Finally someone is willing to stick up for old no-shoulders. Snakes suffer from a distinct lack of cuddle factor. Imagine the reaction to a common sentiment with regard to snakes if we sub in another creature: "I hate bunnies! They give me the creeps. Every time I see one, I run for the hoe. I kill all I can and just leave 'em laying." Need I even mention recent threads regarding a fawn in a garden?

I'm proposing a whitetail roundup...

A couple points I'd like to make here:

Uwurst, I'm not talking about the individual killing of a specific problem rattler. I'm also not talking about the killing of a rattler to throw in a frying pan.

I'm talking about the knee-jerk killing of any rattler a person happens to come across in the wild for no good reason other than it's a snake. I'm talking about the wholesale slaughter of thousands of rattlesnakes at rattlesnake roundups and the tactics used by a lot of rattlesnake hunt contestants to collect those snakes, i.e. gassing dens, etc.

As for your allegation that rattlers are a problem, I don't disagree that snakebite is something ranchers sometimes have to deal with, but I'm not sure I buy the argument that it's a big problem. I live right in the middle of ranch/rattlesnake country and I sure don't hear anything about cattle and horses routinely dropping dead left and right from snakebites.

I run and train my dogs in some pretty snakey country. I hunt and fish in some pretty snakey country. It's just something you deal with and adjust to, and I don't think I have the right to automatically kill every rattlesnake I come across just because some people don't like them. So if you think that equates me with PETA or the New York Times??...well, OK.

Bryan01, do I know for sure the circumstances surrounding this photograph? Of course not.

However, I feel pretty confident about my assumptions based on the photograph.

One, the person in the picture was actively hunting snakes, otherwise he wouldn't be using a commercial snake catcher. There's really not a helluva lot you can use a snake catcher for, other than catching snakes. I know, because I own one.

Two, the snake was obviously killed by a blow right behind the head.

Three, it's also obvious from the picture the snake was freshly killed since it's draped like a wet noodle in the jaws of the catcher.

Four, I really don't know what you mean by he may have killed it in "defense". Like what, the snake was charging him, fangs bared and all?

Let me state my opinion on that and then all the Internet experts out there can chime in and refute me.

With a few exceptions most rattlesnake bite victims end up in that unfortunate position through sheer stupidity, the "Hold Mah Beer And Watch This" mentality of the legions of dumbasses out there who, when confronted with a snake, are genetically programmed to demonstrate how thoroughly modern society has corrupted natural selection, because otherwise they would have exited the gene pool long ago.

Truthfully, it takes some real doing to even get a rattlesnake to strike at you. I know, because I've caught (and released) a lot of them. Every time I encounter a rattlesnake in the wild I'm amazed at how hard they try to convince you just to leave them alone.

All they want to do is get the hell away from you as quickly as they can, unless of course they're trapped in a corner or up against a rock and they're being poked at by someone who feels they're doing the world a real favor by persecuting and ultimately killing an animal whose only crime is not being cuddly and anthropomorphic.

Shane

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I fully agree with you on the waste and 'manly' issues Chad. Good on you for bringing it up.

We should also condone the re-location of prairie dogs. I think it is is awesome to see someone who never had them wind up with someone trucking them out and putting them on there property to save them from death on a construction site.Now they have a problem that will never leave.Lets not make Peta mad whatever we do, lets keep letting the wolves destroy our way of life so we don't tick off Peta.I would never kill a snake that is not venomous but rattlers have killed horses and cattle where I live. It's not pretty,besides, rattlesnakes are mighty tasty. But a vegetarian would not have tried one to know that. You sir need to be writing for the New York times!

Just tuning in. Glad to see Chad's position on this sort of thing, and also the supportive posts. In addition to lots of hunting and shooting, my research is with rattlesnakes (as well as some non-venomous species). Rattlers are (for snakes) quite social, even to the point of defending newborn young and [apparently] being able to recognize each other by scent.

The only things I favor killing wantonly are ticks and chiggers. Well, blackflies too.

I am not a person who kills over an ego trip. I don't run around killing every snake I see.I will NOT kill a bull snake or any non venomous snake. I will kill rattlesnakes because of the damage they can do to cattle.The cattle get bit on the snout because they have there head down eating when it occurs, this will sometimes lead to death.I hunt coyotes for the same reason. As hunters we must be careful of what we do and say in a politically correct world. For instance, if I make a not so good shot on a coyote I will not air the footage. It would be some thing PETA could use as ammo against us. In the public's eye it would be a dis heartening event. However, we can't stop doing what we do because of PETA. We can't let them have that.If you don't want to kill a snake for your own morals and values that's respectable but calling someone who kills them for food or to protect there property names is wrong. I am certain the non venomous snakes will pull the slack if a couple of rattle snakes were removed from the area.

I am glad that there are some people out there that don't believe every e-mail they get when it comes to killed or caught animals.

