Thursday, August 21, 2008

Just how many rocks does it take to kill a snake?



Quite a few. How embarrassing. But in my defense, the first big rock I hurled broke apart on impact.

I rose at dawn to face the carnage, without benefit of caffeine I might add. The rattlesnake was still dead, though he had moved during the night. Actually, the movement may have been just his body shriveling up. He looked much smaller this morning than the gargantuan behemoth who was rattling at me last night.

I surgically removed his tail - there were four full grown rattle beads and a new one that was a little smaller. I think that means he was at least four years old, but I'll have to go googling to confirm.



The rest of him received a proper burial next to the desert 4 o'clock, which as you can see was blooming at 6:30. It's gonna be one of those days, I can just tell.

15 comments:

  1. What an adventure! Yikes! I love the rock trail by light of day, by the way.

    My little brother once shot a dangerous snake through the head with a left-handed compound bow. My father, very impressed, lynched the carcass and hung it from a tree to show my older brother when he got home. However, the snake was not quite dead and managed to pull the arrow from its head before succombing to its injuries.

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  2. Wow....I'm still just a little in awe. I have always condsidered myself to pretty tough, but when I read about this story, I feel like such a priss. (I really dislike rattle snakes.)

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  3. Holy crap....snakes are my worst fear. If I find a garden snake in my yard, the rocks hurl. I can not even imagine finding a rattler and having to kill it. You are brave my girl, very brave. I think if I had heard that guy I would have froze in my tracks.
    I was even scared to read this post, for fear you would show his ugly head. Thanks for sparing us of that!! I might of had nightmares....I can not stand a snake, or a worm that even looks like a snake.

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  4. LOL - now you pull out the knife! I feel certain you have gained another November Hill reader. :)

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  5. That was nice of you to bury him, what are you going to do with the rattles from the tail?

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  6. What an impressive trail of violence.
    And then the last photo is so peaceful, placing the snake respectfully in a (deep, I hope) grave beside the flowers.

    Just want you to know, I now have no qualms whatsover about comcing down there to spend some time riding with you. You are one tough cowgirl...and with you and Smooch around, I know I'll feel safe......

    But, PLEASE don't expect me to sleep in a Teepee after what you've just shown me. Yikes!
    Gah!

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  7. It simply doesn't matter how many rocks it takes, just that you got the job done! :-)

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  8. wow...i think i woulda pee'd my pants!!!!
    man you sure have alot of snakes around you... you are a braaaaave woman!! i'd still be holed up in the house!!!
    Im so glad it didn't get your dog!!!!
    sandy

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  9. That was a hair-raising story! Glad everyone's OK and the rattler is "gone."

    It's my first time to your blog and I enjoyed looking through a lot of it. Your photography is fabulous! (and so are your animals)

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  10. Hi-I just started reading your blog a few days ago but now you are bookmarked. I live in Socorro, and my co-worker has a very similar rattlesnake story. I guess that's just the adventure of living here in NM. I really enjoy your photography, and getting some insight into your animal companions. Great blog!

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  11. Wow, what a crazy snake hunt escapade! I am impressed by your techniques. Better to get rid of that rattler and keep your precious crew (and you!) safe!

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  12. Oh my goodness!!! Forget about the gang of cows out in the back yard...it's the spy that they sent to check on you that you need to be worried about...teeheehee!

    Have you figured out how old that old rattler was yet?

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  13. Phew! What a story! I hope I never run into a rattlesnake, but I've already seen two non-poisonous snakes out by the water faucet.

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  14. My first seven years were spent in rattlesnake country where we outran those that chased us. Our german shepherd used to catch them in the yard and shake them until they said bye bye. My mother also used to shoot them with her pistol. Oh memories!

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  15. Lol, things always look different in the light of day!!! Love the photo of all the rocks and the shovel. Poor fella probably didn't know what was going on!

    "Look! Look! ...the sky is falling"

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