My father, LaVarr B. Webb, has written
a series of fun stories about his adventures growing up in Utah's Dixie.
Many deal with rattlesnakes. You can read the
rattlesnake stories
here.
I've also had many experiences with
rattlesnakes. While growing up my family lived on the outskirts of
the tiny town of Leeds, near St. George. We built a couple houses in
the sagebrush on the edge of the wilderness. We often found
rattlesnakes up against the house foundation, and more out in the
barn.
We had animals, cows, pigs, chickens,
and mice would come in to scavenger for feed grain and other food
items. And, or course, snakes would come in hunting for mice. We
found many a rattlesnake in the grain sack.
I've also encountered many rattlesnakes
while fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. It is always exciting
when you are jumping from one side of the creek to the other and
midway across you see a snake tail twitching right where you are
schedule to land. It is difficult but not impossible to change
directions mid-flight.
When I was young we killed all
rattlesnakes on sight. We chopped off heads with shovels, beat them
to death with tree limbs, shot them with shotguns and otherwise
dispatched them. We usually collected their rattles and often had
long strings to show as trophies.
Now days I prefer to live and let live.
If I see a rattler near a populated area I call animal control and
they relocate the snake. If the snake is out in the wild, I leave it
along. I've never seen a rattlesnake that didn't try to get away. If
they are given a chance, they will flee rather than fight. In the
days when I killed them I always had to chase them down. It was never
the other way around.
Here are some facts and facilities
about rattlesnakes, taken from my research and personal experience.
1. Rattlesnakes are aggressive and will
chase you to bit you. Wrong. If they can, they will get away. If you
corner them they will fight.
2. Rattlesnakes will launch into the
air and strike you, even if you are many feet way. Wrong. The snakes'
strike range is only about half the length of their bodies. They
can't launch their entire body off the ground.
3. Rattlesnakes always have rattles.
The best way to identify a rattler is to look for the rattles. Wrong.
Young snakes may not have rattles. Mature snakes that have just
molted may not have rattles. The coloration and pattern on the
snake's skin may vary widely. The best way to identify a rattlesnake
is to look at its head. Rattlesnakes have a distinct diamond shaped
head. Other snakes have a rounded head. Look at a couple and you will
clearly see the difference.
4. Rattlesnakes can swim. True. I've
occasionally seen snakes swim across or down rivers and into lakes.
5. Rattlesnakes can climb trees. True.
The snakes are most often seen on the ground but they can be found on
logs and sometimes even in lower tree branches.
6. Rattlesnake bites are deadly. If you
are bitten you will probably die. Wrong. If you are bitten you will
probably get very sick. The area around the bite may swell up and
turn black and blue. But in the United States people seldom die from
rattlesnake bites.
Every year a small number of people are
bitten by rattlesnakes in the U.S. One statistic I read said that 90%
of bites occur while the person is drunk and trying to catch the
snake. If you don't want to be bitten then don't try to catch snakes
while you are drunk.
But don't hesitate to hike, bike, camp
and explore. If you are lucky enough to see a snake it will probably
be a fleeting view while the snake is fleeing.
- Dave Webb
