rattler in the road dead graphic pic

BryanB · 07-09-13, 04:05 PM

Unfortunately he did not make it across. I must have bean only a minute or two behind the car that hit it because it was still twitching. This is the closest i have come to one and I had no idea they had such awesome patterning. At first i thought it was a black snake and wanted to see if it was a racer or a rat but as i got close i noticed it was way to fat for either and it had the markings of a timber rattler then the dead give away was the tail "no pun intended" so i took a picture. As sad as it is it was a beautiful snake. I bet someone hit it purposely too
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Mikoh4792 · 07-09-13, 04:07 PM

lol @ the pun.

Sad to see and it happens often.

RandyRhoads · 07-09-13, 04:09 PM

Lucky. Snatch that rattle and skin.

Mark Taylor · 07-09-13, 04:12 PM

Such a shame for a snake to end up like that. But yeah that's a nice looking snake thanks for sharing even though a bit graphic could have moved it down a bit lol.

Amadeus · 07-09-13, 04:15 PM

Sad to a see a rattler dead but I agree with Randy get the skin.

sweatshirt · 07-09-13, 05:28 PM

Nice! I saw a baby one crossing the road a few years ago.

Nick V · 07-10-13, 04:11 PM

Very sad to see one like that, it such a beautiful and misunderstand species. I have only seen one wild rattler in my life and it was a baby timber rattler in the Pine Barrens. I'm used to snakes making rattling noises at me in the woods there, pine snakes and milks though haha. I knew this rattling was too loud to be anything other than an actual rattler. I couldn't clearly see the tail so I decided I wanted to get a better look at it. Weary, I grabbed a stick and pushed back some of the debris to get a better look at it and sure enough it was a baby timber rattler!! It had only two rattles on its tail and was very very small. Instead of striking it just rattled to make me aware of it as it slithered away while I looked at it in fascination. All I had was a crappy camera phone which had a picture of its back under the sticks, next time I go I'm not leaving my camera in the care. These snakes are known for their reluctance to bite and eagerness to flee without even getting too defensive. It didn't even coil up when it rattled at me, so I do not understand how people can fear a snake I see as harmless, it won't bother you if you don't bother it. The area I saw the bugger in is not a well-known spot and I didn't know it would have them there. I keep the little place a big secret, especially with the huge population of pine snakes and spotted turtles there. A lot of people think these snakes are just mindless biting machines, and some careless idiotic people hit them for the fact that they're venomous. It makes me sad because it is such a beautiful and misunderstood snake that deserves a much greater appreciation than that. The human race is a despicable one, well sorry for my long story and rant but thanks for sharing this!

BryanB · 07-10-13, 04:32 PM

I went back after work and someone sniped the rattle off but I took the snake and am now curing the skin we will see how I am at tanning in a couple days. It was in bad shape but we will see how it turns out

RandyRhoads · 07-10-13, 05:00 PM

Curing...? Do you know wha you're doing? It's been a while it may be too late

BryanB · 07-10-13, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

Curing...? Do you know wha you're doing? It's been a while it may be too late

Soaking in a glycerin alcohol mixture I cleaned it the day of and now it soaks for 3-4days

RandyRhoads · 07-10-13, 05:32 PM

K. That won't preserve it right but too late now. Good job cleaning it right away. After a day they don't smell so great.

BryanB · 07-10-13, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

K. That won't preserve it right but too late now. Good job cleaning it right away. After a day they don't smell so great.

That what I found on the interwebs from 2 sources google and youtube. What should I have used so I know next time

RandyRhoads · 07-10-13, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryanB

That what I found on the interwebs from 2 sources google and youtube. What should I have used so I know next time

CT75

Would probably easiest and cheapest for you.

The whole process is actually pretty in depth and complicated but skins and tissue are held together with mostly weak hydrogen bonds. The process of bucking removes most of the garbage that rots and decomposes while the actual tanning process replaces them with substances that will fill in the gaps left and leave it soft and non decomposable. You're glycerin is used in it sometimes, but only after tanning. Glycerin alone will just make it soft.

Good luck.

Don't know why it's locked but here.
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/membe...my-thread.html