![]() ![]() Exercise every precaution to avoid being bitten, both while dispatching the snake and when handling the carcass. I must, however, caution any neophyte snake-harvesters that the diamondback ranks among the world’s most dangerous reptiles and accounts for more serious bites and fatalities than does any other North American viper. And, upon hearing the familiar buzz-z-zz, my primary concern is how to wield a shovel, hoe, or other handy implement to decapitate the serpent without damaging its lovely skin. ![]() Since moving to the western desert’s foothills, I’ve occasionally been forced to kill rattlers. But although our aggressive western diamondback (and a number of other poisonous snakes) can be found in healthy (and even dangerous) abundance in many areas, if one of them must be destroyed–to protect your family, pets, and livestock–its carcass should be used. Indeed, commercial hunting has put some of the predators on the endangered species list. Well, I’ve learned everything from tanning snake skin to cooking snake meat to making snake-bone jewelry–how to use all of a rattlesnake but the hiss!įirst, though, let me emphasize that snakes play vital ecological roles in animal and insect control, and that senseless slaughter of the beautiful reptiles is inexcusable. There’s an old saying about using all of a pig but the squeal. ![]() Even then, however, I never simply discard the victim of my defensive action because the serpents are just plain too useful to throw away. Of course, if I happen upon one of the serpents while riding or hiking in the desert, I let it slither on its way, but when a venomous reptile shows up too close to the house or barn I feel obliged to kill it. Rattlesnakes can be unwelcome visitors around the homestead.
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