brad Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Look at this little guy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancegranite Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 What cliff is this? Looks like a baby king snake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 I believe it is a Western Pacific Rattlesnake. This was at the power tower. I have seen no less than 5 snakes already this season in the tumwater. especially the last couple of weeks. I almost put my hand on an adult last thursday. Scared the shit out of me. That combined with two black bear encounters in two weeks has me feeling a little on edge lately, especially off trail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketparrotlet Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Careful of the baby rattlesnakes, they don't have venom dosage control and a bite is much more likely to be severe/lethal than an adult rattlesnake. (It sure is cute though!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 I recall from a zoology class in college that spring was a bad time to get bitten by a rattlesnake because their venom sacs are full after hibernating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Careful of the baby rattlesnakes, they don't have venom dosage control and a bite is much more likely to be severe/lethal than an adult rattlesnake. (It sure is cute though!) From Loma Linda University Medical Center website Many people believe that a baby rattlesnake is more dangerous than an adult rattlesnake. However, a large rattlesnake is more likely to deliver much more venom than a baby rattlesnake. In the clinical experience at Loma Linda University Medical Center, large rattlesnakes cause more serious injuries than baby rattlesnakes. http://lomalindahealth.org/medical-center/our-services/emergency/programs-and-divisions/venom-er/resources/when-snakes-strike.page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaconben Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Somebody on this site has to know snakes, please let us know. I do not think that is a rattlesnake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZONK Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Not a Rattlesnake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMR Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 definitely not a rattler...biggest give-away is the shape of the head... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_White Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I'm going with gopher snake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaisedByPikas Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Yeah it looks like the rattlesnakes look similar but have bigger cheek looking things and the mean looking eyebrows. Snakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky_joe Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I think that is a gopher snake. It doesn't have the triangular shaped head that a rattler does nor the pit organ depression that all pit vipers have. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalinae As for the baby debate, I recall learning in WFR that rattlesnakes are more likely use venom in a bite than older snakes, who will bite for defense without using venom. When adult snakes use venom the dose is higher, which is still inline with the previously posted article. So it would seem that you're more likely to be injected with venom by a young snake, but more likely to suffer venomous effects if an older snake uses their venom. "Rattlesnakes are born with fully functioning fangs capable of injecting venom and can regulate the amount of venom they inject when biting. Generally they deliver a full dose of venom to their prey, but may deliver less venom or none at all when biting defensively. A frightened or injured snake may not exercise such control. Young snakes are also dangerous,[4] and should not be treated with any less caution than the adults." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattlesnake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 Although it was more exciting to think it was a rattlesnake i must agree on the gopher snake ID. This one was NOT a gopher snake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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