First Snake of the Year

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by Zippy

Most often, victims are MALE, knew the snake was there and were MESSING WITH IT. Leave it alone, wait for it to pass or go another way.

End Rant.

GUILTY!!!

I no longer pick up small snakes that appear to be gopher snakes. I've done this a couple only to realize the snake that I'm holding, or letting run through my fingers, is a rattler. Boy, the moment of panic once I realize what I am doing. DO'H! In both cases, I released the snake and both of us parted ways in good health.

[Jman]

Oh yippy, snakes! I hate 'em and yet at work I get to catch them if a camper sees them. Oh yeah for me. It's gotta be the worse part of the job, even over picking up 8 hour old fish guts at the fish cleaner!

[Silva>Henderson]

Love the rattlesnakes

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by Jman

Oh yippy, snakes! I hate 'em and yet at work I get to catch them if a camper sees them. Oh yeah for me. It's gotta be the worse part of the job, even over picking up 8 hour old fish guts at the fish cleaner!

You must truely love the rest of what you do...

[PacMan]

Yep--they are out early this year. Saw 3 on my ride today at Lake Hodges.

[Jman]

Originally Posted by J_Sims

You must truely love the rest of what you do...

The rest of the job kicks a$$. I mean lake patrols in a brand new 19' Boston Whaler under blue skies and 70 degree weather can't be beat! I love working with the public and I have a great group of peeps that I work with. Not quite a 'dream' job but it's as close as an uunedumacated guy like me is gonna get!

[DISCO]

Snakes sure are tasty, but it takes at least a dozen to make a good pair of boots. Wound up on more than a few of them, but will be sure to keep a look out during trail work tomorrow.

[Pain Freak]

I'm like Steppie, I love um, pass the salt!

[ransom]

I think there must be some mistake, why would any one carry a 2 iron?

[1080P]

Originally Posted by Zippy

I've been a Paramedic since '99 and the advice from the CDC is the most accurate. Cutting yourself with a knife is the DUMBEST thing you can do as is trying to suck out the poison. Snake bite kits are a cruel joke and should be taken off store shelves to keep people from hurting themselves.

Remove yourself from where the snake is, sit down, keep the bite area below the level of your heart as best you can, call EMS (911). That's it! If you can, take a cell phone photo of it for identification since anti-venin's are species specific.

Control life-threatening bleeding if you know how and, if you have medical training, apply a wide, gently constricting band to slow the return of venous blood from the area if the bite is on an extremity. Otherwise, keep your cool and wait for EMS.

Most often, victims are MALE, knew the snake was there and were MESSING WITH IT. Leave it alone, wait for it to pass or go another way.

End Rant.

What he said, X2... A rattlesnakes venom is completely absorbed by muscle tissue and flesh within 1/4 second of injection by the fang, and irretrievable with knife or sucking. Cutter Labs should be sued for all the FUD tactics they've used in selling worthless snake bite kits.

95% percent of all venomous snakebites here in the USA are incurred by young males teens to early twenties under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances, while showing off around their peers. They end up looking like fools when they make the trip to the hospital.

What was shown as being effective was high voltage shock treatment across the limb affected by venom. Supposedly, the voltage from a spark plug wire of a running engine was said to break down the toxic enzyme blocks that venom is made out of, effectively neutralizing it.

BTW, that snake isn't that big in the pic... I used to hold my fish out at arms length to make them look bigger while shooting with a wide angle lense. Holding a dead snake up in front of you on a looooooooong stick is just good directing by the cameraman for a special effect.

[J_Sims]

[quote=1080P;227502
What was shown as being effective was high voltage shock treatment across the limb affected by venom. Supposedly, the voltage from a spark plug wire of a running engine was said to break down the toxic enzyme blocks that venom is made out of, effectively neutralizing it.[/quote]
.

Don't taze me unless I am bit by a snake

[Pain Freak]

That little thing wouldn't even be an orderve, now this is lunch!

[Red Hot Sloth]

I've seen some pretty big rattlers, but holey moley, thats friggin ridiculous. Prehistoric rattlers, what are they eating, lambs, goats, cows...
Free range chickens and turkeys, kids, dinosaurs, wooley mamoths

[Kpeony]

Originally Posted by Zippy

I've been a Paramedic since '99 and the advice from the CDC is the most accurate. Cutting yourself with a knife is the DUMBEST thing you can do as is trying to suck out the poison. Snake bite kits are a cruel joke and should be taken off store shelves to keep people from hurting themselves.

Remove yourself from where the snake is, sit down, keep the bite area below the level of your heart as best you can, call EMS (911). That's it! If you can, take a cell phone photo of it for identification since anti-venin's are species specific.

Control life-threatening bleeding if you know how and, if you have medical training, apply a wide, gently constricting band to slow the return of venous blood from the area if the bite is on an extremity. Otherwise, keep your cool and wait for EMS.

Most often, victims are MALE, knew the snake was there and were MESSING WITH IT. Leave it alone, wait for it to pass or go another way.

End Rant.

Ok, since I am also a member of the equestrian community (I know - GASP! Be cool!), what do you guys recommend with a 1,000 lb. horse. I know, call the vet; but at least with people, you can make them sit down. I so worry about this. I have seen enough of the slithery little monsters to do so on my bike. I hear an anti-venum serum shot is like $700.00. Non-medical insuranceable.

[Rockinthecasbah]

Crotolus organus helleri , southern pacific rattle snake
beautful snake one of my favorites

[1080P]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

Crotolus organus helleri , southern pacific rattle snake
beautful snake one of my favorites

Son, you forgot the viridus before the helleri...oregonis is the Northern Pacific variety and helleri is the Southern Pacific variety of the Western Rattlesnake, aka the Prarie rattler, last time I looked at Robert C Stebbins Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians back in 1973.

http://www.oceanlight.com/lightbox.p...iridis_helleri




Another interesting tidbit, recently discovered... viridis helleri has been found to have partially neurotoxic poison like it's cousin the Mojave Green rattlesnake. Almost all other rattlesnakes in the USA have hemotoxic poison, which breaks down muscle and turns it to jelly. Neurotoxic shuts down the nervous system, stopping breathing and heart beating capacity.

My guess on a horse being bit by a rattler is that it will be a minor annoyance on a horse... as it is to range cattle, not enough venom to affect 1000 pounds. versus a 4 ounce chipmunk. Teach your horse to dance on a rattler, and the problem will be solved in a 2 step shuffle.

[1080P]

Originally Posted by J_Sims

.

Don't taze me unless I am bit by a snake

My cars have glow plugs, not spark plugs, so yer outta luck, partner!