Rattlesnakes
By Dylan Lyons

This story begins back in April when we had flash flooding here in East Texas. Two days after the flood I was out walking my 6 week old puppy, from my dog Pablo that had a litter of 5. This is when I almost stepped on a baby snake, which later turned out to be a rattlesnake. Here in East Texas there are three types of rattlesnakes. The Pygmy, the Timber Rattler, and the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake.

Rattlesnakes are a member of the pit viper family. They get their name from the rattling sound they make with the rattles on their tails, often called "buttons". Rattlesnakes like sun and warmth and even in the Winter have been known to come out and sun. Like most snakes the rattlesnake lives in log piles, rock piles, and old trees that have hollow spots. The diet of the rattlesnake depends on their area, but most feed on rats, mice, frogs, meaty insects, gophers, and small birds. Rattlesnakes, unlike most other snakes, are harvested for many things. The most important being their venom, which is made into

anti-venom and sent to hospitals to treat snake bites. The meat is also harvested and sold to restaurants.

The most dangerous rattlesnakes are not the big ones but the juvenile ones because they inject ALL of their venom into what they bite. The best way to prevent getting bitten is to pay attention to what's around you, and listen for the rattle while working in the yard. Also, use long sticks or a hoe to beat on bushes or move logs around before lifting them.

In case you are bitten here are the steps to take: First, do not panic because blood flow increase and will carry the poison to the heart quicker. The second step is to cut the bite open and let it bleed for about 30 seconds. Then take cardboard or a magazine cover and make a splint using a string or a shoe lace to hold the splint in place, but not too tight. Then get to a hospital as quick as possible. In most cases you only have about 30 minutes to an hour before you die. The most important thing to do if you see a snake is to walk away slowly and go get a grown up to see what kind of snake it is. Some snakes are protected by law.

Usually after a flood you see lots of snakes because they get washed out of their homes. So pay attention, and until next time...

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