Prairie rattlers

We come across quite a few over the warmer months up here in our part of Wyoming and do our best to relocate instead of killing them.
Season has started off quickly while irrigating.
1st little guy was on the driveway in front of the ranch house.
He was so small his whole body shook when he tried to rattle his non buttons, lol.
Relocated to a rock pile away from the house.

2nd guys has 11 buttons, one of the longest rattles we've seen up there. Judging him to be about 48 inches or so based on the strike he did on me when I nearly stepped on him, near an irrigation ditch, and the spouse's estimate. He should be much more colorful after he sheds.
He was left to go on his way.

Beautiful animals

we had a few in S.W. Ks. years ago, have heard that the population is growing

I understand #2 is HUGE for a prairie rattler.

Thanks for sharing.

They are things of beauty in their own right, but best observed from a distance.

Nice Pics!

Cool snakes. I would rather not see them in person though.

I was butt deep in them until a 4 year drought showed up. Then the pigs. Now, seeing any snake is a rarity.

When I see one on the road I go around them. AFTER, stopping, getting out and looking at it.

Another relocation. This guy was in the corrals.
Moved to a more suitable spot for him, the horses and us.

Y'all seem to be more tolerant than most folks.

Had them on ranch's in Dakota's
Horses didbt like em none much.

Not as deadly as Dimondback.

The LO kills enough of them, we have no issues with relocating.
They eat a ton of mice and rats.

Nice pictures!

Nothing says TEXAS like a big ol rattler.

OP is from Wyoming.

Lots of prairie rattlers in the area of CO I grew up in. I never bothered them unless they were in an area that had a lot of kids around. I figure that has been their home a lot longer than it had been mine.

Well you are absolutely right. Sorry, guess I was looking at a BIGGER PICTURE.

^^^Our attitude towards them also.
We do have , from back in our not so tolerant years, a couple of preserved prairie rattler skins that go 56+inches. Biggest we have ever seen.

These guys are usually about 3-3 1/2 ft long, up to 4 ft for a nice one.
Been a ton this wet year so far. When the meadows grass gets about waist high it makes for more careful irrigation for sure.

we have bunch in Okla panhandle. Their temperament is nasty compared the big STX diamondbacks I’ve come across

This is why I only kill venomous snakes and that's if they are by the house. I've become quite the electrician because of rats and I hate them for it.

The Big Myth ,

yep, the longest I encounter in Finney cty, Ks. was about 28" that was in the 40's to late 50's, Ken

Good luck on the relocation. I have heard conflicting stories -- that snakes relocated far enough from the home ground that they cannot find their way back are doomed to die -- and that they will do everything in their power to get "back home."
I agree the pit vipers are very useful for rodent control, but would much rather have king and gopher snakes for neighbors!

Never had an issue relocating and we don't find dead rattlers around so I'm thinking that is a myth.

Had another in the barn so off he went to the high grass.
An average 3 footer with 8 or 9 buttons.
Had a great bull snake in the backyard, 5 footer and nice and fat.
Also found a small rattler with no buttons hiding in our brush pile at the ranch. No warning is a little concerning , it looked to be about 18 inches or so long.


Longest prairie rattlers we have taken, don't kill them any more, is a 58" skin. Huge for a prairie rattler.

lost a very good ranch horse to prairie rattler, was the best horse on the ranch

Never had an issue with the horses, surprisingly. They have 3 currently retired at the ranch and we just moved them to the meadows with barn access.
I worry about the LO's dogs more than the horses.