Snakes really are a way of life for us here. We learn to be careful where we put our hands. Believe it or not, most poisonous snake bites here are on the hands, not the feet or legs. A friend "got hisself rattler bit" last summer when he reached down and put part of his hand under an object on the ground, with the intention of moving it. A rattler was under there watching the opening, felt threatened, and struck. He recovered without too much damage.
I remind my son and grandsons that anyplace attractive to mice or rats is attractive to snakes. They hang out in the same places. The only time you are really safe from rattlers here during the summer is when the temps approach the three digit numbers. They just cannot stay out in that heat, and retreat to seclusion in cooler places. But, early mornings, late evenings, and at night ....... all bets are off.
BTW, it helps to be lucky too. An old cotton farmer, now deceased, was "rattler bit" on three separate occasions in the fields near here ............. all three were dry bites.
SRH
