Anybody Know Anything About Rattlesnake Habits?

[CrufflerSteve]

I live along the foothills and sometimes rattlesnakes turn up. If they're around the house they become dead rattlesnakes.

Yesterday something awful happened. My wife has a couple of miniature horses and one got bit one the face first thing in the morning. She's probably going to survive but it looked like a horror movie and the vet hospital now owns me.

When I got back from the hospital I searched the whole area around our barn with no snakes. I was out again at dawn to see if any would come out to warm up but didn't find any.

I just wondered if some members here know much about the way they behave. Do they have a territory or just move around? Where is the best place to look to find them? Is there a best time of day to find them?

Any info would be appreciated since I don't want this to happen again.

Steve

[Irving]

Like all snakes, they like to sun. Snakes like to crawl under things as well. They like to feel whatever they are under, directly on top of them, so don't discount places that you might think are too shallow. Good luck.

[Zundfolge]

See if you can't buy a few Kingsnakes and let them loose in the yard. They'll drive out the rattlers (either by out-competing them for food or occasionally eating the damn rattlers). You might see if you can rent a propane gopher killer* and find all the snake holes first (they live in holes about 2" in diameter).

Then make sure you do what you can to keep rodents out of the yard as that's why the rattlers are there.

Also keep as much of the area around your house mowed as you can.

*I found these guys up in Loveland.

[trlcavscout]

Bull snakes will get rid of them usually. I see them in the morning but later afternoon is when I have the best luck finding them. They are not always in the same place but I dont know how far they will travel. Wood piles, hay, dark corners of sheds/garages are good places to look as well as under bigger rocks. If you have prairie dog holes around they hang out in them also. Around here they are harder to find in the middle of the day. We go grab them for BBQ during season.


On a side note a buddy of mine that lives out east by hbar has been seeing A LOT of them the last couple weeks, maybe coming out later due to weather but worse then usual. He's already asking me when I am coming out to cap some

[BlasterBob]

If you guys are blessed with good hearing, you are much luckier than I am. Guess a lot of shooting without hearing protection in my younger days has really taken it's toll on me. I cannot hear a rattler buzzing so I have to REALLY watch where I step. Twice now I have encountered one of these critters on our black rubber "Welcome" mat most likely because these mats will hold the heat for them to relax on. A neighbor got bitten by a rattler when he reached under his ATV to check something. After that bite and for some unknown reason immediately stuck his hand under the machine once again and got struck the second time. Quickly drove himself to the hospital where it was reported that they used their entire stock of anti-venom for that one episode. Always have to remind our grand kids what these critters look like and where some of the more common places are to watch for them.
This one may not be very large but can still inflict some nasty damage!!

[Mtn.man]

They make nice boots.

[Ah Pook]

They make nice boots.

...and hat bands...and belts...

Rattlers are like salmon. They always return to the same place for breeding. They will sun in the early/mid morning and evening.

Good luck getting rid of them.

[spyder]

See if you can't buy a few Kingsnakes and let them loose in the yard. They'll drive out the rattlers (eating the damn rattlers).

This is what I would do in your case. I had an albino King snake that I would feed rattlers to, it loved em, ate em up. Other snakes like rattlers are easier to catch for them so they go for them first, well, from what I saw out of mine when I had it.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Rattlesnake Bite survivor here / Dumbass!! Had a 4 1/2 long Diamind Back Rattler as a pet in AZ I got bit twice on both hands showing him to some friends. One of the most painfull things I have ever been through.

Almost lost my right middle finger, and the middle and ring finger are permanantly bent. And I have no feeling in those fingers but have full use of them.

I'm here in the Foothill, and killed 2 my self, one neighbor lost a Llama to one and 3 other snakes were killed in the last 2 years.

They like rock croppings, driveways anything that warms up fast to bring their body heat up. They hunt in wood piles, junk piles, anything that mice and rats get into.

[Colorado Luckydog]

Keeping the area clear of rock piles or anything like that will help a lot. Gasoline will drive them out of their hiding place. If you suspect a hole is a rattler hole or you think you might know where a den is gasoline will bring them out. It takes longer than you think after you apply the gas but they will come out if they are there and they will be pissed. Make sure you have some help.

My buddy's dad made a living catching them this way in Texas. I wouldn't tell a sole because it's probably against the law here.