Rattlesnakes

[kbuchanan66]

Where do you live? We have rattlers north of us so when we rent a cottage, we have to be aware of it. Growing up in BC, we had rattlers as well. My uncles found a baby rattler and brought it home to my brother (he had a number of boas and pythons at the time). He thought it was cool at first, his first rattler, then he woke up one morning and said, "Okay, I think I went a little nuts there when I accepted the snake." Took it back to where it was found. Must have had a dream that he got bit by the rattler.

Don't have much to worry about around here where I live, just when we go camping or up to the cottage. Cougars, I absolutely hate cougars. Probably because there were a few attacks when I was a kid in my town. A few cougars were attacking kids.

Lol I should have specified more. I am in Alberta on the North East side by the Saskatchewan border. Far from the US. I believe it is way to cold in the winter to even have them.

 

[mx5055]

I personally hate and am totally freaked out by snakes! When we lived on acreage in California we actually lived off a road called Rattlesnake Road. It was out by Folsom Lake and it didn't take more than a week there to find out why. It's funny, cause the first one I saw was a smaller one that I actually pulled out of our swimming hole while fishing for trout with a lure! My husband was up the creek...which dumped into the swimming hole...then continued down to Folsom Lake...anyway, he was up the creek clearing out a lot of the old brush with the chain saw, and prob the snake got pushed in...anyway, of course I was totally hysterical...my husband learned after he saw my reaction to try and hide it every time he found one and killed it....but I always knew they were there, and I flatly absolutely refused to ever go near the wood pile. I'm pretty brave usually...but I really really hate snakes!!

 

[DMikeM]

I have lived in Cali all my life and in the mountains for 40 years. When I was a kid I used to catch Rattlers and milk them then sell the venom to Loma Linda for quick cash. Never really been afraid of any reptile except the big black Nile Croc at the gator farm by Knott's Berry farm he scared me one time and I never got over it. But I have always been afraid my dogs could get snake bit but none have. We go to the desert often and oddly enough never find snakes when I have dogs with me. I have had 2 dry bites on me and one was a Mojave Green Rattler, nastiest western snake there is and that even killed some skin on my leg even though there was no injection. The one on my hand swelled up my thumb pretty bad and wrinkled the web between thumb and index finger, but that's what happens when you make mistakes handling big rattlers with little sticks.
From what I read about the vaccine is it will give you a little more time to get your dog to the vet. My trainer says she can have someone come up here and train our dogs to stay clear of rattlers but I wonder is it is a wise type of training.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Snakes don't bother me....in fact I have one as a pet. I'd just want to keep everyone safe.

 

[jcook]

Im starting to feel a little less freaked out about the snakes. I am going to take her to that class and just be smart about hiking. I thought about it, and Stella and I love hiking too much to not go because of the possibility of a snake bite.

 

[mx5055]

Im starting to feel a little less freaked out about the snakes. I am going to take her to that class and just be smart about hiking. I thought about it, and Stella and I love hiking too much to not go because of the possibility of a snake bite.

That's the best attitude jcook. We ran into a rattlesnake one year when we were hiking in the mountains...I was younger and didn't have a dog of my own, but my dad had his dog, and the snake was in the middle of the path and even though Sot (my dad's chesapeake bay retriever) went crazy at it barking and lunging (it was coiled and rattling and ready to strike) Sot seemed to have enough savvy to stay far enough away back from it...we all stood back and threw rocks at it until it slithered off...dang I do hate snakes...but it's important to do the things you love, and now you are more knowledgeable and are getting more prepared! Kudos to you

 

[cwayaustx]

Mike I'm sure I ain't gotta tell you how lucky you are with that mojave green, my buddy was in a coma for a week after he got nailed, almost died multiple times. We caught rattlers all year in west Texas and sold them to the roundup in sweet water every year. Fun fun

 

[Cody]

Lol I should have specified more. I am in Alberta on the North East side by the Saskatchewan border. Far from the US. I believe it is way to cold in the winter to even have them.

We have Prairie Rattlers here, Saskatchewan and BC. The interior also has Timber rattlers. I know a CC that was bitten last spring by one. It got him in the side of the face, he lived but was an older dog and it really slowed him down As well in BC my mom's horse was nailed, silly young curious morgan got it in the face.

 

[DMikeM]

Mike I'm sure I ain't gotta tell you how lucky you are with that mojave green, my buddy was in a coma for a week after he got nailed, almost died multiple times. We caught rattlers all year in west Texas and sold them to the roundup in sweet water every year. Fun fun

Oh I know how bad it could have been but it was a small snake I had on heavy pants and boots and he tagged me just on top of the edge of the boot. It's penetration was very shallow and didn't get any into my tissue. They still loaded my in a chopper and flew me to Loma Linda for observation and blood tests. I kept the snake for a year too. Made a few thousand bucks from it's venom. Then I sold it for $500.00.

 

[jcook]

I looked up that mojave green rattlesnake just before our hike (not a great idea lol). But Stella turned 11 months today and I turn 24 in two days, so we still went. The weather is just PERFECT right now in SD.

 

[mx5055]

OH my, Stella is absolutely stunning!!! (as are you) Glad you had a good hike

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Happy Birthday to you both.

 

[kbuchanan66]

We have Prairie Rattlers here, Saskatchewan and BC. The interior also has Timber rattlers. I know a CC that was bitten last spring by one. It got him in the side of the face, he lived but was an older dog and it really slowed him down As well in BC my mom's horse was nailed, silly young curious morgan got it in the face.

