Re: [RC] CA rattlers - Barbara McCrary

From what I have read about the rattlesnake the Mojave is the most dangerous for two reasons. The first is they have much more neurotoxins in there venom that any other viper. The only other snake in the US that packs that degree of neurotoxin is the coral snake.

The coral snake is related to the cobra and mamba and their venom is just as toxic. A big coral snake can kill you fairly quickly but you really have to work at it to get bitten by a coral snake. We had a local kid find a three foot coral snake in his yard and pick it up and try to play with it. It finally latched onto his hand and pumped all his venom into the kid. He was rushed to the hospital where he was on a respirator for 8 days ( he could not breath on his own ) as the MD's were hoping the antivenom worked. I finally did.

The second reason the Mojave is dangersous is they tend to be more territorial hence more aggressive. Our Eastern diamondback gets huge, as big around as a man's upper arm. However, if you see one in the wild count yourself lucky or unlucky - which ever. Once they detect you - they are long gone before you ever see them unless you corner them.

The toxic venom plus the aggressive behavior of the Mojave - well I'm glad they live on the other side of the country ;-) !

Truman

Kitley, Carrie E Civ USAF AFSPC 30 MDSS/SGSLF wrote:

Barbara was right about the Mojave rattlers, however, according to this,
they're the most dangerous in the United States, not just CA.  YIKES!!
I always thought it was the Diamondback.  Learn something every day,
thanks Barbara.
http://www.werc.usgs.gov/hq/snake.html

Carrie Kitley
30th Medical Group, Vandenberg AFB
DMLSS Database Sustainment Specialist (DSS)
CACI International Inc, www.caci.com
DSN:  276-1077
Fax: 805-606-1179

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[RC] CA rattlers, Kitley, Carrie E Civ USAF AFSPC 30 MDSS/SGSLF

Re: [RC] CA rattlers, Truman Prevatt

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