Rattlesnake Removal

[Cascadia]

For all intent and purposes, this story is about me and I am not trying to hide my identity due to my stupidity. I may appear more stupid than I am.

I caught a rattlesnake yesterday. Yes, I caught one. My brother and I were longboarding down Provo Canyon. He was about 25 feet in front of me. I saw him try and swerve but it was too late. He ran over a rattlesnake with his board and killed it instantly. It only had one rattle so from what I'm told he was only a year old.

We got back on our boards and started heading down again. About 200 feet later we could see something in the trail. It appeared to be the same length (about 12") but it was at least 1.5 inches tall. We got closer and it was another rattlesnake with just one rattle. He had obviously just eaten a mouse or something of that nature because he had a huge lump in it's stomach.

We grew up catching snakes all the time, but never rattlers. I was taken back to my childhood days so I instantly thought let's catch it. I boarded a little ways back to Canyon Glen, found a powerade bottle, with lid, and headed back up. Within about 2 minutes he slithered right in.

Now I just don't know what to do with it. Do I kill it? Do I let it go somewhere deeper in the woods? Does animal control need them for testing venom or anything?

 

[DaveB]

Legally catching rattlesnakes requires a permit from the DWR and killing them is illegal unless there is a legitimate safety concern. Go put it back where you found it.

 

[Cascadia]

Hmmm...good to know. Didn't know that. I think I'll put him back. There was a 5 year old walking down the trail right behind us so maybe I saved him.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'm confused here... Why did you drag it out of its habitat?

 

[lewis]

you knew what it was when you picked it up, now its going to bite you and you will die. I say kill it and cook it up. tastes like chicken and it won't bite any more little kids.

 

[Cascadia]

I'm confused here... Why did you drag it out of its habitat?

It was sitting in the middle of the river trail shaking it's rattle at everyone that went by. He was making no attempt at leaving and I didn't want some little kid to come by. He's back there now but way further off the trail.

 

[Cascadia]

you knew what it was when you picked it up, now its going to bite you and you will die. I say kill it and cook it up. tastes like chicken and it won't bite any more little kids.

I never touched it or Picked it up. I put a power ade bottle down on the ground and he slithered right in.

 

[Cody]

I've got a friend that has a pet rattlesnake he came across about a decade ago. His name is Mojave and he feeds it mice.....and when he cleans the cage he is very careful

Yup, I know that's illegal, but it's still an interesting "pet".

 

[lewis]

I never touched it or Picked it up. I put a power ade bottle down on the ground and he slithered right in.

For some reason I had assumed you had seen the video that I was quoting.

 

[jeeper]

For some reason I had assumed you had seen the video that I was quoting.

Hmm.. I thought this was a sunday school lesson

 

[RockMonkey]

I very nearly stepped on one two weekends ago at Flaming Gorge. Must be one of those years when there's a bumper crop of rattlers for some reason. Mild winter means there's plenty of food maybe?

 

[DevinB]

For some reason I had assumed you had seen the video that I was quoting.

I knew it sounded familiar...