Well I must be really lucky than. I hunt, camp, Hike and Dirtbike and have never seen one. This is all in Alberta any where from the east side to the west but more northern Alberta. I am sure there would be some in the south closer to panoka and Calgary.

 

[jreach72]

Ok, well I got two thoughts to share. First some background. 1. My dog saved my life from a rattlesnake about 8 years ago. 2. The same dog 2 years latter got bit on the nose by a rattlesnake. Based on that background here are my thoughts.

1. A dog should not be trained in an adverse way against snakes. Dogs have instincts and already are aware that its not a good thing to play with. My dog that saved me from a snake did so by putting herself in between me and the snake. If she was trained to avoid snakes etc...would she have done that?

2. Having a dog that was bit and envenomated by a eastern diamondback I know how scary it can be. From my personal experience though as long as you can reduce the swelling so they can breath they will be fine. Our vet said that they rarely if ever vaccinate and or give anti-venom to dogs. First it is costly and secondly he said many times it doesn't work. A dog that gets a full dose of venom (very rare) will most likely not make it anyhow and a dog that is weakened already either due to illness or genetics won't make it. His advice, keep your dog healthy, active, and in your sight.

Anyhow, not worth much I am sure but its my 2 cents.

 

[DMikeM]

I looked up that mojave green rattlesnake just before our hike (not a great idea lol). But Stella turned 11 months today and I turn 24 in two days, so we still went. The weather is just PERFECT right now in SD.
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jcook you shouldn't worry about the MG snake unless you are in the Southern California area. Yes they have Hemotixic/Neurotoxic venom combination. You have a beautiful dog and about your picture . If you are in Cali let me show you where not to go! LOL.

 

[DMikeM]

Ok, well I got two thoughts to share. First some background. 1. My dog saved my life from a rattlesnake about 8 years ago. 2. The same dog 2 years latter got bit on the nose by a rattlesnake. Based on that background here are my thoughts.

1. A dog should not be trained in an adverse way against snakes. Dogs have instincts and already are aware that its not a good thing to play with. My dog that saved me from a snake did so by putting herself in between me and the snake. If she was trained to avoid snakes etc...would she have done that?

2. Having a dog that was bit and envenomated by a eastern diamondback I know how scary it can be. From my personal experience though as long as you can reduce the swelling so they can breath they will be fine. Our vet said that they rarely if ever vaccinate and or give anti-venom to dogs. First it is costly and secondly he said many times it doesn't work. A dog that gets a full dose of venom (very rare) will most likely not make it anyhow and a dog that is weakened already either due to illness or genetics won't make it. His advice, keep your dog healthy, active, and in your sight.

Anyhow, not worth much I am sure but its my 2 cents.

jreach, I would rather my dog not get bit by a rattler. I can survive a bite much better than my dog and I can handle snakes much better than my dog/s. The only snake I ever encountered that did not give me fair warning was the Mojave Green. But it was sleeping in a hole in a stump I was standing on, when I stepped off it bit me immediately as it did not have time to warn me.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

All this talk about snakes and I keep forgetting to buy rats for mine.....

 

[jcook]

Ok, well I got two thoughts to share. First some background. 1. My dog saved my life from a rattlesnake about 8 years ago. 2. The same dog 2 years latter got bit on the nose by a rattlesnake. Based on that background here are my thoughts.

1. A dog should not be trained in an adverse way against snakes. Dogs have instincts and already are aware that its not a good thing to play with. My dog that saved me from a snake did so by putting herself in between me and the snake. If she was trained to avoid snakes etc...would she have done that?

2. Having a dog that was bit and envenomated by a eastern diamondback I know how scary it can be. From my personal experience though as long as you can reduce the swelling so they can breath they will be fine. Our vet said that they rarely if ever vaccinate and or give anti-venom to dogs. First it is costly and secondly he said many times it doesn't work. A dog that gets a full dose of venom (very rare) will most likely not make it anyhow and a dog that is weakened already either due to illness or genetics won't make it. His advice, keep your dog healthy, active, and in your sight.

Anyhow, not worth much I am sure but its my 2 cents.

I am not sure if I agree with the statement that dogs have a natural aversion to snakes. I've seen our bulldog go crazy at the sight of a lizard (similar looking to a snake). And I have a friend whose dog cannot stop trying to hunt snakes. Dog gets bite about twice a year but it just suffers minor swelling and a quick vet visit is all that is needed.

I'll still take Stella to rattler class because I want her to know for 100% certainty to avoid them. My aunts brother is a game and warden officer and he has a few places in ad that he highly recommends. They teach sight, sound, and smell of rattlers and even have real rattlers. The goal is that when they see one, they retreat and run back to you for direction.

I think I'll pass on the vaccine though.

And I agree with mike, I would rather be bite. Stella won't know understand what happened and I can remain more calm when it's myself that is hurt than when she is, sad but true, I'm worried about Stella than myself. Plus if I call someone I'm sure they will send help for me over sending help for my dog.

And mike I am In Cali. I live in Santee and often go hiking in mission trails. And thank you for the compliments on Stella, she is my pretty girl

 

[DMikeM]

Santee is a fringe zone for the MG. But you get other Southern Pacific rattlers and sidewinders in that area.

 

[jcook]

Santee is a fringe zone for the MG. But you get other Southern Pacific rattlers and sidewinders in that area.

That's a relief! Lol my bf is a worry wart so when I told him about the MG I swear he was about to wrap Stella and I in bubble wrap before we left the house ha.