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Balance of Nature #7857775 06/01/20 09:15 PM
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After an abnormally slow start to snake season around here, things got decidedly warmer this morning.

Jane had walked out front of the house and all three dogs had followed her. The sound of her squalling at the dogs rocketed me out of my chair, grabbing a pistol as I headed out the front door. The dry, hollow buzz of a diamondback met me as soon as I got outside...Jan yelled that the snake was under a big holly next to the sidewalk. Jake (our big German Shorthair and recent "snake avoidance training" graduate) had evidently decided that Jane was too close to the snake he smelled and dove into the fight face first. We got the dogs herded back into safety and checked Jake (yep, at least one fang strike on the bridge of his nose).

While Jane organized a leash and my truck keys for the run to take Jake into town to the vet, I mounted a very localized "search and destroy" mission. Since that first determined buzz, the rattler had gone quiet...a silence that was certainly NOT helpful in locating him. I wound up taking a leaf rake and dragging piles of leaves and mulch out of the landscaping before bringing my little "friend" out into the open. Two rounds of .45 Colt loaded with 7 1/2s brought the drama to a close...32 inches, 7 and a button. A snakebit dog. A thankfully un-snakebit wife.

Since we finished our retirement home and moved in six years ago, we've killed upwards of 30 diamondbacks on the place (most of them fairly close to the house as that's where we spend the most time). Had six dogs bitten; one fatally. Here on THF, I've read impassioned missives about "live and let live" and "they're only acting on instinct"...and I can accept both points of view from both an academic and a moral perspective.

Snakes are only doing what snakes know how to do; they operate on instinct. Jake got in the middle of this snake not because of some anthropomorphic sense of chivalry; instinct drove him to react as he did. Well, boys and girls, this old roughneck tends to act on instinct when it comes to venomous snakes as well. Any threat, reptilian or otherwise, to myself or my family (and you better believe that the dogs are family!) gets dealt with in the most basic, most brutal and most instinctual manner I can muster.

Others are free to do as they please...but them's the cards I'm holdin'.

Mark

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Last edited by 218 Bee; 06/01/20 10:20 PM.

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"I always take care to fire into the nearest hillside and, lacking that, into darkness". - the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7857777 06/01/20 09:16 PM
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I'll start taking photos with a shovel beside them dead snakes.

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7857782 06/01/20 09:24 PM
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yep, I believe in live and let live to the point when there are consequences that start to invade on my family and I right to live. Well done


"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."

~PMK~
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7857803 06/01/20 09:50 PM
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reads like a Louis L'Amour novel, hope your dog recovers well

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7857917 06/01/20 11:56 PM
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how is your puppy?

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7857936 06/02/20 12:22 AM
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nice job sir

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: Slick Head] #7857950 06/02/20 12:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Slick Head
how is your puppy?


Do not forget to entertain strangers, For by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels
Hebrews 13:2
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: Slick Head] #7857966 06/02/20 12:37 AM
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Thanks to everyone for the concern.

Big Jake is sick but he's gonna be alright. His body weight (68 lbs) coupled with the rattlesnake vaccine he carries kept this from being any worse. He'll be on meds here at the house for the next week or so and I expect he'll be feeling pretty puny around here for several days. He's currently sleeping on the couch in the office, feeling pretty sorry for himself...

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"I always take care to fire into the nearest hillside and, lacking that, into darkness". - the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858052 06/02/20 01:53 AM
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Glad to hear your pooch is getting along alright.

Nothing wrong with killing any snake for a reason. You certainly had plenty of reason. However, I would like to know more about that fine looking Ruger in the photo. I know your a man of fine taste in firearms. Do tell.

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858063 06/02/20 02:02 AM
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That's one of my Cowboy Action shooters from 20+ years ago. A 4 5/8" Ruger Bisley Vaquero in .45 Colt. This one lives in the house; it's mate rides on my hip every time I'm in the pasture and don't have something louder in immediate reach!

Mark


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"I always take care to fire into the nearest hillside and, lacking that, into darkness". - the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858087 06/02/20 02:29 AM
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Beautiful sidearm. I always enjoy seeing parts of your gun collection.

