| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 4:30:33 PM
Here lies the decapitated corpse of a reviled trespasser.
My sister lifted up an empty feed bag in the grass next to our porch (where my kids are always playing)and found this guy snoozing.
The shotgun took the head right off. (Thankfully we're permitted to kill our rattlers here.) He was right next to one of my leafy melon patches, and close enough that he was probably sizing up my ducky's outdoor pen for lunch break, so he had to go.
Boots are all well and good, but he would have got me for sure when I checked my cantaloups, or one of my birds, or probably my little girls.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Aug 15 2011 : 2:50:11 PM
My superpower is snake detection. I've never been surprised by one. I am hyper aware due to my snake-dar. :)The screaming and jumping thing I left behind in high school.
Embarrassed (and frightened) the heck out of my friend on a hiking trip once... she was ahead of me and thought I slipped and broke my ankle or something with all the noise I made!! I noticed a bull-snake move about a foot away from me on the side of the trail. I made a hasty vertical ascent, and landed 4 ft away on the other side of the trail! :D
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| coaloha |
Posted - Aug 13 2011 : 10:45:56 PM
Wow...Jen, that is frightening. We also live in AZ and the other night my daughter was at Saguaro Lake and as she was walking on a path, a rattle snake rattled it's warning at her from a foot of two away! It was foolish for the kids to be out along the water at night (they are 20 somethings and really should have known better). When my daughter told me about this the next morning, she said that she heard the rattle and ran, and then looked back to see the snake. I was sick to my stomach as I listened, and so grateful that she and the rest of her group were unharmed!
Pam Barnes-Palty
Phoenix, AZ
Farmgirl #1075
Be distracted by joy |
| Wildcrafter |
Posted - Aug 13 2011 : 06:54:11 AM
The other day, my Australorp chicken ran past me with a little garter snake in her mouth. She must have thought she won the lottery! I took off after her to see what she would do. She put one foot on it and was yanking it to try to break it apart and then tried to slurp it up like a piece of spaghetti. At that point, I got too grossed out and had to leave. Looked later and saw no sign of the snake. She ate good that day!
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| Candy C. |
Posted - Aug 13 2011 : 04:37:15 AM
Jeez Jen, that was one big rattler!! Glad you got him!
Candy C.
Farmgirl Sister #977
http://lazyjbarcfarm.blogspot.com/
www.calicocandy.etsy.com
http://stores.countrycents.com/StoreFront.bok?affiliate_no=6
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. |
| Lieberkim |
Posted - Aug 12 2011 : 11:12:16 AM
All snakes are fatal for me. If I saw that rattler I'd seriously lose it. My fear of snakes is unhealthy. I go straight up and then over without ever touching the ground. And you can hear me for miles I'm sure. I know there are snakes out here but thankfully I haven't seen any yet. I'm praying they stay away. |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Aug 10 2011 : 09:20:33 AM
I'm still trying to decide how I would feel about getting a big black rat snake when I move to release under my house. For some reason I am not as frightened of rattlers as I am of cotton mouths. Probably because I assume a rattler will give you warning to get away. Although here in AZ at least, they no longer do that. Apparently pigs love to eat snakes, and the wild pigs make a beeline and munch a rattler when they hear it, so natural selection dictates that rattlesnakes no longer rattle here. If you've got wild pigs within any range of where you live your wild snakes probably won't rattle either.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 9:09:58 PM
Oh Tina!! Yuck!! Just hearing how many you get each year give me the shivers! I really don't like rattlesnakes. I have always been terrified of them. I almost stepped on a baby one once and it about scared the pants off me (I was barefoot! Had to make an unexpected run for the outhouse. I should have known better- but I was pretty young)
The boys in my home town used to go golfing and usually ended up with 2 or 3 rattlesnakes per session. I suppose they liked the golf course for the water in the desert.
I know they eat rodents and all but I would much prefer a non poisonous variety like a bull snake to take care of mice and the like.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 8:09:13 PM
Megan, I kill on the average 30 Mojave Green rattlesnakes per season and the once in awhile diamondback and sidewinders, and I'm sure alot pass on thru that I never see, but that does not count all the non-poisenious ones that I leave be, because they are great at natural rodent control, so what state has more, this I don't know, as we are both desert...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 8:04:54 PM
Holy cow.....I would have wet myself I bet! I am NOT a snake lover for sure. Awesome that your hubby made use of it. I wouldn't touch it either. I have seen less snakes here since we moved to Utah than when I lived in CAlif..on the coast. But then I am knocking on wood as we speak!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 6:26:38 PM
Well, my "urban farm boy" hubby was out there skinning that thing this morning, now it looks much better, but no, I am still not touching it! LOL. 
The rattle is really nice though, the top band actually has a black stripe across it, I imagine it would make a pretty good necklace. (If we decide to do that I'll let my mother, the jewelry maker do the honors)
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| Tall Holly |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 4:37:16 PM
Poisonous snakes, chiggers and ticks are reasons I am glad I live here in the frozen north. We have snakes and I like to think of them as a sign that the ecosystem of my yard and garden are healthy but, I sure am glad ours are not poisonous.
My brother is out dredging for gold in Oregon this summer and he was told that it was prime rattlesnake country. He was a little concerned.
Holly
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| LuckyMommyof5 |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 1:24:43 PM
Wow, that's crazy. Glad whoever did it was a crack shot!
Farmgirl Sister #3243
"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 11:26:43 AM
I never saw a single one when I lived in Nevada, this is the first large one I've seen, and we had a tiny one drown in the swimming pool last summer (always look before you leap!) I'm already trying to work out how I plan to deal with them when I move to the Ozarks. I'm thinking barn cats for my rodents, and guineas.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| texdane |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 11:21:38 AM
OH my! Yep, that is one thing I seriously DO NOT miss about Texas! Thank the Lord you found him before he got someone...he's a big guy!
Thanks for sharing!
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| Marcy |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 05:34:37 AM
Snakes are the one thing that gives me the absolute creeps. Spiders, bees and the like don't bother me one whit, but snakes? I see one and you can hear me screaming from a mile away.
Farmgirl #170
Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give...Eleanor Roosevelt
http://marcysworldofcreativity.blogspot.com/
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| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 04:55:23 AM
Lisa-it's funny you say that. I think snakes are more prevalent here than out west (Where I'm from!). I'm sure there are more in AZ then CA, but I remember seeing like 3 wild snakes growing up-I see snakes at least 10 times a year here! You'll never forget seeing a rattler though. Those things do NOT mess around! I'm so glad you're safe!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| sherrye |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 7:28:27 PM
i too would have been soooo scared. good for you he is dead and your not. wow so happy it went this way. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| nubidane |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 6:49:39 PM
Jen
I think that is one reason I may never move west. I am so scared of snakes. (& you snake lovers will NEVER talk me out of it; I cannot help it, I go into a state of complete panic)
I scream & run, & if I saw that snake, would likely pass out & he would bite me as I wnet down.
I would also be in need of a change of shorts.
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| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 6:18:44 PM
Nice! I had to laugh because I was wondering where his head was. ;) I'm glad you could take care of him and that everyone (well, humans and barnyard animals) are safe! :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 5:20:54 PM
Yeah, we will definitely be keeping the rattles, hubby wants to save the whole skin but I'm ophidiophobic and it gives me the heebie jeebies.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 4:49:25 PM
nice set of rattles, I always keep them, they are sellable here where I live, people use them for decoration on hats, and one girl I know makes pendants out of them...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
