Rattlesnakes?

Question

I just found a BIG rattlesnake in my barn. Fantastic. I've never even seen rattlers near our property before so that's disturbing. I got about 3 feet from the sucker before he even rattled. And even then I thought it was the hose! I HATE snakes (sorry to all you snake lovers. I am just really scared of them and find them to be creepy).

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had an idea of how to control rattlesnakes on my property. I have a barn cat, but she wanders a lot, and this snake was too big for her anyway. Any other rattlesnake deterrents anyone uses or is aware of? ANY idea would be great.

Thanks.

P.S. That snake has been dead for 15 minutes and my husband is down there trying to measure at him and it's still curling up and striking at him...even though it's HEADLESS! Creepy little nasty creatures. I know they eat rodents but I'd rather have mice. They are easier to deal with! And they die instantly...LOL

Answer 1

aawwww, its just a snake looking for somewhere to live

Answer 2

the snakes head is still deadly so be super careful.  even after the head quits biting if you or your husband...or cat for that matter is holding the head then you could accidentally prick yourself on the fang and get venom from the snake.

Answer 3

you say you hate snakes. i hate people like you. no animal deserves to be decapitated except those who do it to animals

Answer 4

that's the only kind of venomous snake that snake away claims to work on. it's supposed to overload the jacobson's organ, which is their primary sensor and food/predator finder. if it doesn't work, the snake will be nervous and leave. at least that's what snake away claims. mothballs are the same thing, and cheaper. remove wood piles, rocks, anything the snakes may like to hide under. try to control the rodent population as well, snakes don't stay long in an uncomfortable environment with no food.

you should cook the rattler up, we don't want it going to waste.

Answer 5

about 3 weeks ago, I was hiking along a trial, and a western dimond back rattler shot out of a bush at me.  He missed fortunatley, but it scared the bat snot out of me.

I saw a show on the history channel yesterday, about guyz who go looking for these things.  They wear double lined boots, and have long sticks.  you cant keep them away, just catch them when they come around.

Good luck,

can you send me a picture of it when it's caught.

Answer 6

Hello,

MY input:

CAREFUL, the head can still BITE even though it is chopped off too....

We lived in S. California with the diamond backs, and didn't really have any problems since we were in small acreage (5 acre min.) equestrian estates.  Any snakes we ever came across were loud and let you know they were there.

But, now we are in Idaho and our nearest neighbors are 2.5 miles away!  We have a less neighbors, the two legged kind, and more of the wildlife.  Prairie Rattlers included.  These snakes are QUITE a bit smaller, and LESS of an alarm on them when you get close!

THEY pack a powerful bite, we lost a barn cat las week to a bite on the forehead!  She had it cornered, but it nailed her good.  

We usually, kill all of the ones we come across on the ranch, I think we are about 10 so far this year.  BUT< we live on 160 acres surrounded on 4 sides by BLM...so we are the only ranch for about 2.5 miles.

YOU have to be careful with the heads, they will bite and give you venom even cut off, for HOURS after they are removed!  We bury the heads, in a spot where the dogs and cats won't uncover them.

I AM VERY interested to see what sort of tips you get!