rattle snakes

[dkvart1]

Quote:
Sorry, I'm against it and I'm not a crybaby. We share this planet with all it's inhabitants and we don't OWN it, although we like to think we do. Each and every creature on this planet plays a crucial roll in sustaining the eco system that allows us to live.

The hands of man has caused incredible damage to this planet and severly damaged ecosystems. For decades cattle ranchers hunted and killed thousands of wolves to protect the livestock (money motivated to be sure!). The result? Deer, elk, moose populations swelled without the wovles to keep them in check. Which caused even more problems.

If humans undertake raising livestock then there are risks that come with that. Loss can occur due to disease. Predators can and most likely will come calling. It's a fact of life. As the caretaker of livestock owners are responsible for building secure housing and pens to protect the livestock. Invest in a dog to guard the flock if you need to. But to just start killing everything you see as a threat is illogical and destructive. If you free range your birds be prepared for losses, at some point they are bound to occur.

If you kill snakes for whatever reason, you impact the environment. Rodent populations swell for one thing.

I have lived in the country several times throughout my life. I have kept wood and other debris picked up, placed compost piles at the back of the property, firewood was stacked off the ground to minimize areas where snakes would seek shelter. If you surprise a snake you may get bit, but if you give them a means to escape they generally will go on their way. They aren't seeking a confrontation nor are they territorial and simply taking them into a field and letting them go suffices.

I find the act of killing something for fun, not only deplorable, but rather sad and a little more than frightening.

 

[dewey]

They're becoming more active here although they're out all year in these parts.

We've got around 15, I think, rattlesnake species...1 considered the most toxic in the U.S. (good thing it's not the most common one, lol) and 4 that are protected, including the rattler that's the official state reptile.

I do cringe when I see tourists and people new to the state out exploring and not taking any precautions. Of the people I've known that were bitten, all recovered. A couple of times a year a little kid would be life-flighted into town after being bit. Quite a few are dry bites. Never personally knew of any snake-bit dogs that died from it, but they've mostly been larger dogs. My tiny dog would never survive it. I've had accidental close calls even being very careful. I used to sell skins and would give most of the meat away to friends. With enough breading on it, rattler does taste just like chicken.

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
Sorry, I'm against it and I'm not a crybaby. We share this planet with all it's inhabitants and we don't OWN it, although we like to think we do. Each and every creature on this planet plays a crucial roll in sustaining the eco system that allows us to live.

The hands of man has caused incredible damage to this planet and severly damaged ecosystems. For decades cattle ranchers hunted and killed thousands of wolves to protect the livestock (money motivated to be sure!). The result? Deer, elk, moose populations swelled without the wovles to keep them in check. Which caused even more problems.

If humans undertake raising livestock then there are risks that come with that. Loss can occur due to disease. Predators can and most likely will come calling. It's a fact of life. As the caretaker of livestock owners are responsible for building secure housing and pens to protect the livestock. Invest in a dog to guard the flock if you need to. But to just start killing everything you see as a threat is illogical and destructive. If you free range your birds be prepared for losses, at some point they are bound to occur.

If you kill snakes for whatever reason, you impact the environment. Rodent populations swell for one thing.

I have lived in the country several times throughout my life. I have kept wood and other debris picked up, placed compost piles at the back of the property, firewood was stacked off the ground to minimize areas where snakes would seek shelter. If you surprise a snake you may get bit, but if you give them a means to escape they generally will go on their way. They aren't seeking a confrontation nor are they territorial and simply taking them into a field and letting them go suffices.

I find the act of killing something for fun, not only deplorable, but rather sad and a little more than frightening.

I don't kill for fun-I kill for MY survival and the survival of my animals-they are my concern, not some slithering snake.
If they want to start paying rent and taxes, I'll rethink letting them stay until then-it's game on.

 

[redhen]

Yep..ANY copperheads or rattlers here get killed ... yep.
Off with their head! Muhahahahhaha...

The non-venomous one can stay..i like those cute little guys..

 

[redhen]

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Ooooo.... don't tell anyone where you are. It is illegal to kill a copperhead-so we found out here. As a matter of fact, it's illegal to kill any snake in Missouri.

Are you sure your information is accurate?

They'll have to get out the cuffs then. One of my dogs was bitten by a copperhead year before last, and I almost got it last year, over 4' long and in a bad mood. Missed my leg by about nothing, I posted a pic on BYC of my bloody sock. I am in South Carolina, I am fairly certain it's okay to kill them here, but I will check.

Thanks.

I dont think we are supposed to kill them here in MA either..... not that i give a dam.

 

[oldchickenlady]

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I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure you can't get a dog vaccinated against snake bite. Treated after getting bit, but not vaccinated against it (like rabies). Any vet techs out there that can confirm/deny this?

 

[dewey]

The dog vacine is thought to work even better on cats. http://www.redrockbiologics.com/FAQ.html

We don't vacinate for snake bite.

 

[oldchickenlady]

Quote:
Thanks Dewey! I have never heard of a vaccination against snakebites! Not even from the vet when I took my Chesapeake in for just that reason! Learn something new every day...still aint gonna do it though...have enough shots to pay for every year with 2 horses and one dog.

 

[redhen]

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Wow! Never knew they have a snake bite vaccine out! Interesting!

 

[Trunkster]

It takes all kinds to make a world, killing a snake for survival is ok if you're eating it, otherwise it's just plain cruel and totally unnecessary and will for sure be replaced by some rodent that snakes eat. Nature has a way of taking care of itself. On a different topic but nature related, every year, for years, I would burn all the caterpilar tents I could find on my 16 acre property and every year they seemed to get worse. A near brush fire one year caused me to stop the practice. Within two years of leaving the caterpilars alone they have pretty much disapeared and replaced by caterpilar eating migratory song birds which I had never seen before. It was a lesson I'll never forget.