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858179 06/02/20 04:39 AM
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I get that snakes are needed as part of our healthy ecosystem, but I still kill every venomous snake I see. I think they cause more damage to humanity, than they provide to our ecosystem. There are plenty of non-venomous snakes that will fill their roll in nature.

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858216 06/02/20 09:55 AM
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I'm glad all turned out well and I hope for a fast recovery for your pup .


Prayer is the "ultimate" wireless connection .
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858224 06/02/20 10:24 AM
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I can see why and I would be feeling puny too. Get better Jake up

Originally Posted by 218 Bee


Big Jake is sick. I expect he'll be feeling pretty puny around here for several days.

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texas flag








Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858304 06/02/20 12:51 PM
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up


"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."

~PMK~
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: ntxtrapper] #7858329 06/02/20 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by ntxtrapper
I get that snakes are needed as part of our healthy ecosystem, but I still kill every venomous snake I see. I think they cause more damage to humanity, than they provide to our ecosystem. There are plenty of non-venomous snakes that will fill their roll in nature.


Yep, me too

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858357 06/02/20 01:38 PM
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Sorry to hear about your dog no judgement here when protecting your family and pets.
I believe it all balances out with some taking snakes and some relocating. They do have a place in nature and it's your choice on what to do with them when they are in your yard.
Glad to hear no one else was bitten.

Nice pistol as well, I had one but sold it several years ago, I like the Bisleys.

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858615 06/02/20 05:59 PM
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An ardent supporter of our eco system. Let every non venomous snake pass however having a love one or myself succumb to the horrible consequences of a natural snake bite is not part of my tolerance and or understanding. Some of our critics would probably nurture Corona Virus specimens as this is part of our natural environment as well. If the science advances enough maybe we can release some T Rexes and or sabre tooth tigers in our national parks. Would make summer vacation trips a lot more interesting

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858643 06/02/20 06:24 PM
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I hear ya, Flash.

Personally (in my deepest, darkest Luddite soul) I'm of the opinion that our species quit advancing once we got the "survival of the fittest" thing pretty well licked. A couple of generations of air-conditioned living has watered down our DNA into some of the timid, skinny-jeaned souls I see on TV these days. When I bother to turn on the TV, that is... texas


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Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858727 06/02/20 07:39 PM
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Poor pup. Hope he heals up soon.


To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858776 06/02/20 08:26 PM
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Great story - thanks for sharing. Really hope Jake heals up soon

Last edited by Thekitch; 06/02/20 08:26 PM.
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858861 06/02/20 09:47 PM
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Glad he is ok - lost our 2 year old Shepherd a few years back - came home and he was laying dead in the driveway - rattler got him - it was a sad sad day


You can't fix stupid
Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858874 06/02/20 10:07 PM
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Glad Jake is there! He did "good"!

Re: Balance of Nature [Re: tlk] #7858878 06/02/20 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by tlk
Glad he is ok - lost our 2 year old Shepherd a few years back - came home and he was laying dead in the driveway - rattler got him - it was a sad sad day


Sorry to hear about your Shepherd pup, TLK; that's awful. We lost our patriarch Jack Russell in 2016 right here in our backyard just like that. He was old, blind and deaf...and that's a rotten combination if you're trying to avoid snakebite.

For anyone that's interested: Jake is doing much better today. The swelling is reducing and he's not in as much pain. That's the good news. The bad news is that he's leaking hemolyzed fluid all over the house. It doesn't bother him any...but we're staying busy cleaning up after him!

Mark


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Re: Balance of Nature [Re: 218 Bee] #7858910 06/02/20 11:11 PM
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glad Jake is improving ... our female German Shepard got struck 2-3 times on her cheek and side of her neck by about a 3 footer. Called the vet and he asked where she was bitten, when I told him head and neck, he said she will be fine, no need to bring her in ... but like you mentioned, the leaking fluid makes a mess ... and next will be rotting flesh around the wounds ... but in time, it grows back including the hair.


"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."

~PMK~
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