Classic.

It might make sense if a hog relied on its hearing, but it doesn't. A hog relies on its sense of smell, like a deer or a dog. If a hog wanted to kill a snake, it just has to sniff one up and kill it, which it could probably do from a pretty good distance.

If the "E" theory were to have some merit, I would give more credence to humans snuffing out the "rattlers" versus hogs. I know I would do my best to try to make that happen.

While I'll grant you that the hogs themselves are causing the problem is a bit far fetched, lets look into this further. I'm looking at it as a theory, not the answer. The wildlife biologist who has been working the area for many years, is the one who stated this theory to me. That, in my mind, will give it some amount of credibility as a theory due to the fact the biologist is holding the degree.

Snakes that were usually pretty good about letting their presence be known are now quiet. Lets say the biologist is already smart enough to realize that they are not always loud in the first place. Let's say the biologist is also smart enough to realize what different contributing factors could cause this snake to be quiet over loud. Biologist now has a rough baseline as to when or why snake should be sounding off.

Now with the arrival of population of hogs that is quickly getting larger, these snakes have seemingly changed their behavior. So now, there are a bunch of close calls with rattlers, that normally would not be, because normally the snakes would be loud, and let their position be known.

After almost getting nailed a few times, when this was almost never an issue, there come a realization that something has changed, but what? Well lets say 90% of the time before this population of hogs showed up the rattler sounded off at a good distance ( pulled that statistic from my arse, just as an example).Lets says a year after the arrival of these pigs this statistic has changed to 85%. Withing 5 years, well BS some more numbers and jump to the conclusion of 65% are sounding off normally, while the other 35% are being quietly.

Now start adding in population changes based on natural predation, and death. Birth rates of loud ones vs. quiet ones. And we are not talking a learned behavior here. We are talking about snakes that are genetically predispositioned to be loud vs. quiet. All of a sudden we have snakes that had a better chance to live long enough to breed because they were quiet, so they are the ones passing on this genetic trait, that eventually goes from a recessive trait, to a dominant trait.

Realistically, no the hogs didn't do it by themselves. Hell, it may not have anything to do with it. But if you look at it as the animals that are the biggest predator to these snakes (humans being the biggest), and the fact that we tend to go after the ones we hear, add in that supposedly the problematic pigs with high populations are doing the same thing. We have what would be a forced evolutionary response. Again, we are not talking about learned behavior here. We are talking about genetic traits. I'm not going to say I put a ton of faith into the theory, but according to the wildlife biologist I work with the most, it is becoming a widespread theory among alot of them. I'll jump on the bandwagon for a bit, at least until I see another one that makes more sense.

So if that's the theory I'm working off of, I should (in theory) be all for the culling of quiet rattlers, and want to leave only loud obnoxious ones behind yes?

Did this arsehole just try to give a biology, and evolution 101 lesson to a bunch of hunters? Yes he did other me, yes he did.

Might ask him what if the snakes were already not rattling before hogs were in the area?

Cliffs?

This is my bs post, you write 'em

You can't eat the rattles. Go eat a garter snake.


...as for more and more snakes not rattling, I think there are more and more people out there which increases the number of encounters and in most of those encounters the humans expect to hear a rattlesnake rattle.

What kind of rattler was it? The eastern and timber rattlers are very docile and will not rattle until they are pizzed off.... I moved a timber off the road and to the creek so it wouldn't get ran over and it never made a noise until the dog started barking at it... amazing looking snakes also and have no intension on hurting us... we are the intruders not them.

No idea what kind to be honest. I'd have to go look it up and get back with you.

I don't kill them anymore. When I was growing up as a kid around the Caprock area, a 2-3 foot rattlesnake was a small one. I remember and have some pics of 5+ foot snakes, big SOB's. Now, when you do see them, they are 2-3' at the biggest. They don't bother me and I don't bother them.

Navasot, it was a Western Diamondback.

That is odd. Was it glazed grey over its eyes?

Either way you gota watch out for the kiddos so don't think im bashing you for your decision.

agree, some rattle, some don't, most fat boys fart, some don't, it amazes' me how many big bad ars's dirty their drawers when they see a snake ANY KIND OF SNAKE

Navasot, no it's eyes were not glazed. Had a good size rattle for no bigger than he was, and his colors were so pristine, he must have just shed. He really was a beaut. Like I said, I let him go, just wasn't really sure if I should have. After everyone entering their input, and weighing my thoughts on it, I'm glad I did. He wasn't bothering anyone, and isn't likely to do so in the future. Just gotta teach the kids, and I guess I can deal with the chaps. Or I can take my chances with a bite. Hell, at my size, so long as I'm not allergic, I'd probably be ok. I know another hunter around my size who'd been bit, and he had almost no issues aside from some general swelling. Probably won't take my chances though.

REALLY? How do you cook them? What do they taste like? chicken?

Hell no they don't taste like a nasty chicken. They taste good. I just fry them. You live under a rock or something?

Snakes have different moods just like any other animal. Sometimes they rattle, sometimes they don't. Sometimes fish bite like crazy, sometimes you blank. Sometimes a cat will chase a laser all over the house for hours, sometimes they look at you like you're retarded for shaking a laser at them. Some of y'all are giving them too much credit by thinking a snake can learn something.

If it has a rattle I kill it whether it rattles or not. I like snakes. Had a few in aquariums over the years. But they weren't venomous. No venomous snake gets a pass from me.

My first pet snake was a rattler when I was a kid. Traded him in at the snake show for a beautiful coachwhip. That was my payment for skinning so many rattlers that day. Worked for me.

me 2

It it had been a snake it would have bit you on the @$$!

DRT if its somewhere in my path. If its out in the brush on the side of the road I would have probably have left it be.

Eh- I woulda left it. My spouse and I disagree on this one but If it isn't near any dwellings or the barn or pump house then why kill it? It kills mice and baby jackrabbits....jackrabbits eat the grass my cows want to eat so I'm cool with them helping out.

FWIW - I don't have an opinion one way or the other, but I think it's being looked at as a step up the evolutionary ladder. Brings up the question of whether a snake can have a "learned" response. [/quote]

I learned in the way overpriced Biology classes that they made em take to get my (science) degree....pretty much all aninals can have a elarned response.

Sound, no sound...dead rattler just the same....everytime

I currently have three diamondback rattlesnakes. Caught two just north of Abilene and one off a ranch near Adamsville. Have had all three over four years. Both snakes from Abilene were caught (in consecutive years) with a single button. The one from Adamsville had 6 rattles and I estimate was 3-4 years old.

If I so much as walk by their enclosure the snakes from Abilene immediately rattle and continue to do so until I leave the area. The snake from Adamsville I have "NEVER" heard rattle. This includes the day I caught it, feeding time, removing from the enclosure to clean it, etc.

That said, my experience thru encountering numerous rattlesnakes over the years is they are as individual as you and I. Some act aggressive at your mere presence, while some remain passive unless you get outright overly aggressive with them....most fall somewhere in between.

I don't kill snakes and rescue/relocate whenever possible.