My set-to with rattlers never ends until cold weather comes each fall. Last week my wife walked our little 5 lb. Yorkie out to the mailbox on a 12 ft. leash. When she came back across the patio, and started up the back steps, she was looking at the mail and not where she was walking. The dog was ahead of her and ran on up the steps. She looked behind her when she reached the steps for some reason, and they had just stepped within inches of a timber rattler about 3 1/2 feet long. Who was retreating under our patio table. She called me and it just so happened I was within 1/4 mile of the house in the pickup. I hurried there and killed him with a boat paddle .............. couldn't shoot on the patio, and there was shrubbery on both sides for him to hide in.
As I told her, we share this part of the world with critters that can and will cause you misery and/or death. You just can't walk around with your head in the clouds, but have to be diligent during the spring and summer months.
Gil, I've heard some reports of mutated mammals and reptiles across the river from us, near SRS, but never actually saw any with my own eyes.
SRH
