Rattlesnake

I had to keep my wits about me dealing with this dangerous snake. I grabbed its tail with one hand. With the other hand I grabbed its head. Then with the other hand I took the photo. Wait, that's three hands. Okay, okay the snake was dead but I wasn't letting any part of my body get near the head.

I was surprised at how light and fragile the rattle was. I wasn't very enthusiastic about touching a dead snake but I'm glad I did and learned something today.

This snake was in a residential area near the grasslands which is dry and populated with lots of sagebrush. A homeowner probably killed the snake and left it on the road. It is sad that our city is expanding into the habitat of these and other animals and the animals suffer the consequences. Snake fences were erected around one subdivision to keep rattlesnakes out of the back yards. This should also save the lives of several snakes.

Rattlesnakes are fairly common in a few areas nearby but this is the first one I have seen in the almost 40 years I have lived here. Our rattlesnakes are not large in comparison to those in the United States and a bite from one is unlikely to kill a person. Having grown up on a diet of movies in which rattlesnakes are huge and easily kill humans I must admit to a certain reluctance to be too friendly with them.