Beautiful picture!

Thanks :3 I love the patterns on these guys.

Its crispy!

If I hear the rattle I go the other way..

These guys mean business.

Want to take a photo?

Better you then me

She (found out from someone else this is a pregnant female) wasn't rattling. She wasn't disturbed at all. I was also about 15 ft away. Yay for zoom lens! :D

Meow,

I could be wrong.. but I think thats a 'bull' snake, they look just like rattlers but they don't have the rattle, instead their tail looks the small collar and they shake it just like rattlers but they make the sound in their mouths. It's one of natures little tricks...

But I can't tell in this photo....

Its definitely a rattler, given the pattern. Also, the rattle is visible in the picture (its the long, yellowish object at the end of the tail there). Gopher or bull snakes have a much different pattern and smaller heads.

No it's a rattler..

Trust me,

It's a diamondback for sure.

Now if it were a timber rattler.. Those things are bigger then their just as mean cousins.

Easy way to tell is in the face..

If it looks like a Shiba cat in it's eyes.. dangerous.

If it looks like a human eye.. Not dangerous but still don't mess with it.

Like she said..

She was standing a good fifteen feet away though I wouldn't want to be even that close

She got really lucky there wasn't a male around who is even more dangerous then the female.

When it gets hot these things get mean.

Seriously folks,

I've seen these upclose in cage exhibits and even then I was jumpy.

Press your luck with these guys if you want but if I hear the rattle..

Bye!

ooh nice diamond back !

Poke it with a stick

Yeah..

You can..



I won't because I value my limbs and for that matter..

My life.

Even though I hate it right now..

I'm not dumb when it comes to preserving my life.

Go on I dare you..

I'll be sure to call the EMT and a poison vaccine center.

Even professional handlers get bit by these things and professional snake trappers.

I think the handlers are insane but still..

Poke a stick at it if you want..

I'll gladly let the EMT know to start rolling our way.

If it's a young one.. You'd better hope there is a EMT within a minute of where you are.



I live in an area where these things are at their most prolific.

Texas and Louisiana have the biggest population of rattlers eastern or western in the entire South.

It's worse once you get into Louisiana where there seems to be millions of these guys running around.

But eh..

We choose to live here but I assure you.. I hear the rattle anywhere near me..

Bye Bye!

Aw come on, steve irwin did it every day :D

Steve Irwin was the rare moron but then again when you try to feed your baby to a huge gator I guess anything is possible.

Though I still think the guy was a moron.

beauty of a snake.

ish i would find these guys in the wild. Unfortunatly all i have up here in Scotland are Adders and grass snakes