Not quite as big as the others. I heard him rattling and thought “Oh no, I have heard that sound before”. I grabbed Hansel who was sitting there watching him rattle and threw him and his sister in the car to safety. Horses are in the barn. Started hosing him down to get him to move on. Goin back out to check but I think it is still there.
I knew I should have mowed the grass. I will do that when I get rid of him.
He/she has moved on. They don’t like being hosed down very much. When they think the coast is clear they leave. I am being very careful where I step. Not letting the cats out for a while. I will get out the riding mower and mow in the shorter grass. The noise and vibration from the mower will tell them that this is not a good environment and they should move into more cover.
Very warm and dry here for months and they are looking for a place with lots of prey and to overwinter. Not here!
Ugggh. That would completely stress me out! Sounds like you handled it very effectively.
The first one to show up a few years ago really freaked me out. I ran to get my 22, it would not fire. Then I was even more freaked out. After I called the snake removal people and they came out and the snake was gone - I was able to put a plan together if another one appeared. Step 1 - put the cats up. Step 2 - put the horses up. Step 3 - stay out of strike range and start hosing it down. They leave if you get them wet enough and then go away. If they feel threatened they will keep rattling and not move. If a cat or dog is in the vicinity they feel threatened and will not move. Get them good and wet and leave them and they will decide that there are better places to inhabit and slither off. I have not found them aggressive at all. They do a lot of rattling to warn you off but do not come after you. Get the animals safe and keep your distance and you will be fine.
And keep that grass mowed short. OOPS!
At our southern New Mexico desert home, we’ve had 5 this year, so far. That is the most ever. Rattle snakes are dispatched quickly and expediently with either a gun or a shovel. Heads are detached and the entire head and body are carefully buried or put in the trash. No exceptions and no moving them on. On the other hand, we love our bull snakes, king snakes, coach whips, and any other variety. They get to live here in peace, preferably in the barn and around our hay stacks.
We spent the summer in the mountains just north of us at about 6500-7000 feet elevation. There were at least 2 up there, both similarly dispatched…
Jeeze - you guys are brave! Rattlesnakes and water moccasins completely unnerve me. I had an encounter with a wolf spider yesterday and I am still traumatized. Whenever I judge in snake country, I gingerly enter the judges booth or bathrooms. Never seen one at a horse show, but I expect to lol.
Be careful !
I HATE SNAKES !
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