Death by Rattlesnake

[Ontario Hunter]

I was bit by a Prairie Rattler at age 8, received 14days of treatment in the hospital, and several weeks to fully recover. Since that time I have lived by the moto "the only good snake is a dead one made into a pair of cowboy boots"

Prairie rattlers are supposed to be one of the least venomous of the NA venomous snakes. My Lab Pearl was bit on the front leg one moonlit November night in Montana as we walked out after a day hunting pheasants. I could actually see my breath. She was next to me when it must have happened. Snake only got her with one fang thankfully. She made it through the night but didn't stop shaking till 4:00 a.m. Vet kept her overnight three times before she was recovered enough to hunt. No antivenom needed or available (super duper expensive if it can be found). Then the last day of our trip she was finally back in the field less than an hour and ripped her shoulder wide open on barbed wire. Had a helluva time finding a vet on Thanksgiving Day to sew her up (21 stitches). I was the surgical assistant. Vet left a drain tube in and handed me a cone to put on her when she was alert. Never needed it. I told Pearl to leave it alone and she did. The wound subsequently became infected at home (it got very dirty before I discovered she was hurt) and the vet here had to remove a bit more flesh and left two drain tubes. Two weeks later I took her in for stitches to be removed. He asked why she wasn't wearing a cone. "I told her to leave the tubes alone and that was sufficient." Vet was incredulous. "I've never seen a dog like that. They usually just rip the tubes out." Pearl also survived a fractured skull, recovered 100% from glioma brain cancer (unheard of among animals and humans), and overcame near fatal battle with auto immune disease. But in the end I lost her at age ten to progressive kidney disease. Tough dog and a real sweetheart.

The night Pearl was bit by rattler my buddy's coworker was nailed in the thigh when loading a pile of firewood in his pickup. Very strange.

I always carry Benydril capsules in my upland vest. Most dogs are lost from being bit in the face and an allergic reaction closes their windpipe. Vet says shove as many pills as possible as quick as possible down the dog's throat. Can't overdose on the stuff apparently. I also always have a local vet on my cell wherever I'm hunting. Antivenom has a very short shelf life and extremely expensive so very few vets have it on hand. Typically has to be flown in from a regional center. I heard of one hunter whose dog was bit two years ago in that area and the antivenom treatment cost almost $14K.

The snake vaccine introduced a few years ago is highly controversial. Drug company doped their lab test results. I have heard good things about the anti-snake course for dogs that teaches them to avoid rattlers.

 

[DLSJR]

We don't have Timber Rattlers in Arizona. Besides the various species at lower elevation, we do have the black rattlesnake that lives higher in the mountain ranges.
Oddly enough, I can't remember if I've ever seen one?

Arizona Black Rattlers are very neat snakes. I’ve seen two, the first while elk hunting in 22 South. I was walking down a trail near dark and there was a ‘black stick’ laying across the trail. Suddenly the stick moved! Startled the hell out of me. I watched it for a couple minutes before it moved off. It was a mix of black and gray, very interesting.

The other one I saw was while driving a dirt road in 23 North. It was laying along the side of the road and I noticed it as I passed. I stopped, grabbed my phone and took a few pictures from a close but safe distance. Unfortunately I somehow lost the photos.

They’re sinister looking snakes, like Darth Vader with rattles. I’d love to see another one.

 

[Brent in Az]

I've had my encounters, but fortunately, never been bit. Even though i took a glancing blow off the side of my hand by a diamondback i didn't even know was there
I was climbing up the side of a rocky bluff in unit 27 to a vantage point to do some glassing, and came face to face with a King snake. Scared the shit out of me. Fortunately kept my grip, and didn't tumble down the side of the bluff.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I've had my encounters, but fortunately, never been bit. Even though i took a glancing blow off the side of my hand by a diamondback i didn't even know was there
I was climbing up the side of a rocky bluff in unit 27 to a vantage point to do some glassing, and came face to face with a King snake. Scared the shit out of me. Fortunately kept my grip, and didn't tumble down the side of the bluff.

