Co-worker lost a bout with a rattlesnake yesterday

[Corbin]

This is why I refuse to go anywhere on my land without thick boots and a very watchful eye. I usually carry a 410 with me as well in case i run into anything. We don't have much for Rattlesnakes here tho people will tell you we have them, I've never came across them. We deal with copperheads and cotton mouths. Nothing as bad as a Rattlesnake. I'm terrified of snakes and will shoot every time unless it's a black snake.

Wtf is a black snake?

 

[UKram]

makes me glad we have no venomus snakes in good old england ...man whats up with you guys and Australia with animals than can kill ya

thoughts and prayers to your friend @Ramhusker ...and of course his family and friends

 

[ozarkram]

Wtf is a black snake?

Black snakes eat other snakes. Like Rattlers and Copperheads.

 

[Ramhusker]

Of course, we have tons of snakes here. I only know how to identify a few. We have the Coral snake and the King snake that look almost identical. The Coral is in the Cobra family so yes, can kill you dead, the King keeps poisonous snakes away so he's the good guy.

 

[ozarkram]

black snakes are snakes whose lives matter.

Thats pretty good. I come from a long line of woodsmen and I remember from a very early age being instructed not to kill black snakes because they ate the venomous snakes. Can also see where this part of the conversation could go way off track.

 

[Selassie I]

Of course, we have tons of snakes here. I only know how to identify a few. We have the Coral snake and the King snake that look almost identical. The Coral is in the Cobra family so yes, can kill you dead, the King keeps poisonous snakes away so he's the good guy.

Here's the saying I learned as a kid to always know the difference....

Red & Yellow - Kill a Fellow

Red & Black - Venom Lack

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

My old supervisor used to catch Rattlers by the head, face to face. I saw him do it once. He wasn't the crazy type either. He insisted that he grew up around them his web life and is confident in his ability. To me, taking a risk like that is coocoo.

 

[Ramhusker]

My old supervisor used to catch Rattlers by the head, face to face. I saw him do it once. He wasn't the crazy type either. He insisted that he grew up around them his web life and is confident in his ability. To me, taking a risk like that is coocoo.

Yeah, I've got another co-worker that used to keep them in his house in an aquarium. I couldn't sleep at night knowing a killer was slithering around in my house. He keeps all kinds of wildlife in his house. The place has to smell like a zoo.

 

[wmc540]

Here's the saying I learned as a kid to always know the difference....

Red & Yellow - Kill a Fellow

Red & Black - Venom Lack

I heard red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow. Red touches black, you're okay Jack.

 

[Angry Ram]

Yeah, I've got another co-worker that used to keep them in his house in an aquarium. I couldn't sleep at night knowing a killer was slithering around in my house. He keeps all kinds of wildlife in his house. The place has to smell like a zoo.

How's he doing? Any improvements?

 

[Riverumbbq]

I've been hearing reports of rattlesnakes not using their rattles on occasion before striking. That to me is terrifying because we have lots of them here and they blend so well. I think he actually stepped on this one.

Yup, young rattlers whose first rattle hasn't developed completely yet can be among the most dangerous, their venom can also be stronger when young.
Sorry to hear this bad news, hope your friend recovers quickly.

 

[Dodgersrf]

Yup, young rattlers whose first rattle hasn't developed completely yet can be among the most dangerous, their venom can also be stronger when young.
Sorry to hear this bad news, hope your friend recovers quickly.

Adult Rattlers inject a dose of venom.
Young rattlers unload. They don't hold back.

 

[Ramhusker]

How's he doing? Any improvements?

They gave him two more vials of anti venom a couple of days ago and he went through another round of dialysis. They tried to get him off the ventilator yesterday to no avail so he's back on that which isn't good. I think the fact that he is still alive is a good sign for his survival but not so sure on the quality of life he may have from here on out. Time will tell as it always does I guess.

 

[Ramhusker]

Just got info today saying this snake strike was a one in a million one. One fang hit a vein while the other fang hit an artery. They say this is why the venom took such quick effect on the body. Lucky he was close to his house when he got bit.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

Is he out of the woods yet?
Please let us know - our prayers are with your brother

 

[ozarkram]

Wow this poor guy walked into the perfect storm. In my area the conservation dept. has for several years been reintroducing the eastern diamondback into what was once its natural range. I am sure this idea was thought up by some very well meaning people. But there is a reason the pioneers exterminated some species. They kill people. Back then if you took a hit from a rattler you either lived or died no in between mostly you died. Its all well meaning until a Mt. lion takes a child or a Grizzly mauls somebody.

 

[Ramhusker]

Snake expert here said he was going to go trap this snake. He said rattlesnakes are highly territorial and the snake would be right back where he was that day. I didn't know this about rattlers.

 

[Ramhusker]

Bill was successfully taken off the ventilator today. He still isn't awake but they are slowly taking him off of sedation. Brain seems unharmed but they are still doing kidney dialysis. I kinda think the jury is still out on his condition.

 

[Dodgersrf]

Well, that's good news.

 

[Florida_Ram]

Wow what a crazy fluke tragic story... I will add one more prayer to your request @Ramhusker