FIRST RATTLESNAKE!

Finally found my first rattlesnake today. As I approached the trap, I saw some striping and thought it might be a kingsnake. Like, a really fat kingsnake with a rattle that was coiling up and preparing to strike. Right. The rattle is a very unique sound, more moped than maraca, really. Quite unnerving. And the body was surprisingly soft, if muscular. It almost seemed fragile. Here’s what we do:

• Remove snake from trap with snake stick
• Shove front of snake into plastic tube
• Do ungodly things to its hindquarters

We use the tube to immobilize the snake.