Friend or foe

[chrisb]

DIC = Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), also known as consumptive coagulopathy, is a pathological activation of coagulation (blood clotting) mechanisms that happens in response to a variety of diseases. DIC leads to the formation of small blood clots inside the blood vessels throughout the body.[1] As the small clots consume coagulation proteins and platelets, normal coagulation is disrupted and abnormal bleeding occurs from the skin (e.g. from sites where blood samples were taken), the digestive tract, the respiratory tract and surgical wounds. The small clots also disrupt normal blood flow to organs (such as the kidneys), which may malfunction as a result.[2]
DIC can occur acutely but also on a slower, chronic basis, depending on the underlying problem.[3] It is common in the critically ill, and may participate in the development of multiple organ failure, which may lead to death.[4]

[boneaddict]

Yep, essentially you start clotting and if you survive that (kinda hard on organs) you start bleeding from everywhere.  
As a bloodbanker, I throw all sorts of products at you as fast as I can, but your chance of survival sucks.  Its called the coagulation cascade as there are a ton of things that have to work in order for you to clot normally.  The original Cascade failure.   GENERALLY one of the biggest killers with snakebite.  The toxin starts the Cascade failure, and you go into DIC.  Even with anti-venom as by now, the venom has nothing to do with your death.  It jsut started the cascade failure.

[markts]

Hey Bone, how many times have your boots been bit Mark

[boneaddict]

Couple times.   Usually from stupidity, like trying to step on their head or something like that.  This time of year, they mostly want to get away from you, unless you pinch them with a rock or something.

Every year I find snakes with their rattles cut off.  I HATE that.  So, I make sure their head is munched before or after I do any cutting.

Best way to stop a snake is to bust them in the midsection.  They can't crawl that way.  You shoot them in the head and if its hot, they have the ability to shoot off into their exit. 

HOWEVER, this means their business end works just fine when you go to cut their tails off. 

BY THE WAY, you go to cut their tails off, BEWARE, they often shoot pure ammonia at you through their anus.  Its in a fan shape, so make sure you aren't angled at it.   You don't want to be standing in a rockslide with a 1,000 rattlers blind, or worse, bent over puking if it gets in your mouth. Its NASTY.   

[Shootmoore]

Reminds me of my younger days, a find like that always called for the old deasel mix.  Get a good burn going at the den and then a forked stick hunt for rattles, skins and meat from the ones that were fast enough to get away.

Shootmoore

[Quackwhacker]

Looks like you need some good snake recipes! Awesome pics. Your a braver man than me.

[predatorpro]

the hemo toxin in rattle snakes have more than just one protein strand designed to kill you

[BIGMIKE]

cooool pix. I have'nt seen those in the wild.

[Hornseeker]

I stumbled over, possibly that den, once a long time ago... and was not ready for the number of rattles that I heard directly below me... My reaction was pretty dumb...I came off that talus slope at a skip and jump pace... somehow didn't get hurt... SURE glad I wasn't carrying anything expensive like a cam, gun or binos at the time!!!

I've long forgiven Doug for his rattlesnake vendetta... but I maintain there is a good reason they are out there...just like all the other critters in the woods... guess its the ecologist coming out in me....

[bowhunterforever]

i've got that ammonia sprayed on my hands more then once while cutting of there rattles.

[robb92]

Cool pics!!! Thanks for posting them!!!!

[boneaddict]

Hands one thing, face another.......thats nasty stuff.   

[saylean]

great pics man. I love snakes! Used to catch em all the time as a kid...well...red racers and gardeners...no rattlers...

[boneaddict]

Thanks!

Here is one waiting for the back of someones leg as they step over the rock

[boneaddict]

notice anything wrong here.  I put down the lens and went on, then came back for it.....