,around the yard or under my tractor shed I leave them alone.Actually around my tractors I like them,I’ve had rats chew wires on my tractors.
I really don’t understand the mentality that people have that the only good snake is a dead snake.They have their place in the environment,I don’t like them to the point I would want one for a pet.