I understand king snakes can be ornery buggers but leave them be because they hunt rattlers.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have encountered them on hunting trips. i leave them alone, unless its around camp where children-dogs might run into them. then they get a free trip to snake heaven.

 

[Rubberhead]

Oh, and by the way, just for the record, I am not against anyone killing a dag-blasted snake as long as it's legal and legally done with no risk to others. There is biblical support for my feelings on this...

Genesis 3:14-15

So the Lord God said to the serpent: ...I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.

I'm completely okay with a good head bruising...

In practical applications, I seldom kill a snake any more including the venomous ones. I kill black rat snakes around the house because they really don't eat rats, they eat birds and bird eggs more than anything and they love to get into human dwellings. I just don't want Ms. Rubberhead to run into a snake in the middle of the night no matter how harmless.

I kill most water moccasins because they aren't rare (we're over run with the darn things) and because they will usually just sit there and dare you step on them. Copperheads and rattlesnakes at least make an effort to get out of my way so they usually get a pass.

 

[PARA45]

Oh, and by the way, just for the record, I am not against anyone killing a dag-blasted snake as long as it's legal and legally done with no risk to others. There is biblical support for my feelings on this...



I'm completely okay with a good head bruising...

In practical applications, I seldom kill a snake any more including the venomous ones. I kill black rat snakes around the house because they really don't eat rats, they eat birds and bird eggs more than anything and they love to get into human dwellings. I just don't want Ms. Rubberhead to run into a snake in the middle of the night no matter how harmless.

I kill most water moccasins because they aren't rare (we're over run with the darn things) and because they will usually just sit there and dare you step on them. Copperheads and rattlesnakes at least make an effort to get out of my way so they usually get a pass.

Or they will come after you to pick a fight.

 

[cwpayton]

Would seem more likely in your part of the world-Arizona. Shouldn’t have picked it up for sure. I’ve been a paramedic on half dozen snake bites, none fatal but ugly to watch get worse. All that I can remember the snake was being touched in some way and reacted in defense. A sad story all the same

Always love that " acted in defense" But IF I KILL A SNAKE" I'm endangering wildlife or should have left it alone, ect. I killed a rattlesnake on my back deck last week right in front of my "drinks" refrig. usually I just step out at night without a light on , but my wife said" what was that noise" I cant hear em. flipped on the [porch light and there the devil was all coiled up ready to be defensive, so I defended my back porch with 44 mag snake shot.

 

[Flbt]

Man, I'm surprised that Moccasin didn't come after you. Every Water Moccasin I've seen have been aggressive without provocation. Love their camo pattern and how well this snake blends with the surroundings.

They will make you put holes in boats when they fall out of trees. And think they now own the boat.

 

[Flbt]

I was up to my knees in a southern Mississippi stream looking over the bank at the jungle around the stand I took my first deer from last year and was debating whether I should walk over to it. All I had on was a pair of shorts and some Chaco sandals. I had never been in this area without snakeproof boots on before. I thought the chances of encountering a northern cottonmouth would be high & I was not wrong!

For some reason, none of the other guys at the camp want to hunt this stand...

View attachment 706742

Looks like a good stand.

 

[Flbt]

I know that other reptiles like alligators are starting to appear further north as temperatures stay more moderate at higher latitudes. It wouldn't surprise me if the eastern diamondback could thrive further north as well.

That’s one thing I been scared of.
Some of the invasive from south fl moving up

 

[Flbt]

Always love that " acted in defense" But IF I KILL A SNAKE" I'm endangering wildlife or should have left it alone, ect. I killed a rattlesnake on my back deck last week right in front of my "drinks" refrig. usually I just step out at night without a light on , but my wife said" what was that noise" I cant hear em. flipped on the [porch light and there the devil was all coiled up ready to be defensive, so I defended my back porch with 44 mag snake shot.

That 44 works well.

