Snake Bite Death at Savage Gulf State Park, in Tennessee

[jeff of pa]

 

[Tnmountains]

He picked it up? When I was younger I did that with Timber rattlers as I have gotten older I just move them out of the way or go around. They get get big and do not always rattle.We found 8 one day by the cabin in a ball. It was mating season. Even the little ones can put you down. Guy I know lost a finger moving brush and it was a little one.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’m happy that there are no venomous snakes here. They don’t do well in wall to wall cornfields.

 

[AU Seeker]

I’m happy that there are no venomous snakes here. They don’t do well in wall to wall cornfields.

There's at least 4 venomous snakes in Illinois.

Google Search

 

[ToddsPoint]

There's at least 4 venomous snakes in Illinois.

Google Search

You are correct but all of those are only found south of Rt 16 in southern IL. I’m in the glaciated part of south central IL.

 

[Gulf Coast Pirate]

I felt sorry for the guy until I read he got bit after he picked it up!!

 

[georgiarelic]

If I am diggin in the warm weather here in GA, I keep my eyes open. Those critters can mess up a good day of detecting.

 

[Pick_axe]

My neighbor once said "Most snakebites usually occur after somebody says 'hold my beer'".
Seriously, one of the scariest photos I've ever seen was the image of a bag of snake repellent leaning against a wall.

With a BIG Southwestern diamond back coiled up behind it!

 

[Gare]

I stepped on the tail of one that was around a sugar cane stank. The stalk prevented it reaching back and getting me'

 

[IDAu]

My neighbor once said "Most snakebites usually occur after somebody says 'hold my beer'".
Seriously, one of the scariest photos I've ever seen was the image of a bag of snake repellent leaning against a wall.

With a BIG Southwestern diamond back coiled up behind it!

Forget the actual number, but something like 90% of snake bites in the US are males in their 20s that are intoxicated.

Sucks he was allergic. Rattlesnake bites are rarely life-threatening and a large percentage of them are dry bites to begin with. They don’t want to waste their precious venom on humans and would rather be left alone.

This year, I’ve never seen so many that don’t rattle. Two of them, one kept, and one relocated, never rattled once. It has me really curious why. The theory about them not wanting to be detected kind of goes out the window once they are cornered and striking, but still not rattling.

Me and @BoulderTroll just move this one away from the dredge

 

[DizzyDigger]

Grew up around rattlers, Mojave Green's, etc. Unless the snake is acting
aggressive, I just got a long stick and moved them out of the area. If they're
aggressive, it's a .22 pill to the brain.

It's sad that fellow died...play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

[Pick_axe]

Grew up around rattlers, Mojave Green's, etc. Unless the snake is acting
aggressive, I just got a long stick and moved them out of the area. If they're
aggressive, it's a .22 pill to the brain.

It's sad that fellow died...play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

I keep a cut down 20 gauge loaded with #6 shot. I call it the Snake Charmer.

 

[Tnmountains]

We have tons here. The turkeys eat a lot of them. I go to the cabin and if I hunted them guarantee I would find several. They are protected here but its the most common snake I see back in the coves.

 

[rginn]

Well I won't judge the guy but will say maybe alcohol was involved. I did figure some sort of allergic reaction was involved, as generally from a rattler strike you have some time. I met a young man up here once at one of our events on Main Street and visited with him, he was maybe autistic, nice young man, and a couple months later saw where he got hit by a rattler on the ankle and died within 30 minutes. And my son, big time snake researcher, (haha) is telling me they are finding that rattlers evolved rattling to keep from being stepped on by buffalo and being killed. They believe now that they are evolving not to rattle, to avoid being killed by folks with 'Snake Charmers'. (Handy little weapon.)

 

[Pick_axe]

We have tons here. The turkeys eat a lot of them. I go to the cabin and if I hunted them guarantee I would find several. They are protected here but its the most common snake I see back in the coves.

I had no idea turkeys ate snakes!
My other surprise after moving to New Mexico was to find that the cute little road runners are not cute cartoon characters. They are nasty opportunistic predators that will eat rattlers and rob other birds' nests.

 

[jeff of pa]

Just an Extra Large Worm to a Turkey

 

[jeff of pa]

They may also kill snakes that threaten their young

 

[ToddsPoint]

I saw a video of a red tailed hawk swooping in and attacking a turkey. The hawk paid with his life. They’ll eat about anything.

 

[beepbleep]

I stepped on the tail of one that was around a sugar cane stank. The stalk prevented it reaching back and getting me'

The biggest Eastern Diamondback rattler I ever saw was in a sugar cane field. It seemed to be over 7 ft.

 

[AU Seeker]

The biggest Eastern Diamondback rattler I ever saw was in a sugar cane field. It seemed to be over 7 ft.

I likewise saw one at least that big here in lower South Carolina laying across the road, it covered most of one lane, it was as big around as my leg.