Don't Freak Out.............!

Please don't freak out on me!  This post is meant to be

educational and debunk any myths you might have

about rattlesnakes....

Recently, we were fortunate to hear from professional

rattlesnake wranglers from Sweetwater, Texas--

the home of the rattlesnake round-up every year.

They brought along their 'snake pit' and the floor was

covered with 25 or so rattlers--these are Western variety.  The guys

in the pit were walking amongst the snakes without any strikes on

their boots--of course, they were wearing heavy leather

boots!  

A rattler can live up to 25 years or longer in captivity--in the

wild not so long as they are prey to predators--

Rattlers will not warn you by their shaking their rattlers --strike first

and then rattle!  Each rattle on the tail is developed after they

have eaten a big prey (mouse, rat, rabbit, etc.) They shed their

skin and add a rattle

There are 8 different species in Texas.  This one is diamond back

western.  The snakes can climb trees, hide and swim ponds.

There are over 150 snakes that are not venomous.

Snakes are sexed by the number of rings on their tail.

Snakes are born live--not from eggs--and up to 25 or

more babies can be born.  The younger the snake

the more venomous they are. And they will strike

more often than an older snake.

The fangs are 3/4 to 1 inch long.  The fang will break

off when they get an animal but the fang will grown back within

a few hours.

The venom is 'milked' from the fangs and used for

anti-venom vaccine.  If you do not receive treatment

within a few hours of a bite, you could face death!