Snakes are active in town

[WWMtnGal]

A reminder. The snakes are out.

We've lived here for 25 years and had never seen a rattler before today. My wife just found a 5'+ Mojave Green in our yard (in Phelan). Unfortunately it was necessary to dispatch it, as it was under a bush within 3' of the front gate to our yard. By the way, if anyone has an extra king snake I will gladly take it off your hands.

That is really scarey!  Mojave Green is one of the worst!  Be careful out there!

[angelwolf326]

The road runners we have at WMS keep the snakes out...

[chrislynne]

Geez, a 5' long Mojave Green? I can live with the rattlesnakes up here in WW, but that's different...

[angiepoo]

A guy that works for my husband was on his way to work when he called and said he wasn't going to make it.  He turned around and came home to Victorville when he noticed that his arm and hand was in a lot of pain.  Apparantly he had gone to bag up some trimmings early that morning and thought he had scratched his hand on one of the branches.  But when he had gotten to the hospital they figured out that he had been bitten by a rattle snake.  My advice is to not leave any trimmings laying around for these snakes to hide in.  And try and stay away from thick brush if possible.

[Wildman]

Stepped on a small Pacific Rattlesnake (3 rattles....1 1/2 feet long) that was sunning itself on my home sidewalk yesterday afternoon.  I was carrying a bag of bird seed and looking at the bird feeders.  I didn't see the snake until after I stepped on it and it started rattling.  At that point I had a near death experience after realizing what the soft lump was under my boots.  He looked like he had a mouse or rat in his belly.  Don't know who was more scared....the snake or me.  That's only the second one we've seen and in the exact same spot. 

[Chesslike]

Looks like you dodged a bullet there Wildman. You might want to go out and buy yourself a lottery ticket. Heard those little ones can do a lot of damage, so I am glad you were lucky.

[Wildman]

Forgot to mention in my last post about the Rattlesnake Avoidance Clinic I am taking my dog to this weekend at the old George AFB facility.  It's put on by the Mojave Green Dog Training Club and provides training that will make your dog not want to get close to a rattlesnake.  Living in snake country, seems like a reasonable thing to do for the dog.  I'll report back on the clinic (maybe some pictures), how effective it seems and whether they will be having another one.

[Wrightwood]

Do they offer Rattlesnake Avoidance for horses?

[artology]

Glad you're OK Wildman. So how did you get out of the situation?

[SNOW]

Sure glad that you got out of that situation alright. It was probably a toss up as to who was more scared. I'll bet neither of you stopped to argue the point.

[Wildman]

Glad you're OK Wildman. So how did you get out of the situation?

Sheer, dumb luck.  I was totally focused on getting to the bird feeders and didn't look down until I was past and heard the buzzing.  In that one stride I went from zoned out to having more adrenaline coursing through my veins then I care to have.  The snake just slithered very quickly (while loudly buzzing his rattles) into the manzanita bush next to the sidewalk.  I don't really know what his reaction was at the moment I stepped on him because I wasn't looking and heard him before I found him with my eyes.  I had grown complacent but I sure instantly recognized that buzzing sound for what it was.

[Wildman]

[KWBoy]

Id love to see my pack of huskies do that they would have the snake before you could shock them lol

[Wildman]

[TableMtn]

I have to agree, Wildman!  Having spent $1,100 at the emergency vet for my 85 lb black lab who got bit by a rattler, I want my dogs to avoid snakes at all costs.  My lab/beagle/blue tick mix scared up a rattler yesterday but she was 20 feet away and although curious, she wasn't getting ANY closer to that "buzzworm."  And I have Mojave Greens on my property which have a neurotoxin, not a regular rattlesnake toxin.  They can be deadly! 

[lzuber]

A 9 year old was bitten at Silverwood Lake.  Here's the link to the story:

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4469198/detail.html?treets=la&tml=la_9am&ts=T&tmi=la_9am_1_11000105102005

Going to keep my eyes WIDE open this year.

Laura

[budnett]

Yes they are!   We had a baby rattle snake this morning that was two feet from me on my driveway.  Also, today a coil  snake? (black with yellow stripe) next to a ladder.

Last summer we incountered 6 snakes -4 rattle and two diamond backs on our property.  And now we have incountered on our property 3 in two days.  I would appreciate any advise of how to rid of having so many every year (like probably not?).  We keep our property very cleared out of brush but do live dead end to Pacific Crest Canyon property and have a big hill behind our house.

I have a 6 yr old child and have constantly made him aware of what to do if he see one but am still so concerned for him.

Any suggestion or comments would be greatly appreciated - I just don't know if I can take another summer of so many snakes.    "Everyone BEWARE!"

[Wrightwood]

Don't get rid of the "black with yellow stripe" king snake as they are known for eating rattlers.

The king snakes are harmless to humans and dogs.

[KWBoy]

ohh cool a snake i can pet! 

[budnett]

I believe the snake in my yard was a "racer".  it had two yellow stripes on each side of it's body lenghtwise.  Does anyone know for sure?