Rattlers out and about

[boneaddict]

I've wanted to photo them in the fall, just always chasing other critters.  I run into them when I am chasing sheep.  Most of the time they slither off.  Every once in awhile I get a pissy one and as Kopperbuck said, if its in the yard it dies.

[boneaddict]

Personally, I hate mice more than I do snakes.  I have killed the hell out of them at times, but for the most part I just play with them now.

[furiouzgeorge]

I grew up with rattle-snakes in the Southern California foot hills. I hate 'em but you learn to live with them. I suppose it's a whole other story when you have a bird dog you might lose to it. Of course our domestic dogs never got bit as far as I could tell.

[Jonathan_S]

Personally, I hate mice more than I do snakes.  I have killed the hell out of them at times, but for the most part I just play with them now.

Mice are little terrors  reminds me of an argument with a co-worker after I killed a rattlesnake.

"Leave them alone, they kill mice."  He said.

"So do coyotes, hawks, badgers, foxes, bobcats, housecats and poison."    If I'm out in the boonies, I'll leave a snake alone but if it's anywhere near any houses...

[Shoffy]

I don't think they are as poisonous as people think they are. They are not Cottonmouths or Diamond Backs. I looked into it and I guess that no one has ever died from a rattlesnake bite in Washington.... Or it has never been reported.
Years ago a vet told me that he treated a dog that got bit by one, and he got sick, but it didn't die.
I guess they make a anti-venom for dogs, but it's like $1000 or something stupid
I've ran into them (and killed them) in Yakima before

[hunter12]

The shot for dogs is reasonable. Only 35.00 from my vet.

[boneaddict]

I don't think they are as poisonous as people think they are. They are not Cottonmouths or Diamond Backs. I looked into it and I guess that no one has ever died from a rattlesnake bite in Washington.... Or it has never been reported.
Years ago a vet told me that he treated a dog that got bit by one, and he got sick, but it didn't die.
I guess they make a anti-venom for dogs, but it's like $1000 or something stupid
I've ran into them (and killed them) in Yakima before

Not true.  Not sure where you looked.   Is that sort of like wolf attacks?   Most of the time they don't zap you with venom when they nail you.   If they do its nasty.  last fatality we had here recently died from DIC from the bite. Mountian biking if I remember right.   Maybe that's what they classify as cause of death.  There was also another guy killed in Vantage.  Bit in the neck while climbing up a steep hill.  I think he was looking for rocks if I remember right.  That's just this local area in fairly recent times.

[AspenBud]

I don't think they are as poisonous as people think they are. They are not Cottonmouths or Diamond Backs. I looked into it and I guess that no one has ever died from a rattlesnake bite in Washington.... Or it has never been reported.
Years ago a vet told me that he treated a dog that got bit by one, and he got sick, but it didn't die.
I guess they make a anti-venom for dogs, but it's like $1000 or something stupid
I've ran into them (and killed them) in Yakima before

Not true.  Not sure where you looked.   Is that sort of like wolf attacks?   Most of the time they don't zap you with venom when they nail you.   If they do its nasty.  last fatality we had here recently died from DIC from the bite. Mountian biking if I remember right.   Maybe that's what they classify as cause of death.  There was also another guy killed in Vantage.  Bit in the neck while climbing up a steep hill.  I think he was looking for rocks if I remember right.  That's just this local area in fairly recent times.

 

They had a gal down in Oregon bit by a Northern Pacific, she was featured on some show about snake bites on Animal Planet or whatever a few years ago. They showed pictures of her leg post bite and it was black and blue from her waste down to her ankle.

My wife has also seen a dog that eventually had to have a leg amputated thanks to one down there.

The only rattlesnake that I think is not so worrisome is the Massassauga and they don't occur here, they are small, and their fangs are the shortest of the bunch. But people still have to go to the hospital, sometimes even be airlifted, when bit by one.

Rattlesnake vaccine is literally cheap insurance for a dog. Just too bad it doesn't prevent the tissue damage, only the allergic reaction.

[Jonathan_S]

I don't think they are as poisonous as people think they are. They are not Cottonmouths or Diamond Backs. I looked into it and I guess that no one has ever died from a rattlesnake bite in Washington.... Or it has never been reported.
Years ago a vet told me that he treated a dog that got bit by one, and he got sick, but it didn't die.
I guess they make a anti-venom for dogs, but it's like $1000 or something stupid
I've ran into them (and killed them) in Yakima before

Not true.  Not sure where you looked.   Is that sort of like wolf attacks?   Most of the time they don't zap you with venom when they nail you.   If they do its nasty.  last fatality we had here recently died from DIC from the bite. Mountian biking if I remember right.   Maybe that's what they classify as cause of death.  There was also another guy killed in Vantage.  Bit in the neck while climbing up a steep hill.  I think he was looking for rocks if I remember right.  That's just this local area in fairly recent times.

   the woman who leased to a farmer I worked for in high school died of a snake bite and so did one of my dad's friends.     this was all in between 2004 and 2007, in one county.

I think Machias had a poor hound die from just a little bite.  They're nasty b@$t@rds and it doesn't take much to kill.

[scout/sniper]

They aren't poisonous, you can eat them.
However, they are venomous and just as dangerous as any other pit viper.
They have the most advanced venom delivery system on the planet.
Just leave them alone, they aren't after you, you are in their home.
They are an amazing animal, just give them some space.

[merkelman]

Good to know as we will be in the area next Saturday or Sunday.

[KopperBuck]

I spent two days in the hospital over my ordeal. I got lucky, it only got me with one fang - thankfully since it was a younger one.

[Shoffy]

I stand corrected I guess.... sorry for not being a biologist... After seeing a ton of them one year chukar hunting I was trying to look up info on them and I swore I read they were not as "venomous" as they apparently are

[MP123]

The shot for dogs is reasonable. Only 35.00 from my vet.

Yup, same here.  Seems like cheap insurance if your dog will be around snakes.  Now why they don't have a version for people for $35 I have no idea 

[AspenBud]

I stand corrected I guess.... sorry for not being a biologist... After seeing a ton of them one year chukar hunting I was trying to look up info on them and I swore I read they were not as "venomous" as they apparently are

Compared to a Mohave rattler or a western or eastern diamondback they aren't as bad. But don't let that lull you into thinking they aren't dangerous.