Creature in my back yard By Bashan (Read 553 times)

[Bashan]

This was in my back yard the other day. What do you think it is? The last pic kind of gives it away. It was about 8 feet long.

[rgmarsing]

WOW!!! That's some rattler. Hope that last shot was with a zoom. LOL

[bobf]

Timber rattle snake. Just by the color patterns and brown down the back.

jsricecologywiki.wikispaces.com/Nikki%3D%29

[cookees]

Naw...that's a Chinese Trim-bar Lat-reer

[Bashan]

Yes, definitely with a zoom. When I tried to walk up to him he would stop, turn and face me, and raise his head. I remember from somewhere that is the first step in defending themselves. Thanks for the ID, that's kinda what we thought but weren't sure. I know he was more than 60" but maybe 8 feet is a stretch. I was judging by the retaining wall but I could have been off. Are these things as poisonous as other rattlers? We're concerned about going out by the woods now. Rich

[Alleyoop]

Oh, you bet they are poisonous and that is a big sucker it will dump a lot of venom with a bite.
Alleyoop

[jct842]

We got lots of them around here. I caught one about that big about 10 years ago with a hoop type snake stick. I did not get him up off the ground quick enough and when he twisted around he actually split the hide. I was going to skin him leaving the head and rattles attached. He ruined his hide so I put him to sleep with a rock and kept his rattles and the funny part is there were only 6 rattles back there.

I kill any thing with fangs or stingers as a method of self preservation for me. Yea he is out there waiting on you and so are his loved ones!
john

[bobf]

I just read a article about rattlesnakes and their rattles. According to the article you can not just count the rings and see how old they are. A young one is born with a smooth button. Then each time they shed the start a new button. The snakes can shed once, twice, or three times a year. Also they can have their rattles harmed so then they end up with a rough end to the rattles and the round button will be gone.

I am sort of like you. I really don't want to hurt a snake but with two little children at home I found a coral snake and finished him off. I also looked for stinging caterpillars and poison frogs. We had the kids pretty well aware of natures evils while living in south Florida. That was many years ago, about 45 years ago.
.

[noday]

Easy, the eastern diamond back, you are in AL.

8ft would be a record.

I have lived in the deep South for a long time.

When is the barbecue ?

Us rednecks enjoy eatin the really big ones. almost a rite of passage.

always remember, he/she is only there because their food is plentiful.

[richardthescooter2]

Bashan, Man! thats a big one. Be careful out there.

[ccprof]

It does look like a timber rattler but even 6' would be awfully big. That's what .22's are for. Of course of up here, they're protected.

[jct842]

Looks just like the timber rattlers around here too. Protected or not I just don't care, if a snake is poison I am going to put him to sleep, he ain't fighting fair. Had a neighbor, an little ol man and he was always using big rocks on rattlers and the copper heads he would just stomp on them. Rattlers are among the quickest striking snake in the world.