Rattlesnake in my front yard! Now what???

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azhunter122

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My grandpa was out in our front yard and he said that a rattle snake was below a tree that we planted last year so I ran over and there it was, it then slid down into some rocks and I figured that we should all go inside. I also saw a small snake ran over on our street last week. We have small kids and elderly around our house all the time so I want the thing gone if I see it again. My question is what should I use for it if I find the thing again? I have a revolver loaded with CCI shot and a pellet gun that I can use but I live in a neiborhood so I don't know. What do you think? Would a rattler justify shooting the thing with a real gun? And if not will a pellet gun kill a snake?
 
well, a pellet gun will certainly do it if you can hit it directly on the head. in my opinion a stick and a shovel work just as well. pin it down with a long stick just behind the head, and then chop its head off with the shovel. just be very sure that you have the stick securely pinning it down.
 
A pellet gun would likely require many multiple shots. I would say a rattle snake justifies a shot from a higher caliber weapon. I'd personally use shotgun (loaded with bird shot) for it, but a pistol with a shotshell should work almost as well.
 
A rattle snake poses an immediate threat of severe injury or death, and, though I'm not a lawyer, in Arizona there's no obligation to retreat and this is your property, so my thinking would be that it's technicly not illegal.
 
Bop Kaa on the head with a stick. The other option is a call to 'Animal Control'. Mind you, if Kaa is around there must be food.
Friend of mine was cleaning the bathroom one day and found one curled up behind the crapper. California boonies. If you listen carefully, you can still hear the scream, 30 plus years later.
 
You'd still be violating the law by firing a gun in the city. Your life is not in immediate danger, nor do you have reason to believe it is. You're supposed to call animal control or a snake removal service for this type of thing. You can kill it, though. The ideal method for getting rid of a snake is to have someone pin it with a long-handled gardening tool (a hoe or hula-hoe is ideal) while another person chops its head off with a mattock. I prefer the pellet gun method, though. I have a Daisy pellet gun I keep for dealing with snakes.
 
Leave it be.

Rattlesnakes are like guns; they do a lot of good but they can bite you if you are an idiot...so don't be an idiot.
 
No, you have to get rid of them. They tend to stick in the same areas, and have very strong homing abilities. If you capture and release them, they'll frequently come back. And if you ignore them, they won't go away and may increase in number, and you'll always be on the lookout because you don't know if he's around or not. Just kill it and stick it in the trash, being very careful to avoid the head. The head can still bite after death.
 
Call an exterminator. I have dealt with snakes alot, and I have killed rattlers. I am nowhere near ready to go poking around looking for them. Your exterminator will ferrit out the beast with kerosene spray into all likely hiding holes, and then snare for catch & release. If you live in the boonies and are absolutely free of nerves, then you can spritz your own fuel oil until he comes out, and then let him have it w/ both barells of #8. Of course, he will be pissed when he comes out of that hole, looking for revenge on anything warm, like you. On second thought, hire the exterminator.
 
Here in IL we can get stuff called snake-away at the farm store. Works for the snakes around here, sprinkle the stuff out in places where you frequent. Keeps the snakes out of the flowerbeds and walk ways. They still drive my neighbors nuts buy not me. Don't know if it works for rattlers or not.

If you are going to try a pellet gun I would suggest you practice a lot you would have to get too close for my comfort to detur a rattle snake with a pellet gun
 
Call an exterminator. I have dealt with snakes alot, and I have killed rattlers. I am nowhere near ready to go poking around looking for them. Your exterminator will ferrit out the beast with kerosene spray into all likely hiding holes, and then snare for catch & release. If you live in the boonies and are absolutely free of nerves, then you can spritz your own fuel oil until he comes out, and then let him have it w/ both barells of #8. Of course, he will be pissed when he comes out of that hole, looking for revenge on anything warm, like you. On second thought, hire the exterminator. I have shot rattlers 15 times w/ .22's, I had one still striking wildly even with 1/2 a head. No joke.
 
RATTLESNAKE CHILI
2 c. snake, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1/2 c. masa flour
1/4 c. cornmeal
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
4 oz. jar chili powder
1 c. shortening
3 chopped onions
6 cloves garlic, chopped fine
2 tbsp. cumin powder
1 tsp. oregano
8 c. beef broth
In times long ago, when meat was scarce on the cowboy trail, rattlesnake was used frequently in chilies. It was the only good place for the rattler to be.
Combine meats and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours. Combine masa flour, cornmeal, salt, pepper, and chili powder, blending well. Mix meat in flour mixture. Heat shortening to high heat; drop in meat pieces and brown. Remove all pieces of meat and add onions and garlic to skillet. Saute at low heat until tender.

Add meat back to skillet; also the beef broth and remaining flour mixture. Stir to blend.

Simmer 2 to 3 hours. Stir often.
 
Leave it be.

Rattlesnakes are like guns; they do a lot of good but they can bite you if you are an idiot...so don't be an idiot.
Click to expand...
Rattlesnakes can act on their own though. And if it wanders in to the house or a child wanders near, it could be very bad.

If you pin it with a stick I'd wear heavy boots, I think some are made especially for these.
 
Most of the people saying "let it live" don't quite understand the problem these things create around here. They like to lie on your doorstep, or around the water pipes for your homes, and other places you could easily step on them or startle them. And they come back if you don't get rid of them. You can't leave them alone. They're too dangerous and aggressive. Ever had a rattlesnake CHARGE you? I have.
 
unless they are really close to the house, leave it be, they eat rodents...
 
Now I am hungry....

Destroy it. If you have any qualms, have someone else do it. Whatever the cost it is will be cheap compared to a potential bite and having a potentially lethal or limb threatening injury. No one will think you a wimp for it either. I wouldn't work on a live electrical feed. Hope that puts it in perspective.

Let us know how it turns out.
 
Catch it and release it into the wild far away from your home. I've done it a few times. We have some big Eastern Diamondbacks in Palmetto country, but they help keep the vermin population down. It doesn't take a man to kill a snake. A child could kill one with a stick if they wanted to.
 
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