Wednesday, May 4, 2016

FIRST RATTLER(S) OF THE SEASON



“We saw the first rattler last year on Mother’s Day,” I reminded Mike as we drove along to the farm this morning. We had 22 rattler sightings in 2015.

Bess and Nellie insisted on a late afternoon constitutional today, and as we proceeded down the lane, little Bess danced on ahead while Nellie poked along behind us. We could see that Bess was cautiously interested in something on the west side of the culvert at the bottom of the lane. Then she commenced to bark and we hastened to get to her.
A large rattlesnake

Sure enough! The first rattler of the season. And only feet away from this large one was a smaller rattler that tumbled over the rocks to the bottom and disappeared. I wasn’t fast enough to get a picture.

I was glad we had reminded each other about the rattlers. It pays to be alert. KW

2 comments:

Hallie said...

Eek! How big was it?

Kathy said...

Mike estimates the large snake at 30 inches with 12 rattles. He says that's the most rattles he's ever seen.