 

[Surgeon1]

Prairie rattlers are supposed to be one of the least venomous of the NA venomous snakes. My Lab Pearl was bit on the front leg one moonlit November night in Montana as we walked out after a day hunting pheasants. I could actually see my breath. She was next to me when it must have happened. Snake only got her with one fang thankfully. She made it through the night but didn't stop shaking till 4:00 a.m. Vet kept her overnight three times before she was recovered enough to hunt. No antivenom needed or available (super duper expensive if it can be found). Then the last day of our trip she was finally back in the field less than an hour and ripped her shoulder wide open on barbed wire. Had a helluva time finding a vet on Thanksgiving Day to sew her up (21 stitches). I was the surgical assistant. Vet left a drain tube in and handed me a cone to put on her when she was alert. Never needed it. I told Pearl to leave it alone and she did. The wound subsequently became infected at home (it got very dirty before I discovered she was hurt) and the vet here had to remove a bit more flesh and left two drain tubes. Two weeks later I took her in for stitches to be removed. He asked why she wasn't wearing a cone. "I told her to leave the tubes alone and that was sufficient." Vet was incredulous. "I've never seen a dog like that. They usually just rip the tubes out." Pearl also survived a fractured skull, recovered 100% from glioma brain cancer (unheard of among animals and humans), and overcame near fatal battle with auto immune disease. But in the end I lost her at age ten to progressive kidney disease. Tough dog and a real sweetheart.

The night Pearl was bit by rattler my buddy's coworker was nailed in the thigh when loading a pile of firewood in his pickup. Very strange.

I always carry Benydril capsules in my upland vest. Most dogs are lost from being bit in the face and an allergic reaction closes their windpipe. Vet says shove as many pills as possible as quick as possible down the dog's throat. Can't overdose on the stuff apparently. I also always have a local vet on my cell wherever I'm hunting. Antivenom has a very short shelf life and extremely expensive so very few vets have it on hand. Typically has to be flown in from a regional center. I heard of one hunter whose dog was bit two years ago in that area and the antivenom treatment cost almost $14K.

The snake vaccine introduced a few years ago is highly controversial. Drug company doped their lab test results. I have heard good things about the anti-snake course for dogs that teaches them to avoid rattlers.

The summer I was bite there were 4 other people bitten in about a 30 mile radius! Two of those bitten died despite heroic measures for the time (1962). I consider myself lucky.
You are correct that the anti-serum has become so over priced it is essentially not affordable, this is thanks to the Animal Rights people in the US that wont allow a horse that has survived a Rattler bite to have blood drawn for serum. I get mine from Canada at about $160 a Kit.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Picked up a snake.

 

[cwickgo9]

I was up to my knees in a southern Mississippi stream looking over the bank at the jungle around the stand I took my first deer from last year and was debating whether I should walk over to it. All I had on was a pair of shorts and some Chaco sandals. I had never been in this area without snakeproof boots on before. I thought the chances of encountering a northern cottonmouth would be high & I was not wrong!

For some reason, none of the other guys at the camp want to hunt this stand...

View attachment 706742

Funny - I'd be more concerned about the poison ivy than snakes but that's probably just my stupidity.

 

[cwickgo9]

We hunted farmland in Hamilton, Texas during dove season for years. About 16 years ago we were backed up against a fence line, intermittent cedar trees facing a plowed field with some sunflowers. I kept hearing a noise by brain translated as cicaidas. But my black lab was focused on the base of a cedar tree back and right of us and started to push past me. I looked down and it took me a second to realize what was happening as I saw his fur start to hackle up and his haunches set to spring. Before I could yell at him to stay, the whole world exploded. He charged into the tree, I grabbed my son by the shoulders and "threw" him forward into the field away from the tree line.
As we both tumbled away, I turned around about 15 feet into the plowed field, just in time to see my lab now joining us in the field, but legs bent low, tail between his legs, sad looking eyes and to my horror, favoring his front right paw which already looked like someone had implanted half a golf ball on the top of it under the skin. I squatted down to see the biggest rattlesnake in the wild I had ever seen coiled up under that tree raising his head up, I proceeded to blow him right out from under it with an ounce of 7 1/2's. My older son walked over as things calmed down and picked it up in the middle, head and tail barely clearing the grass - easily 7'+.
So here we were, Saturday evening in Hamilton, Texas on Labor Day weekend with a snake bit dog. We poured all the remaining ice we had in the coolers into the bottom of his kennel and put him in to cool him down and slow the spread. His leg was already swelling from the venom.
We were able to find a Vet clinic in Stephenville with a young vet looking like she was first year out of A&M and the call had interrupted her Labor Day BBQ. She got him on fluids and stablized for the ride home. The next couple days he wouldnt get out of his kennel, eyes and ears drooping, leg swelling daily. Took him to the local vet for more care. Weird treatment of Preparation H to help the skin and put a sock over it to keep him from licking it. He slowly got better daily, washing his paw as the skin split and getting rid of the necrosis. It took a few weeks of daily working with him, cleaning, ointment, etc. but he finally pulled through. Hershey was a good dog but unfortunately passed a couple years later.

