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Where are the Rattlesnake Hunters when you need them?

 
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 7/13/2009, 9:49 am    Post subject: Where are the Rattlesnake Hunters when you need them? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Sadie and I are both fricken freaked........and haven't calmed down yet.

I was outside working in the yard early this morning. (250 tons of mesquite beans---possibly a good food source for mice!) Sadie went flying in the doggie door like a bat outta-you-know-where! She stood half way down the hall looking pretty high strung. I didn't think much of it, rounded the corner, headed inside for gloves.....and I saw what I thought was a LOOOOONG dog poop....except it had a rattle attached to it. Slowly it slithered across the yard. It couldn't move fast because it was FULL! Then it hid out in the Turtle's lantana bush. I'm not a happy camper.........I may have to move.

Thankfully my local fire department is a "full service" fire department. They came.......seemed like it took forever.......Sadie and I barricaded ourselves in the house. I'm still jumpy. Seen them in the wild lots of times but in my own backyard seems like such and invasion of privacy!

Now I'm searching for the point of entry. I sort of wonder if I should block off what I've seen...what if there are MORE in my backyard, then they'll be trapped here with me...........aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I need a rattlesnake hunter.


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Shawn
I'll sell you map to Lost Dutchman mine!




Joined: 03 Jan 2003
Posts: 2592
Location: Ahwatukee, AZ

PostPosted: 7/13/2009, 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Pic's won't load?

I felt the same way when I saw the first one in my yard, didn't know who to call first--police, fire, realtor? Police told me to call the AZ Herpitological (SP?) Society, but don't forget to tip them generously.

But then there were so many I started just chasing them out with the pool pole, they knew which hole to go out.
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 7/13/2009, 11:19 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Geez! You've had that many? I linked them probably from a link you can't get at work. I'll fix that.

Thankfully Mr. Nighthiker has thoughtfully warned me repeatedly. (almost like firedrill practice at school) I knew that the fire department out here is full service and does snake removal. I don't think they do that everywhere. My father was gathering up his stuff to come help. Aren't Dad's awesome Laughing
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azbackpackr
Hi Tech Wizardess




Joined: 31 Dec 2005
Posts: 3639
Location: Needles CA

PostPosted: 7/13/2009, 4:59 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Suz, I think you got the snake to come into your yard on purpose just so you could get those two hunky guys to show up in your yard! Mr. Green
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oliverr99





Joined: 04 Jul 2006
Posts: 632
Location: Glendale

PostPosted: 7/13/2009, 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

azbackpackr wrote:
Suz, I think you got the snake to come into your yard on purpose just so you could get those two hunky guys to show up in your yard! Mr. Green


LOL I was thinking the same thing! Too funny!
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"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" -- Dr. Seuss
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 7/13/2009, 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Oh I have to believe I would select something less fricken scary than this if that was my purpose....funny though!

The questions is Mohave or Diamondback?
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Nighthiker





Joined: 05 Jan 2003
Posts: 1714

PostPosted: 7/13/2009, 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Need a close up of the face to note the facial stripes, looks like A-Shift though.
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azhiker96





Joined: 05 Jan 2003
Posts: 1419

PostPosted: 7/14/2009, 1:44 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Looking at the tail, I think you had a Diamondback. Here's a guide. A closeup of the head would make it easier to be sure.
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 7/14/2009, 6:20 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

John, yes----probably A shift...it was early.
George I think you're right.......call me crazy but I'd much rather it was a Western Diamondback.

I've been awake all night thinking about how it got in and how long it had been back there. How I missed it so many times while walking in and out that morning. The decent hole under the concrete slab that holds the hot tub heater that I think the turtles made and why they don't go in there now, all the lantana bushes in my backyard that need to be trimmed.......the mouse poop by the front door..........that isn't there now.........pretty much wondering if that snake was pregnant.
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Desert-Boonie





Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 219
Location: Glendale, AZ

PostPosted: 7/14/2009, 8:12 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

That would have made a great meal for yourself. Wink
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Shawn
I'll sell you map to Lost Dutchman mine!




Joined: 03 Jan 2003
Posts: 2592
Location: Ahwatukee, AZ

PostPosted: 7/14/2009, 8:25 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

They say it tastes like chicken.
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RedRoxx44
Queen of the Walkabout




Joined: 15 Jan 2004
Posts: 1167

PostPosted: 7/15/2009, 6:31 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I have a book by a Scotsman who backpacked around the coastline of Baja. He had visited there but never before backpacked. His diet when he was low on food was killing and cooking rattlers and eating pitaya cactus fruits, fishing. He considered the snakes a delicacy. And he used a solar still and another set up for desalinating sea water.
I'll look for the book, it is quite an entertaining read.
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azhiker96





Joined: 05 Jan 2003
Posts: 1419

PostPosted: 7/15/2009, 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I had rattlesnake at Rustler's Roost years ago. They overcooked it and it had too much batter but otherwise it was good. The taste reminded me more of frog than chicken. Wink
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lzyboy





Joined: 21 Nov 2004
Posts: 201
Location: Mesa

PostPosted: 7/17/2009, 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

azhiker96 wrote:
I had rattlesnake at Rustler's Roost years ago. They overcooked it and it had too much batter but otherwise it was good. The taste reminded me more of frog than chicken. Wink
Frogs, right, they taste like chicken … marinated in mud... However, wild-caught frogs have much more flavor than chicken (or farmed frogs), reminiscent of young alligator tail fillet. Serve them lightly battered and sautéed in garlic butter, with some parsley and white wine added at the end, about two bottles!! Or maybe you should have the wine first. Laughing
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Shawn
I'll sell you map to Lost Dutchman mine!




Joined: 03 Jan 2003
Posts: 2592
Location: Ahwatukee, AZ

PostPosted: 7/18/2009, 10:01 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

lzyboy wrote:
azhiker96 wrote:
I had rattlesnake at Rustler's Roost years ago. They overcooked it and it had too much batter but otherwise it was good. The taste reminded me more of frog than chicken. Wink
Frogs, right, they taste like chicken … marinated in mud... However, wild-caught frogs have much more flavor than chicken (or farmed frogs), reminiscent of young alligator tail fillet. Serve them lightly battered and sautéed in garlic butter, with some parsley and white wine added at the end, about two bottles!! Or maybe you should have the wine first. Laughing


My shoes would taste good battered and sauteed in garlic and butter . . . .
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