Rattlesnake Episode

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 5:47 pm

I feel I must tell you all about the rattler. A couple days ago when we came home from work. I was in the house trying to get supper ready and Mike came in and said follow me to your plants and don't touch them, he grabbed a 9mm pistol and out the door we went. (I ususally just go stick my hand in there and start checking out my plants, pepper plants) he stopped me about 5 ft from the plants and said Look. I couldn.t see much so I said What? He walked over to one plant and pointed the pistol at the what I thought was the base of the plant. But right next to it as he shot, a rattler nearly 2 ft long had been curled up in the shade inder that plant, he came flying up in the air in two pieces. (Mikes a dead shot), The babies are deadly! Love Oma

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:01 pm

OMA~~~~~~ I would be (((((shaking))))) if I even HEARD a RATTLER!!

Glad Mike is a good shot----
How about a nice snake-skin bag for U---

Hows the knee doing BTW!!!!
And the job???

luve-your friend--- :bigbighug:

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:02 pm

EWWWWWWWWWWW, guess you would find me in hip boots all year round - would that work?

Glad Mike found it before it found you!

Luv,
Mars

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:13 pm

I trust you will be MUCH more careful when checking your plants now....which is why Mike had you come out, I'm sure.

So glad you got the warning instead of the bite!!

Love, Shirley

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:30 pm

Oh I will be real careful from now on. I guess I got careless about it. They say the small ones are more lethal than the bigger ones. Tha's thre he's killed in 2 weeks lose to the house. The one he killed farther out was eating cactus. He had three rats in his belly, and I guess he needed some water. Mike said he wasearinf cactus when he sot him. The knats are bad around here also. I am getting some basil and some cotton bags and hanging them all over the place for the flies.
Mike has set raps for the ferral cats that are eating all the baby birds, they are tearing thiongs up as well. They tear up trash and anything they can.
We also saw red and Grey fox out here. Hummers are back at the feeders. The place is a hummin with activity. I don't wear hip boots out here because I carry a pistol usually. especially when we walk around and check the feeders. All the wild flowers and seed for the quail has been planted. Love Oma

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:58 pm

We have had coyote's running around in town lately. There was a notice in the newspaper this week warning residents about keeping children and pets inside.

They also warned about keeping not having food and water outside, garbage cans closed and to stay clear if you see one.

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:28 am

Yep, Coyotes will do that when something runs them out of where they naturally roam. Maybe they are hungry. I know one year when I was in Utah they had deer runnung all over town eating everyones bushes because the snow was so bad they had nothing to eat. Be careful! Don't sit outside with a hot dog Huh? Right!

Love Oma

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:09 pm

Mars,

You should write to your paper and tell them they are a bit hysterical! Keep your children inside!?! I don't think I've ever heard a substantiated case of children being attached. Cats maybe, but not humans.

Also, there have probably been coyotes there for years. I know there are many here in Michigan but almost no one knows. At least not the city folk.

Love, Jean

Post by **tex** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:25 pm

Jean,

I think the myth that coyotes don't attack humans, is probably due to misleading information promoted by animal rights groups. Actually, coyote attacks in recent times are pretty common, as they continue to lose their fear of humans, due to anti-hunting regulations in many areas. Of course, rabid coyotes have always been a threat. Here are a few newspaper reports of coyote attacks:

http://www.varmintal.com/attac.htm

There's a link at the bottom of the page, (under the picture showing the coyote's teeth), which shows additional information on Coyote Attacks in the US and Canada.

They're not quite the cute little canines that some people portray--not when they lose their fear of humans, anyway.

Love,
Wayne

Liz · Post by **Liz** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:01 pm

Gee Oma, be careful. and they reckon we here in Australia live with deadly animals & insects

We had a red bellied black snake here a few weeks ago but it headed into my rainforrest under the avocado tree & I think continued over towards the neighbours place. That is interesting about the baby rattlers being more venomous than the adult snakes. Take care.

Love

Liz

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:34 pm

I've said on here before that the cyotes we have in PA are UGLY and MEAN looking. I sure wouldn't like to tangle with one.

Love, Shirley

JJ · Post by JJ » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:29 pm

There were some coyote attacks outside of Seattle....they had to trap the agressive offender and cart it away. We have also had an unusual amount of bear sitings in residential areas. One was even caught on Greek row at the University of Washington in Seattle....no joke!

TTFN...JJ

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:30 pm

We have them here...and they usually stay hidden and eat rabbits and rats.. Lord knows we have a great Big supply of those out here ib the country. But if proviked or hungry enough they will attack. I hear the Coyote packs at night and don't go far from the house after dark without a 9 mm. Love Oma