As much as most of you do not like being scared by another snake photo......I am sorry...this is extremely important for all of you to know. My husband,( Sweetie), Sophie and I were out walking in our front yard when I spotted a snake coiled up no more than 2 feet away from my husband and dog. Neither one of them saw it.....
being raised in the country I learned at an early age to always keep your eyes on the ground. This is a Mojave rattlesnake. A new breed of rattlesnake that has migrated into our part of the woods and is the more deadly than a common rattlesnake. It has a more golden color to it and it has more of a circle pattern instead of a diamond pattern on it's back. You can click on the photos to get a better look. My husband had a good grip on this creature, but I was still scared as I got terribly close for this photo.
My warning to you............. rattlesnakes are supposed to let off a loud buzzing sound, giving you the chance to know that one is near........this one never made a sound....it just lay in wait, coiled. As my husband got the gripper around it's neck and pulled it out of it's coil, we realized it had somehow lost it's rattlers. It either got run over by traffic or a tractor perhaps and lost them , I suppose. If I had not seen this snake, my husband would have walked right beside it and most likely been bitten. It's tail was shaking furiously as if it were rattling. So for all of you......please be careful when you are outside.....and always, always, keep your eyes on the ground around you.
On a more carefree note.....the school bus picked up my son for the last time this season. School is out today and he will be free for awhile. His last day to be a Sophomore.....the next two years will be very busy for him and for us as well. I hope to take in a few movies with him, maybe a trip or two to the lake, and there's a summer job he hopes to get. Maybe instead of 6:00 A.M. I will get out of bed a tad later..... How about you? Do you have children getting out of school? What are your summer plans? Do you travel a lot during this time? I would love to hear. 
18 comments:
I was fortunate to hear the rattle in some dead leaves the time when I almost stepped on one. They're so good at camoflage!
I've got kids in college summer classes, so I guess we'll be somewhat on the same schedule. I don't think we're going anywhere this summer as all our funds are going into sending son #2 to England for a foreign study program. He's taking a trip for the entire family!!! I sure hope he does well and has fun!
Scary!!! Very scary! Yes, we country gals are raised to walk with our heads down...for that very reason! I am always on the look out for snaked whether I am in the woods or in the garden. I am glad that no one was hurt. He has clearly had some kinda trauma to his rattlers. Doesn't appear that they will ever grow back.
Thank God you saw the snake before it had a chance to strike!! We don't have dangerous snakes here. Just Garter, Bull, and Rubber Boa's.
My kids have 8 more days of school!!! Can't wait until they are all done!
I'm glad that you were aware and saved your husband and dog from a lot of pain...wow! I'm so glad that we don't have those things here! I get scared of a garter snake! YIKES!Have a great weekend!
XOXO
Joni
Fortunately, I don't think we've got rattlesnakes right here in this area. I hope not anyway. This morning my dogs woke me up to come out and see the water mocassin they had off the back porch. It's so dry here, I guess it was up looking for water.
Glad you've got good eyes.
I so glad you spotted that critter....I know when we go camping we are watchful...you just can't be too careful.
I'm looking forward to summer too...sounds like you will be having lots of fun. We will be doing a bit of traveling and spending lots of time at the houseboat and just plain enjoying home and relaxing on the patio....hugs, Linda
That is so scary! Everyone has saw snakes around our property, but I haven't yet. Luckily the ones they have seen are mostly black snakes.
We are going to continue school through the summer with a lighter load and still have time for some fun!
Wow, that is scary! Even more so that there was no warning. Good thing you saw it...
i have not ever thought of one that may have lost it's rattle...so glad you saw it.
your son must be very happy to be able to sleep in a bit.
Rattlers are not too common on our side of the mountain, but when we visit our son in E. Washington it pays to be observant, as you and your Hubby are. That is one evil looking snake!
The sight of the school bus' last pick up for the year is a reminder of another year to come and an older son growing up. A blessing and a sadness, to me anyway.But sadness that turns into gladness and praise for sons who grow up and are responsible and Godly, the answer to the prayers of parents....
They are excellent photos, Kathleen. I'm always happy to find that my blogger friends care for wildlife as much as I do. We don't have rattlesnakes in Australia, but we do have a number of very venomous snakes, some of which find their way into the outer suburbs of Melbourne occasionally. When that happens, it is usually on the media, and there are warnings for everyone to watch out for them. People here usually call the zoo or local council when snakes come calling.
I know what you mean, I learned as a child to be very careful and watch where I'm walking. My vigilance saved me many times. That and the grace of God. Most of the time in my contact with snakes, they did rattle, but there were times that they didn't. Ryan will be working through the summer, poor kid. He got a little behind and has to play catch up now.
Oh my, Kathleen. So fortunate that you saw it when you did. YIKES! I'm not a fan of snakes at all!
My son's last day of school was yesterday too. He is officially a high school freshman now. The time goes by so fast!
Happy weekend to you! :-)
Scary snake-so glad you spotted it. School is almost our here too-and we are sooo glad. Hope your son enjoys the summer!
They say you have to watch those quiet ones! They are dangerous...Good your training saved a lot of pain for your love ones...
I don't miss the school bus days,I'm glad I got through them :o) my children are all grown, some still taking classes for degrees..Ginny
When I was little, I was attending a family picnic near the Rancocas River in NJ. I was walking near the edge of the woods when a copperhead snake (venomous) slithered right over my foot. I stopped in my tracks and stood perfectly still. The only reason I knew to do that (and not panic!) was I had learned it from a movie I had seen a few days before on TV. The snake just thought my foot was part of the terrain and ignored me. Our guardian angels do watch over us!
wow! Our neighbor brought over the rattles off one he killed in his yard-11 rattles and a button!!
Hope they stay up there.
Wow, I'm so glad you saw the snake. I've gotten so accustomed to city life that I forget to look.
We are also spoiled at the deer lease because over the last 22 years, we've only seen 4 snakes. Hubby killed one a couple of months ago.
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