This Way To My Blog

This Way To My Blog

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Now I Ask You



Does this snake look three or four foot long? Maybe two? This is the rattlesnake John killed recently. Rattlersnake killers always stretch the truth like fishermen. See how they blend in with our dry parched land. John ask me if I wanted the rattles off the snake and I said no. I used to collect them when we killed, not we, him a rattlesnake. He would cut them off with his pocket knife and I would pick them up with a kleenex or napkin, take them home and put them in a metal box with a lid. Won't my girls be surprised? I turned this one down as I was afraid it may have not been completely dead and wheeled around and stuck a fang into John's hand. As I age I'm getting wiser and wiser. Doesn't matter how long it is it can be just as deadly. We had a friend summer before last who was bitten by a baby rattler as she was moving a stepping stone. It took her a long time to get over it.

8 comments:

Wendy said...

LOL things always stretch a bit on the measuring tape when you talk about them! And yes any size rattler can be deadly!

Unknown said...

Be gentle Paula, we men have our tender egos to protect! I'm afraid I'll have to plead guilty though, I've caught a lot of fish that "shrank" on the way home! Yep, you can't be too careful with rattlers of any size...they sure can do a lot of damage. A friend of mine was bitten a few years back...didn't die but came close. The surgeons had to remove about a third of the muscle in the calf of his leg because the venom just rotted it. Dangerous critters for sure...Y'all be careful out there.

Amelia said...

Ewww you kept the rattlers... :)

Missy

Toon said...

I'd think keeping the rattles would be bad luck.

BlueRidge Boomer said...

Yuck!!
I don't even like the creepy...crawly things here in the park.....

Enjoy

DD said...

I had never heard of collecting the rattles. I researched it and found they make pins, etc. of them. I followed some links and found for sale on Etsy, a skin with rattles for $30.00. Would make nice wall hanging..haaa. I have to say the skin is interesting!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66272807/rattlesnake-skin-with-9-buttons-rattles

Dar said...

Paula,
Do be careful at the waters edge where reptiles like your Diamond Rattlesnake like to live. Part of their main diet, regretably, are your little turtles. Just watch before you feed.,please. Eeee, getting a chill up my spine. We even have rattlers in parts of WI. I would never have known this, but I just got a National Audubon Society Field Guide of Reptiles at a garage sale. Wear your Cowgirl Boots.
BlessYourHeart

Lori said...

Thomas' father was bitten by a rattlesnake when he was a young boy. Glad John was able to get this one before it hurt anyone.