Crotalus viridis (rattlesnakes) - Montana Yikes!

[puma guy]

Haven't seen this posted. Prairie Rattlers en masse! The videographer must be wearing some very good protective gear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DaGsnFv_00

[WildBill]

Haven't seen this posted. Prairie Rattlers en masse! The videographer must be wearing some very good protective gear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DaGsnFv_00

Yikes! I would have had a much longer lens on my video camera.

[jmra]

Haven't seen this posted. Prairie Rattlers en masse! The videographer must be wearing some very good protective gear.
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=-DaGsnFv_00[/youtube]

Got goosebumps just watching.

[puma guy]

Haven't seen this posted. Prairie Rattlers en masse! The videographer must be wearing some very good protective gear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DaGsnFv_00

Yikes! I would have had a much longer lens on my video camera.

he said he taped a small tripod to a long stick!

[jmra]

Haven't seen this posted. Prairie Rattlers en masse! The videographer must be wearing some very good protective gear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DaGsnFv_00

Yikes! I would have had a much longer lens on my video camera.

he said he taped a small tripod to a long stick!

Ain't no stick long enough for me.

[WildBill]

Haven't seen this posted. Prairie Rattlers en masse! The videographer must be wearing some very good protective gear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DaGsnFv_00

Yikes! I would have had a much longer lens on my video camera.

he said he taped a small tripod to a long stick!

Ain't no stick long enough for me.

[RJGold]

One word... Napalm...

[puma guy]

Haven't seen this posted. Prairie Rattlers en masse! The videographer must be wearing some very good protective gear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DaGsnFv_00

Yikes! I would have had a much longer lens on my video camera.

he said he taped a small tripod to a long stick!

Ain't no stick long enough for me.

I've only encountered rattlesnakes a couple of times and they were not aggressive. These are running away for the most part and not striking. Now Water Moccasins or the Cotton Mouth is an entirely different thing. Much of my mis-spent youth involved hunting - as in catching- moccasins and water snakes and moccasins are very aggressive snakes. Banded water snakes look a lot like moccasins and one night while driving the black tops along bar ditches a friend ran to grab the tail of a water snake taking off into the weeds toward the ditch. This guy was a midget. small person to be PC, and the "water snake" which was not much shorter than he was tall turned toward him as he held it by the tail with it's mouth wide open. The only word out of his mouth as he slung it toward the headlights was "Moccasin!". When we encountered moccasins they would rear up and stand their ground as you got close and tried to use the stick on them; many times advancing toward you. The water snakes invariably took off when the felt the vibrations. Copper heads usually stayed still, even on open ground. I think they figured their leaf pattern was good camouflage. We had a large moccasin get away from us at home and we chased it around the house in the shrubbery for a long time before we finally got caught it. If we hadn't been able to get it back in the cage my mother would still be in the house to this day refusing to come out

[JSThane]

I've only encountered rattlesnakes a couple of times and they were not aggressive. These are running away for the most part and not striking.

I've had rattlers do just about everything. The last one I found, a big Blacktail, only buzzed at me 'cause I was standing on him. Others buzzed and ran away, or stood their ground and "air-popped" at me (most of those died; don't worry, they're not endangered around here! ). A few even advanced at me or my vehicle while air-popping, including the largest snake I've ever killed, an approx. 5' Diamondback in the middle of the road. I have no idea what his problem was, but he didn't have it much longer. Others, I was able to pick up (with a stick), and they never buzzed, popped, or hissed, just sat there and flicked their tongues.

While I wouldn't get in the middle of that snake pile without a shotgun and a LOT of shells, the snakes in this vid aren't really interested in biting. But all it takes is one you missed, having a bad day, to whack you on the hand or ankle, and it's time for a ride to the big building with the nice men in white coats and stethoscopes. No thanks.

[jmra]

One word... Napalm...

[SATX-Scrub]

One word... Napalm...

In the morning?

[oohrah]

One word... Napalm...