 

[AZDAVE]

Sent a few to snake hell with a shotgun another with a golf club and one very big 6 footer that was in the area kids plan by parking my Harley F150 on its head and doing a old fashion burn out on top of him, that shredded it like it was thrown in a blender.

 

[PARA45]

About 17 years ago, I gave my wife a Yellow Lab (Savannah) for her birthday. I also wanted to get Savannah into hunting, so I started throwing pheasant wings around the house, and she was a natural retriever. A good friend of mine took Savannah and I to Tallahassee to see a friend of his who trained dogs to point and retrieve, and he was going to help us with our young dogs to retrieve pen raised birds. It was fun filled week.

It just happened that it was also dove season in FL, so, we figure we do some training and then go hunt some doves and see what our dogs can do. Savannah and I set up in a field and waited for the doves to show up. Dropped one, and she picked it up with no issue. Dropped another one and this one landed in a thick bush, and Savannah ran up to it but wouldn't go in. She look at me and then look inside the bush and look back at me, with what I'd say was a confused look. I was wondering what was going on and yelled at her a couple of time to pick up the dead bird. She wouldn't budge; she held her ground. So, I walked up to where the bird was and there was a rattle snake all coiled up ready to strike. Luckily, she didn't know what it was and didn't go after the bird. The dog trainer would train his dogs not to move if they were within strike distance of a snake, and he said to always listen and to watch the dog's reactions. I learned a huge lesson that day.

 

[cwickgo9]

About 17 years ago, I gave my wife a Yellow Lab (Savannah) for her birthday. I also wanted to get Savannah into hunting, so I started throwing pheasant wings around the house, and she was a natural retriever. A good friend of mine took Savannah and I to Tallahassee to see a friend of his who trained dogs to point and retrieve, and he was going to help us with our young dogs to retrieve pen raised birds. It was fun filled week.

It just happened that it was also dove season in FL, so, we figure we do some training and then go hunt some doves and see what our dogs can do. Savannah and I set up in a field and waited for the doves to show up. Dropped one, and she picked it up with no issue. Dropped another one and this one landed in a thick bush, and Savannah ran up to it but wouldn't go in. She look at me and then look inside the bush and look back at me, with what I'd say was a confused look. I was wondering what was going on and yelled at her a couple of time to pick up the dead bird. She wouldn't budge; she held her ground. So, I walked up to where the bird was and there was a rattle snake all coiled up ready to strike. Luckily, she didn't know what it was and didn't go after the bird. The dog trainer would train his dogs not to move if they were within strike distance of a snake, and he said to always listen and to watch the dog's reactions. I learned a huge lesson that day.

We had some "snake training" sessions with our dogs the next year. It was interesting to watch how they did it.

 

[3chunter]

I am not sure how many rattlesnakes and copperheads I have killed. But I am certain I’m top 5 in my state on numbers. lol.
Going to the beach one time and this northerner was stopped middle of the road letting a 6 ft rattler across the highway. I slowed. Identified the beast while in my vehicle and then proceeded to be sure both my wheels caught the serpent square on his neck.
There were looks of horror at me for the split second I could see the driver.
I was smiling and waved as I went by.
Haha.