Today was what I call Rattlesnake weather….. 80F, partly cloudy and high humidity. It did not take long to confirm my prediction. This one was sleeping in the shade about 15 meters from my house.
“The rattlesnake is the only dangerously venomous reptile in Oregon. Among the state's native wildlife, few other animals generate as many fears, false perceptions, and tall tales. In reality, however, few people see rattlesnakes in the wild. They want to be left alone and will never advance toward a human. Even when cornered, a defensively coiled rattlesnake can strike outward with just the forward half of its body. Anyone six feet or more away is well outside biting range….. A rattlesnake's fangs are connected to glands on each side of the animal's broad head, efficiently injecting venom for both defense and the killing of food. Rattlesnakes are pit vipers, with a small heat-sensing indention on each side of their snout that detects warm-blooded prey for better striking accuracy in the dark. If a person is bitten by a rattlesnake, the current recommendation is to quickly find medical care for antivenom treatment rather than administering first aid.”
Source :oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/rattlesnakes
Brown Acres – Jackson County – Oregon - USA
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