Forget scorpions, we've moved on to...

[Momo]

Rattlesnakes!

So I was heading out of the drive way, when I thought my eyes were deceiving me! I pulled back in & ran over to my neighbor's house. Right out in the street, just off of our mutual property line, was a still moving BIG snake! My neighbor was already on the phone calling animal control. Another neighbor and her male friend pulled up in an SUV, that's when he said he had just run over it moments earlier. I told him I had noticed movement, but we determined it was post-mortem movement.

It was shocking, because in the 4&1/2 years here, we have never seen a rattle snake anywhere around here. Animal control only comes out for live snakes. We (my neighbor & I) were concerned that it might have been a female and had eggs or babies around?? The Animal control guy just said:
" Just throw it in your garbage and keep a careful eye out!!??"

WTH like that's reassuring

Pollyanna, I so thought of you today and your bad-ass snake squashing mobile!!! LOL
BTW Have you encountered any lately?

[MrsK]

[Ladybug]

Sounds like Texas. At least they give you ample rattling warning. It's the nonrattlin' ones that can sneak up on you.

[migirl]

OMG. I can't even imagine. I'll take a snowy blizzard over a rattlesnake anyday...

[Pollyanna]

Pollyanna, I so thought of you today and your bad-ass snake squashing mobile!!! LOL
BTW Have you encountered any lately?

Hehe! They are coming back out again as the weather warms up. Around here Rural Metro will come out and get them but they just release the snakes in the nearest wash. Not good enough for me, need to take care of the snakes when I see them anywhere near the house. We never throw them in the trash, just leave them for the turkey vultures or other animals to snack on, you know, the circle of life...

I hope you don't get anymore Suz but usually where there is one...

Good luck!!

[v-girl]

Sounds like Texas. At least they give you ample rattling warning. It's the nonrattlin' ones that can sneak up on you.

Suburbs of Dallas = no rattlesnakes or scorpions

If there were, well, the road would be on fire for how fast I would hightail it out of here.

[Meenah]

Rabid bats in the Northeast are looking good, especially since we are now vaccinated.

[Thirteen]

Keep grass cut low. Advise your kids, keep an eye out.
We used to take them out with pellet guns as a kid.

Egads. I with Tara on the cycle of life disposal plan. There is no way in hell I would pick up a rattlesnake dead or otherwise.

[alison]

Egads. I with Tara on the cycle of life disposal plan. There is no way in hell I would pick up a rattlesnake dead or otherwise.

ITA.

I think there are rattlesnakes in E. Washington. Peggy?

I think they are in eastern Oregon and Idaho as well? There are rattlesnakes in the foothills of Denver and other parts of CO. When I was in high school, our dog was bit by a rattlesnake and nearly died. Then a friend was bit around Lake Powell UT, was airlifted out, and on crutches for months. I was used to keeping an eye out for them and leave them alone/they leave you alone thing...but I'll be the first to admit my phobia of snakes. I just don't like them at all. Especially the ones that can kill me.

[alison]

I think they are in eastern Oregon and Idaho as well? There are rattlesnakes in the foothills of Denver and other parts of CO. When I was in high school, our dog was bit by a rattlesnake and nearly died. Then a friend was bit around Lake Powell UT, was airlifted out, and on crutches for months. I was used to keeping an eye out for them and leave them alone/they leave you alone thing...but I'll be the first to admit my phobia of snakes. I just don't like them at all. Especially the ones that can kill me.

I'm with you on this... We used to have snakes as class pets. They were interesting creatures until the teacher would put the thing in your hands and it'd slither everywhere. I absolutely hated it.

Not to mention, when we'd all gather outside the tank and watch the snake eat an entire live mouse. Gag.

[spotty_dog]

I think they are in eastern Oregon and Idaho as well?

Yep, I definitely heard a rattle in the ditch next to me when my car broke down on the Oregon/Idaho border as we were moving to Ohio for med school.

We've come across rattlers a few times hiking, in South Mountain Park and also in the mountains north and east of the city. Always prompts a discussion of whether to get rattlesnake vaccine for the dog, but we're pretty sure it's not worth the cost -- antivenin is expensive, but so is the vaccine, so we'd rather take our chances and just pay for the treatment if she gets bitten. We'd have to take her to the nearest (human) emergency room to get the antivenin! I'm not even sure how that would work, I doubt they'll check her in through the waiting room. LOL.

[houseelf]

Wow, it is never dull at your house, right. (BTW, I'm totally laughing at your attempts to persuade me to move to the Phoenix area).

Kelly

[PrincessFiona]

GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!