rattle snakes

[mkeawsh]

I don't mind snakes. We see king snakes, copperheads, other rat snakes and just leave them alone but if they are threatening me or my family- they are toast. I have young grand kids that are here frequently and I can not have snakes hanging out where they usually play. Most snakes are harmless. My daughter got bit my a black snake and they on non-venomous and she was more worried about if she hurt the snake since she stepped on it.

 

[dewey]

I love snakes and think they're beautiful. Handled them for years. There's so many here that, all except for the few protected species, we can possess them freely without license or permit and sell their skins, rattlers, etc., just can't sell the meat, and we can legally take and possess them in the field with a license, and then transfer them to unlicensed peeps who can possess and/or sell their by products. We have an abundance of rattlers, lol.

 

[BooBear]

The girls chased Saphire around the yard today as Saphire found a baby copperhead. Saphire gulped it down right when Mrs Grumpy and Una thought they had her cornered.
Chickens are great in help keeping the pests down.

I do not think it is illegal in Texas to kill one so Saphire is in no danger of being taken to jail over it.

 

[mkeawsh]

Boobear - Almost a crazy cat lady, now it's chickens!!
Loves to enable others to join addiction. big_smile

Hey, you sound like me - Have five indoor cats, 28 chickens outside, 11 inside brooding and as of tomorrow I will have 81 eggs starting in my bators. So, I will join your addiction!

 

[Shireshome]

Quote:
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'm sure. We had a gentleman tell us about a copperhead that he found when he turned over his boat in the spring and a copperhead under it was startled and coiled. He was lucky to see it in time before it struck and he killed it. Just so happens a conservation officer saw him do it and even though he was on his own property, he was fined for killing it. The officer told him, that it doesn't matter the circumstances, it is illegal to kill a snake.

Snakes in Missouri are protected by state law. The Wildlife Code of Missouri treats snakes, lizards and most turtles as nongame. This means there is no open season on these animals, and it is technically illegal to kill them. Of course, realistic exceptions exist, such as when a poisonous snake comes in close contact with humans, which could result in someone getting bitten. http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=g9450

Sounds like the conservation officer is not well enough informed.

 

[neverbdone]

Wow, I didn't realize this would be such a hot topic. To clarify, I do not randomly kill anything. I adore the king snakes and hopefully they won't be arrested either because they eat rattle snakes. I only dispatch rattle snakes that are threatening my property; i.e. DH or me, chickens, ducks, eggs or dogs. Our other rule is if its a spider in the house it dies, otherwise it is welcome.

Vaccination is a choice and obviously we all have differences in predation on our property. I do pay to have my dogs vaccinated as I have seen a dog die from a rattle snake bite to the face and it was gruesome. Two shots originally and then a booster every year. I'd get it myself if they had one for humans.

On the subject of eating, does anyone know if you can you BBQ rattlesnake?