|
1-9 of 9 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
Woman Kills "rattler"
|
Reply
|
|
by Aries54 on August 24, 2010
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I saw this on the website of NBC affiliate, TMJ4 out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They're saying this 79 year old woman killed a rattlesnake. The picture they show sucks. But it doesn't look like a rattle to me. Can anyone tell? I'd love to email them and tell them they're wrong.....
Go to : http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/101351739.html
|
| |
|
RE: Woman Kills "rattler"
|
Reply
|
|
by CanadianSnakeMan on August 24, 2010
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Looks like it could be a massassauga rattlesnake, but there's no way it would have been 5 feet long. There are plenty of other (longer) snakes that mimic the pattern of the massassauga, perhaps it's one of them.
|
| |
|
RE: Woman Kills "rattler"
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on August 24, 2010
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Looks like it could be a Prairie Rattlesnake, but it is no where near 5 feet long.
Also, the story about it coming out of a rail car is very strange.
Best Regards
John Z
|
| |
|
RE: Woman Kills "rattler"
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on August 24, 2010
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Could be a massasauga rattlesnake also. Too bad the photos are not better.
The old gal in the video who chopped it up is still kind of fun to watch. She seems pretty independent.
Best Regards
John Z
|
| |
|
RE: Woman Kills "rattler"
|
Reply
|
|
by Aries54 on August 24, 2010
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Even though I lived there several years, I guess I didn't realize that the massasauga rattlesnake was in Wisconsin. Either way, it just amazes me that the news station found it news worthy that this old woman destroyed this snake for no good reason. And there's no way it was 5 feet long. Just another example of how the media portrays reptiles to the public. I know several of you on this site work hard(as have I over the years) to educate people about snakes. But I'm at the point where I just don't think any of us are making a dent with these people. They're born and bred to hate reptiles because that's what their parents told them. And no matter how many experts can tell them that reptiles are not evil, and to just leave them alone, people still don't listen to us. For several reasons, for the first time in MANY years, I don't have any reptiles. Mostly, due to my work schedule, I just don't have the proper time any more. But another small reason is that I became sick and tired of how people view reptiles..........and in turn, how they viewed me. It never bothered me before, but when it started to affect my family(long story), I had enough. I'm sorry if I've started to get off of the original point here, but do you guys know what I mean?
|
| |
|
RE: Woman Kills "rattler"
|
Reply
|
|
by CanadianSnakeMan on August 24, 2010
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Mark,
I know exactly what you mean. All my neighbours think I'm nuts, or F&%@ing weird as my next door neighbour affectionately puts it (and I don't even have reptiles at my house). I think we all try to educate the public, but for every 100 closed-minded arrogant backwards idiots you come accross, there might be one or two who you can actually have an effect on. That's what makes it worthwhile.
When I was herping around Lake Huron to catch a glimpse of the endangered Eastern Massasauga I wound up asking a few locals where they are most often seen. One woman said to me "They're all over that road by the swamp. Kill as many of them as you can for me!" I ended up talking to that woman for a while. She was afraid that one of them might wander into her house and bite her kids, so she kills them on sight. I explained the defensive behaviour of rattlesnakes to her and showed her how to safely move and relocate them using a garbage can and broom. After the conversation she said that she didn't feel as afraid of the snakes and said she'd try moving them instead of killing them.
Kids are the best targets for learning. When I'm doing shows or presentations with live animals, I like to go up to the kids whose parents seem the most afraid of reptiles. It helps the children to abandon the irrational fears of their parents and it shows the parents that reptiles are not going to harm anyone.
Always keep trying to eucate the uninformed. It's very rewarding when it works.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
