|
Author
|
Topic: Unexpected Visitor
|
Az-Hunter
Hi, I'm Vic WELCOME TO THE U.S. Free baloney sandwiches here
Member # 17
|
posted November 14, 2013 11:04 AM
Was mowing down some tall grass and weeds on the 12th of Nov out front by a big old cottonwood tree. I took a brief break, then returned at about 4:00 to finish up. When I stooped to grab pull rope on mower, this guy was stretched out at the base of the tree....surprised the hell out of me to see one so late in the year. It's a Mojave...bad little outfits!
[URL=http://s145.photobucket.com/user/Az-Hunter_2006/media/P1240102_zps2518178b.jpg.html]  [ /URL]
[ November 14, 2013, 11:05 AM: Message edited by: Az-Hunter ]
Posts: 1670 | From: 5 miles west of Tim | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
|
posted November 14, 2013 11:41 AM
I see you made it a 'good' snake...that thing would scare the piss plumb out of me!
I just ran over a snake last week out doing a farm call--that is pretty late here in Kansas. I am hoping the 20 degree weather we have been having at night will make them sleep for the winter!
--------------------
If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted November 14, 2013 11:41 AM
THAT'S A SURPRISE, FOR SURE! Oops, cap lock.
I think Mojave's are one of the more handsome rattlesnakes. Also notice you using the CA spelling? AZ seems to like "Mohave", usually.
I was just up at the range yesterday. It's a ways up a canyon and it was a warm day. I always subconsciously think about snakes but then thought, shit; while walking out to my target a couple times.... "This is mid-November, get a grip!"
Good hunting. El Bee
PS by the way, my male tortoise is still coming out briefly most every day and my lizards are still active, so. I guess snakes are still possible? Have not seen the desert box turtle in several weeks, they all use the same burrow. Oh, and I had another hatchling last month. I now have two from last year and this one in a small aquarium sitting on the counter. Kinda cute, the baby goes everywhere his big "brother" goes. The smaller one year old goes her own way. LB
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32367 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
|
posted November 14, 2013 04:16 PM
I've got some kind of small lizards that hang out on my patio. The ones that do push-ups if you stare at them.
I always figure that if the lizards ARE out, the snakes COULD be out.
--------------------
And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8233 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
jimanaz
2nd Place RICHARD FARNSWORTH LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3689
|
posted November 14, 2013 07:07 PM
Mid-November...go figure.
Posts: 940 | From: AZ | Registered: Oct 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
DEL GUE
SECOND PLACE: Mad Bomber lookalike contest
Member # 1526
|
posted November 14, 2013 08:53 PM
Seems that I recall reading somewhere that the Mojave/Mohave's are more belligerent, or is it toxic, than other versions?
I hate snakes, and esp poisonous ones.
I have had 2 separate dreams that involved flying rattlesnakes. The dreams were not pleasant.
--------------------
"I never could find no tracks on a woman's heart." - Bear Claw
Posts: 588 | From: FL | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
|
posted November 14, 2013 09:46 PM
Del;
They're a nasty little beast.
Adult Lethal Dose is something like only 50 mg compared to Western Diamondback ALD of about 150mg.
The Mojave also tends to inject most of it's venom whereas a Diamondback might inject zero to half of it's venom load.
And............just to make them special, their venom has Hemo-Toxic and Neuro-Toxic qualities.
But, when freshly shed, they're a handsome critter.
--------------------
And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8233 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
knockemdown
Our staff photo editing Guru, par excellence
Member # 3588
|
posted November 15, 2013 05:49 AM
You guys can keep those suckers down there!
I almost stepped on a rattler in Nevada a bunch of year ago, it ended up looking like the above. Ordered snake gaiters from Cabelas soon as I got home...
Posts: 2202 | From: behind fascist lines | Registered: Mar 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted November 15, 2013 10:34 AM
Yeah, that's it, they have a different toxin than all the rest. Rare in places I frequent, but down where Vic is, they seem to be fairly common. A very attractive snake, but for my money, the California Mountain King Snake is georgous-er.
