Author Topic: Snakes are active in town (Read 462626 times)

wwpt · « **Reply #300 on:** Jul 15, 08, 02:44:33 PM »

Yesterday at noon saw what looked to be a 4ft Rattler run over in the road at Hwy 2 JWO Wright Mtn Rd. Someone in an old Camry was stopping to look at it...hope he didn't get bit.

ChattyCathy · « **Reply #301 on:** Jul 15, 08, 03:33:05 PM »

My friend is local and an experienced wrangler. He does not charge for his service, he just wants to save snakes rather than have them killed. He's not looking for business, he's doing a favor. If you try to handle it yourself, there's a good chance you'll get bit. This is just one of your options. That's the best I can do.

Quote from: Xpert on Jul 14, 08, 06:38:49 AM

Chatty Cathy - no direct line for the wrangler? I appreciate you giving out your number but seems like time might be awastin' going through a "middleman" get to the humane snake removal and we might have to resort to our own methods should we encounter this situation in the future...

Anybody with a direct number to local experienced snake removal? Thanks again for all of the input

xpert · « **Reply #302 on:** Jul 16, 08, 05:00:30 AM »

We found an alternative. Don't want to play telephone tag in an urgent situation but do appreciate the need for your contact's privacy since he is not in business. In any event, we will resort to our own common sense methods in order NOT to get bit by a defensive snake.

ChrisLynnet · « **Reply #303 on:** Jul 29, 08, 11:41:28 PM »

Well, I'm pretty shaken up. In 5 years here I have never even seen a rattlesnake much less heard one. But today I saw and heard TWO in separate places on the same walk.

I took my dog to Grassy Hollow to walk on the PCT. We parked on the 2 and walked in, and just as we reached the gate I noticed that he was looking at something in the road. I looked -- and there was a rattlesnake maybe a foot in front of my dog. Timber I guess from its dark stripes, but I'm not sure. I yanked my dog back just as the snake rattled, and we watched from a safe distance as the snake slithered off the road into the brush.

I was scared for my dog but thought that would be it, and we went on our hike. We hiked to Inspiration Point and then headed back on the PCT. Halfway back I am watching the trail, when suddenly I hear ANOTHER rattle! I looked and there was a rattler coiled just off the trail in the brush. Sunny is staring at this one too. I yanked the dog forward and we got out of there.

I swear, I felt like I fell right into the middle of a horror movie. In fact, I said that out loud to the dog. I didn't relax until we got back to the car.

Sheesh.

lagomorphmom · « **Reply #304 on:** Jul 30, 08, 02:15:24 AM »

Do you carry a walking stick when you go? Nothing beats being alert as the two of you were today, but if it strikes before you can back up and you're quick, it would be a means of blocking a strike. Just a thought.

The telescoping metal ones that come with an extra set of cups with teeth are nice because you can also use them in winter, especially if you're street is on a slope!

samsonite · « **Reply #305 on:** Jul 30, 08, 02:27:18 AM »

I "found" one at Vincent Gulch last night. We went up for a bike ride but first my dog and I walked around the gate. On the way back through the gate I saw it and it saw us too. It was about 12 to 18 inches from the path under a bush.

I was lucky. I had on no shoes or socks yet, so it had a lot of opportunity to strike in an unprotected place.

It hadn't rattled. I think it had been resting because it FINALLY stuck it's tongue out to take a sniff. But I was a safe distance away by then.

Reminder to self: wear socks and shoes at least, AND take the dog that sniffs them out, not the one who has no clue. LOL

capn mom · « **Reply #306 on:** Jul 30, 08, 02:29:42 AM »

USE EXTREME CAUTION...While my husband and 10 month old yellow lab were returning to the car...approx 1/4 mile from the Inspiration lot...A very large 5-6ft aggressive timber rattler jumped out of the bushes and struck our lab in the face. Totally unprovoked attack .

Wrightwood · « **Reply #307 on:** Jul 30, 08, 02:31:09 AM »

Two rattlers were spotted in the past week near Oak & Blackbird.

ChrisLynnet · « **Reply #308 on:** Jul 30, 08, 02:46:29 AM »

Oh, man. In hindsight we were lucky because both snakes rattled in warning instead of striking. I didn't want to wait around to see how long they'd stick with just the warning! Honestly it was freaky, especially the second one. I'm pretty good about watching the path but I didn't think about rattlesnakes hidden in the brush beside a narrow path. Geez.

Capn Mom, is your puppy O.K? When did this happen? If it's around this same time I'm not going back to the trails around Inspiration Point until it gets cooler. Paved Blue Ridge road, O.K. PCT no.

And lagomorphmom, good idea on the walking stick for a lot of different reasons. Snakes would be one of them!

capn mom · « **Reply #309 on:** Jul 30, 08, 02:53:09 AM »

Chrislynnet..thanks for asking! We are in the ICU phase(fortunately at home) after having 2 vials of antivenom...won't know the extent of injury caused by the timber rattler for probably 5-6 days.

