RoyB
King George, VA
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Joined: 04/13/2008
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You dont have to be in Snake COuntry - Saw a Copperhead here yesterday in the back yard.
We have Copperheads, Timber rattlesnakes, and some Cottonmouths here in Virginia..
This year will be a hugh crop of insects since we didnt have a winter at all.. Snakes will have a hugh field day around here...
  
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - PM me
Roy and Carolyn
RETIRED DOAF/DON/DOD/CONTR RADIO TECH (42yrs)
K9PHT (Since 1957) 146.52M
2010 F150, 5.4,3:73 Gears,SCab
2008 Starcraft 14RT EU2000i GEN
2005 Flagstaff 8528RESS
POPUP PHOTOs-Pg52-Pg56
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ChopperBill
Colo
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Joined: 03/22/2002
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Got a friend in southern Montana that rattle snake trains his dogs. Goes and find a rattle snake and captures it in a bucket. Takes it to the local vet which puts the snake in the freezer until he goes back to sleep. Takes it out and sews its mouth shut. Takes the snake and the dog with a shock collar set on high and puts it on the ground. Dog plays with snake and when it strikes he shocks the dog. Says the dog will jump 6 feet in the air but will generally give snakes a wide path afterwards.
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PGR_Skye
Indiana
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Joined: 11/11/2007
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We've had copperheads on our property at home and in some places in the rest of the county there are rattlesnakes. I don't like either one. Quite a few years ago a black snake struck our GSD, 'Kota. Though not considered a deadly snake, their bite is really dirty and within a couple of hours 'Kota had a huge pus pocket hanging from his rear leg and was moaning. Took him to the vet and he recovered nicely. One year later, he was struck by a copperhead in the same leg. We knew what happened and got him into an emergency vet clinic within an hour. The vet had one vial of anti-venom left and used it. 'Kota spent a couple of days at the vet's on IVs and made it with only a bad scar and a better sense of watching for snakes. DH had stepped on this copperhead before letting 'Kota out of the kennel so the snake was mad when 'Kota had stopped to see what the new critter was. DH shot the copperhead and took it to the emergency clinic when we picked up 'Kota. It was the biggest copperhead any of us had ever seen. 'Kota went off to the Rainbow Bridge several years ago due to natural causes and now we have Sig. We've had him 3+ years and so far no problems, but , I'm always afraid that he'll run into a copperhead.
Darrell & Madonna
Furkid, GSD Sigfried
2001 Patriot Thunder by Beaver
Jeep Grand Cherokee
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winnietrey
seattle
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Joined: 03/26/2005
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Always wondered, not living in snake country, do dogs have to learn the hard way not to mess with snakes, Or do you think the parents pass down some of that knowledge.
My dog would not last 24hrs off leash. Lunged at big bull snake couple of years ago in AZ, and lunges at our little garden snakes up here in the big rainey
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reasley
Motherlode
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Joined: 10/13/2011
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Oh boy snake stories... Rattlers can be dangerous even when dead. Back in the early 70's my dad was bit by a dead rattler. He had killed a 5 footer and was skinning it. As he was removing the skin at the head a reflex action of the snake plunged the fangs into the web between the thumb and fore finger of his right hand. The action triggered the venom sacs to empty into his hand. He tossed the snake in the bed of his pickup and drove himself 45 miles to the closest hospital. The bite was not as bad a the anti-venom. Turns out he had an allergy. He swelled up like a balloon. He called me from his hospital room to get me to retrieve the snake and finish removing and drying the skin. I was a little more careful.
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Supercharged
Az.
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Joined: 01/01/2005
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Just put them into the freezer for next year, then bring them to Quartzsite, horse shoe picking. They say they taste like a Big Mac.
2005 Chev 5.3 Supercharged 395HP 425 T hp. Two wheels on front, 2 on back. one seat, tint windows. front and rear bumpers, headlights, windows. Door on each side. Heater, floor mats, 6 Reese candy bars, junk behind seats, some dirt. Pulls so hard.
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C Schomer
Buckeye, Az.
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Joined: 12/26/2000
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Don't expect them to rattle when you get close, either. That's just in the old westerns. I've darn near stepped on them and they didn't make a sound. You have to keep a keen eye cuz they really blend into some surroundings. Walk your dogs on a short leash and make sure you can see everything around them. Craig
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MAU MAU
New Hampshire and Maine
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Joined: 01/15/2012
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I used to not like Rattlesnakes and Copperheads until I spent more time in Africa where a snake bite is considerably more lethal.
Below is a Black Mamba in Zimbabwe.
One bite and you will be kaput in about 5 minutes.
Roadtrek 170 Popular
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MAU MAU
New Hampshire and Maine
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Joined: 01/15/2012
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For those concerned about ankle biting snakes, just buy a quality pair of Snake Gaiters and forget about them. Below is a picture of mine during the wet season in Arizona. They are comfortable and they work.
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wintersun
Monterey
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Joined: 12/22/2011
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Rattlesnakes usually come out at dusk when it has started to cool down to do their hunting. They cannot take the heat of day as they have no way to regulate their body temperature. By the time you can hear the rattle it is probably too late.
Most bites are not fatal as it takes several days after a snake bites its prey for the venom to be fully replenished.
Good idea to verify that your medical insurance will cover you if you are bitten or have some other accident while on the road. Most plans will not cover an air ambulance for instance and that can be very expensive.
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