My grandson, Robbie told me he was up in the hills and spied a King Snake and went after it, which I probably wouldn't do? But he said it dived under a big rock, and immediately out the other side flushed a western Diamondback. That's the neat thing about King snakes, they eat rattlesnakes for breakfast, and the rattlers know it!
The common King snake is pretty too, but is just black with yellow bands.
Good hunting. El Bee
edit: a CA Mountain King snake has red and either yellow or white bands with a black head. Sorta kinda like a coral snake but with more black. Quite docile, makes a nice pet snake.
For years, we had a gopher snake my son brought home. That sucker was in the 7 to 8 foot neighborhood and was what I would call viscious. Any mouse dropped in that aquarium did not last long, like as soon as it hit the floor. I once saw him eat a lizard "sideways". You know how they supposedly start from the head to swallow anything? He grabbed this good sized lizard right in the middle and didn't fool around with repositioning, just took it down folded in half!
[ November 15, 2013, 12:31 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32367 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
|
posted November 15, 2013 01:08 PM
Didn't know what a gopher snake is until I looked it up...must be a cousin of what we call a bull snake here in Kansas.
The bull snakes here can get that big, and actually can shake their tail and sound just like a rattlesnake.
They do keep all of the rodents in check around the barnyards here.
I know they are harmless, but I still hate all snakes... ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
--------------------
If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted November 15, 2013 04:42 PM
koko, I have a ton of lizards in my yard, we call them blue bellies. Plus a couple skinks and an occasional salamander. The male blue bellies get very dark during breeding season and are always doing pushups when they see another male, or even at me. I can't recall a female doing pushups? I think it's a display thing, kinda hilarious, actually.
As of yesterday, before I left the house, the lizards were out and about, everywhere. Full moon? They will be going underground real soon, they say the weather is dropping 20° tomorrow. I know one thing, up here it's cold and windy. I like my lizards, felt real bad one time I moved a rock and injured one sleeping underneath. I recognized him the following summer by the hitch in his giddy up. I also know when one of the neighbor cats is harassing my lizards....missing tail.
from windy Yucca Valley, where I got no sleep last night! LB
edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I5RtY-4V3Y
[ November 15, 2013, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32367 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
32below
Knows what it's all about
Member # 2075
|
posted November 15, 2013 04:52 PM
In the past 8 months have killed 7 prairie rattlers within a mile of the house, most were about 3 feet but the biggest was a good 45" (counting the piece blown off). Big sucker. Chased a 6' whip snake on the 4 wheeler till he got to the rocks. Fast buggers they are.
Posts: 100 | From: SW Kansas | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
Duckdog
Knows what it's all about
Member # 3842
|
posted November 15, 2013 06:20 PM
Yea, bull snakes are pretty harmless,...but THEY don't know that!! They're about the meanest snake I've ever encountered!
They're almost territorial and actually try to run YOU off.
No sir...I don't like em!!
Have seen a handful of rattlesnakes in these parts, but they're not very common. However...
One such sighting will be a memory that my son will never forget!
He was maybe, 13-14 years old and we were calling coyotes in NW Kansas. We pulled up to one of my favorite spots which is pretty hilly. When they "made" the dirt road around this section, they cut through a big hill instead of going up and over it, causing the sides of the road to be shear dirt walls as high as the cab of the truck, and then it levels off into grass.
Good place to stash the truck with just enough room for someone to get by.
So, I pull up hard against the passenger side and, after asking, he tells me he has room to get out.
He steps up on the nerf bar and squeezes between the truck door and the shear dirt wall.
I heard it...,and thought, "That sounded like a..."
And then here he came!! A running and jumping!!!
As he was squeezing out, he came face to face with a rattlesnake! Darned lucky really.
And, that was mid November too! We did change the name of that section to Rattlesnake Hill!!
Posts: 205 | From: Ks | Registered: Jun 2011
| IP: Logged
|
|
Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
|
posted November 15, 2013 09:48 PM
El Bee;
Hilarious was telling the grandkids who were visiting that I had been training the lizards and in my best `command voice` told one "Drop down and give me ten". It started doing push-ups and the kids freaked out. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
--------------------
And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8233 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