In the morning?

ah, the smell ..

[puma guy]

One word... Napalm...

In the morning?

ah, the smell ..

the horror!

[puma guy]

I've had rattlers do just about everything. ........ I was able to pick up (with a stick), and they never buzzed, popped, or hissed, just sat there and flicked their tongues.

While I wouldn't get in the middle of that snake pile without a shotgun and a LOT of shells, the snakes in this vid aren't really interested in biting. But all it takes is one you missed, having a bad day, to whack you on the hand or ankle, and it's time for a ride to the big building with the nice men in white coats and stethoscopes. No thanks.

I edited your post to save space.
After I posted I decided to look up Cottonmouths and Copperheads to see if the behavior we saw back when we hunted them was normal. Copperhead behavior was pretty much in line with what we encountered. They even stated it might be due to their camouflage, which, is what I thought. The comments about Cottonmouths were mixed, but the majority mentioned they would coil up and rear their head, even opening their mouth. Much as I'd seen. Some sources agreed they would move toward a threat and others said they might be trying to get away. I rarely kill snakes unless they are a threat or around an area where they might be encountered by humans, especially children. They help keep rodent populations in control. I understand the fear of snakes and I don't hold it against anyone who thinks all snakes should be killed in sight, but once you learn to identify them and their benefits the fear can may go away.
There are only four species of poisonous snakes in Texas and the continental US. The coral snake has the most dangerous venom; a neurotoxin that will shutdown breathing and kill you. Unfortunately other snakes such as the king snake imitate the color pattern of a coral.
It's easy to identify the difference. "Red touches yellow, kills a fellow, Red touches black, venom lack"

Clockwise from Upper left - Rattlesnake, Copperhead, Coral Snake, Cottonmouth

The small person who used to hunt snakes with us aspired to be a herpetologist, but the last time I saw him he was Bandido; as in motorcycle club. He went from hunting snakes to becoming one, very sad

[cdc101]

I've had rattlers do just about everything. ........ I was able to pick up (with a stick), and they never buzzed, popped, or hissed, just sat there and flicked their tongues.

While I wouldn't get in the middle of that snake pile without a shotgun and a LOT of shells, the snakes in this vid aren't really interested in biting. But all it takes is one you missed, having a bad day, to whack you on the hand or ankle, and it's time for a ride to the big building with the nice men in white coats and stethoscopes. No thanks.

I edited your post to save space.
After I posted I decided to look up Cottonmouths and Copperheads to see if the behavior we saw back when we hunted them was normal. Copperhead behavior was pretty much in line with what we encountered. They even stated it might be due to their camouflage, which, is what I thought. The comments about Cottonmouths were mixed, but the majority mentioned they would coil up and rear their head, even opening their mouth. Much as I'd seen. Some sources agreed they would move toward a threat and others said they might be trying to get away. I rarely kill snakes unless they are a threat or around an area where they might be encountered by humans, especially children. They help keep rodent populations in control. I understand the fear of snakes and I don't hold it against anyone who thinks all snakes should be killed in sight, but once you learn to identify them and their benefits the fear can may go away.
There are only four species of poisonous snakes in Texas and the continental US. The coral snake has the most dangerous venom; a neurotoxin that will shutdown breathing and kill you. Unfortunately other snakes such as the king snake imitate the color pattern of a coral.
It's easy to identify the difference. "Red touches yellow, kills a fellow, Red touches black, venom lack"[ Image ]
Clockwise from Upper left - Rattlesnake, Copperhead, Coral Snake, Cottonmouth

The small person who used to hunt snakes with us aspired to be a herpetologist, but the last time I saw him he was Bandido; as in motorcycle club. He went from hunting snakes to becoming one, very sad

I never could remember if it was 'red touches yellow, he's a good fellow or kill a fellow'. Same with not remembering if it was 'red touches black, stay back Jack or venom lack!' I am glad (and apparently lucky) I just avoided them all. :D