Fellows,

I probably should have read all the posts before I made a comment.

I live in West Central Florida, plenty of pygmy rattlers and cottonmouths. I have yet to get bit by one, and I do pick them up ad relocate them frequently. Being out in the field has certain risks, and responsibilities. I'm with Chad on this. Venomous snakes in general have healthy respect for things bigger than they. It is unlikely, unless you happen to step on one, to be bit. If you go hunting out west, you better be prepared; it's only being responsible.

If your work site is full of them, then one of two things, wear snake proof chaps, or have someone trained for their removal. As a Safety Professional, at every jobsite I work at, I make it a point to remind people that I am to be called on for any animal related issues. I make it doubly clear that if anyone kills anything, they will likely be terminated. You would be surprised how much education penetrates skulls when their jobs are at risk!

I think that as hunters, we have a responsibility to all wildlife to treat it with respect. We are after all, just another animal, an animal that happens to be reasoning, but an animal none-the-less. What happens to any of us, happens to all.

Best regards,
Albert A Rasch
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I got that pic the first time about 2 years ago and it was "killed" in Hillsdale Kansas according to the message. It does look like a big rattler.

With this kind of photography, we'll soon have 40 foot pythons in the Florida Everglades.

It's unfortunate that there are so many fakes out there. It puts doubt in the real photos.

I too have had plenty of experience with things that crawl and go bump in the night. As far as this snake goes it is most likely about 8-9 feet, now as to the weight I would not think that this snake is more than 30 pounds.. I have yet to meet a snake that weighted anywhere near 10 pounds per foot,, and I hope I never do,.CLS

I too have had plenty of experience with things that crawl and go bump in the night. As far as this snake goes it is most likely about 8-9 feet, now as to the weight I would not think that this snake is more than 30 pounds.. I have yet to meet a snake that weighted anywhere near 10 pounds per foot,, and I hope I never do,.CLS

Looks big but not that big

Im six ft six inch and almost 300lbs and in good shape. Holding 97lbs on a four foot poll is not as easy as this man is making it out to be. that is why this pic is not real. Even if the snake was cleaned it would still be over 80 pounds.

Growing up, every rattler, cottonmouth, and copperhead that ventured by was killed. My dad saw the results of too many snake bites and didn't want anything to happen to our family or our bird dogs. It was common thinking among everyone I knew. There were no second thoughts about killing a poisonous snake. I think that goes back generations.

Nowadays I just leave them alone, but live in an area where there are few poisonous snakes. If I lived around rattlesnakes or cottonmouths? Not sure what I would do. Just glad that we don't have puff adders in the U.S.

Chad,

I'm glad you brought this topic up, I am constantly admonishing others to live and let live. As more of our hunting and hiking lands are turned into subdivisions, we lose more and more wildlife. Snakes are part of the natural equation and need to be allowed to keep their place in the natural world.

The foolish and naive need to be educated and tutored; those that know better, need to understand the terrible consequences of their actions.

Thanks for taking on such an important topic!

Best regards,
Albert A Rasch
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I kill every rattlesnake I see. I have had a family member die from one and I have had friends that have been seriously ill from them. I leave every other snake alone. I have so many of them in my yard in the summer, and I fear that my kids will someday be bitten by them. I know some of you will think I am a scared pshyco, but I have killed 13 snakes in my yard this year. I think I have a reason to worry about my two year old and four year olds sons. I also have had rattlesnakes ruin two bulls over the years, one was a $7,000 bull, by being bitten on the testicles. It didn't kill them, but we only got a couple of years out of them before they were impetent.

Dang Logan, there must be a snake den right there somewhere.I heard they built a restaurant(the sunbird) on one out here in Colorado Springs. I guess most of it was done in the winter so they didn't realize it.They were trying to get it open but it was always full of snakes.It is open now but I guess it took a while.

i think all i can say is this pic makes me sick !! i have got it in email several times and it turns my stomach to see such a beautiful creature dead for no reason !! i have caught many many rattlers here in south GA only to move them out of harms way !! never wud i hurt one for any reason , i hunt and fish and take animals but with purpose and killing without cause or for the cause of making urself look " manly " is BS if u want 2 be manly then give that big boy a go while he is alive and then only the strong survive ha ha !!

I meant is WAY not was.

It is a good sized snake, a fine specimen of a Red Diamondback, aka Crotalus Ruber, typically found in its normal range of Southern California and Baja California, Mexico. Normal size is 30 to 65 inches.
It is most definitely not found in the areas described.

first off that snake is a big boy no matter waht second off there arent to many snakes like that around i agree leave it be if you ever come close to one if you dont bother it it wont bite you they are truely beautyful animals and they should be left alone

Hey Chad, Speaking of manly does anyone really think that "that guy" could really lift anything weighing near 100lbs with a 4ft stick held that high???? That I'd like to see.