ForestGal · « **Reply #310 on:** Jul 30, 08, 02:55:07 AM »

Quote from: capn mom on Jul 30, 08, 02:29:42 AM

USE EXTREME CAUTION...While my husband and 10 month old yellow lab were returning to the car...approx 1/4 mile from the Inspiration lot...A very large 5-6ft aggressive timber rattler jumped out of the bushes and struck our lab in the face. Totally unprovoked attack .

Were they walking down Blue Ridge Road toward the parking lot, or were they on the PCT, and if so, which side of the hwy.?

I sure hope your dog will be OK - poor baby!

I haven't seen any yet this year. Last one I saw was 2 years ago, on the road from Grassy Hollow to Jackson Flat. It seems as if there are way more than normal out and about this year.

Wrightwood · « **Reply #311 on:** Jul 30, 08, 03:02:39 AM »

Rattlesnake Avoidance Clinic for Dogs topic:
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php/topic,5133.0/all.html

Kimy1387 · « **Reply #312 on:** Jul 30, 08, 03:04:59 AM »

I had to go to the vet today today and I saw information on rattlesnake vaccine. Anyone know anything about it?I didn't know there was such a thing.

ChrisLynnet · « **Reply #313 on:** Jul 30, 08, 03:07:13 AM »

Cap'n mom, I'm so sorry! I will pray that your pup completely recovers. What an awful thing, and how scary!

Wrightwood, thanks for the link. I remembered the posts on the rattlesnake avoidance clinic after the 2nd guy rattled and scared me. If my dog had known to avoid the snakes he wouldn't have been in striking distance, or at least wouldn't be staring at them.

ChrisLynnet · « **Reply #314 on:** Jul 30, 08, 03:19:15 AM »

Quote from: Kimy1387 on Jul 30, 08, 03:04:59 AM

I had to go to the vet today today and I saw information on rattlesnake vaccine. Anyone know anything about it?I didn't know there was such a thing.

Kimy, I saw something about it in the rattlesnake avoidance thread that Wrightwood mentioned. It's here: http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php/topic,5133.0/all.html

ForestGal · « **Reply #315 on:** Jul 30, 08, 03:20:28 AM »

I took my dog to the clinic last year, after having seen that snake the previous year. Of course, we didn't see any snakes after she went to the class. It would be interesting to see if she still remembers what she learned, although I'll be just as happy if I never find out.

Of course, all the training in the world won't help in a situation like what happened to capn mom's dog, where the unseen snake struck without any warning or provocation. Unless, because in part of the training the dog learns by scent, the dog could smell it far enough ahead to be on the alert.

capn mom · « **Reply #316 on:** Jul 30, 08, 03:55:27 AM »

This happened about noon, on the north side of 2 approx 1/4 mile up from the parking lot..My husband and lab have been hiking up there 3-4 a week this summer without any problems..Miss Molly had her 1st dose of anti-venom within 1 hr of her bite..by 445 she was starting her second dose.
Right now she's just finished a large can of soft dog food, eaten 6 small carrots and eaten ice cubes from her drinking water..A GREAT SIGN!

ForestGal · « **Reply #317 on:** Jul 30, 08, 06:11:18 AM »

What wonderful news!

I'm curious, because I like to walk/hike up there too. How could you be taking care of her at home? Are either of you a veterinarian? Or, do you just know a whole lot more about animals than I do. Does the size of the dog matter in a circumstance like this? My dog only weighs 10 lbs., and she's 5 years old.

capn mom · « **Reply #318 on:** Jul 30, 08, 11:04:42 AM »

Thanks...Neither are vets, just in the medical field. Started at Family Pet in Phelan with Drs. Birch and Rosendal...GREAT STAFF!! We opted to bring her home and provide the 24 hr nursing care, everone likes their own bed better. She's still got some facial swelling, she was up and down from discomfort thru the night. We just came in from outside and shes had a couple of treats and ice cubes. My shift is over at home and time to work. Check into the rattler vaccines, not sure which types it works for. I know we'll do it when done with this craziness, alot cheaper insurance.

ChrisLynnet · « **Reply #319 on:** Jul 30, 08, 03:51:59 PM »

I'm so happy Miss Molly is eating well, that is indeed a good sign.

As long as it's warm I'm honestly going to stick with trails and roads that are wide enough so you a) can clearly spot snakes in the road and b) don't have to walk close by brush. Our first encounter with the snake in the road wouldn't have happened if I had been paying attention, but there was just no way to spot the 2nd snake that was in the brush.

ForestGal, I'd definitely check out the rattlesnake vaccine for your little one. I'm going to ask my vet about it for Sunny.

Author Topic: Snakes are active in town (Read 462626 times)

wwpt

xpert

samsonite

Kimy1387