Not for the squeamish

[Tom M]

Almost stepped on this last night.:eek:
It was very small.

Canon 400D, 70-200 f4 IS L, 430EX flash.

Click here 135kb.
(http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1KJtblY4IXp5ebbT9pGx9eIBoM9DX)

[twoaussies]

Sure hope you were using a telephoto lens when you took the photo. Your heart must have jumped. Jean

[Wendy]

Oh Tom ...

That is gorgeous !! :)

Wendy

[AngelicKim]

Tom, great shot. If I had almost stepped on that I wouldn't have been taking a photo. I would have been changing my britches:eek: :D :D

[annc]

Excellent photograph, beautiful snake!

[kayser]

What kind of snake is that? We have one who's been trying to hang out in our garage. Just a black snake, harmless, I think, except I won't be going out in my barefeet for a while...

nice shot- I'll have to ask my husband why he hasn't taken any of "our" snake!!

[Shari]

Great shot Tom. We don't see many snakes here. Kim you gave me a real laugh - you are so funny. Thanks.
Shari

[AngelicKim]

I'm no snake expert but I think with that diamond shapes on it, isn't that a rattler? I think I will look it up.

Shari, I couldn't resist that comment. Probably because it would have been the truth.:eek:

[Tom M]

Yes, it was a baby rattle snake.
I poked it with a shovel so it would go away.
I didn't want it sneaking into my garage.

[quillabee9]

His presence tells me it's warming up in Tucson. Good shot.

[jojo99]

Great pic Tom. Well done on being able to get a shot!
It wouldn't have been me :eek:
It's a long time since we had snakes here so I've never actually seen one (unless you count the zoo).
And that's the way I like it :)

[kevq]

JoJo,
I'm with you. In the UK we have one poisonous snake. You would have thought that when St. Patrick got rid of the snakes in Ireland he would have done the same for us!!
Kev:D

[JulieM]

Tom, are rattlers only dangerous as adults? I commend you on your picture! I remember one of my prized possessions as a child was a rattlesnake rattle given to me by family member.

[Chuck S.]

Baby poisonous snakes are not to be trifled with. In many/most species, their venom is every bit as potent as that of older snakes, and they're more likely to strike a human because they have less experience in distinguishing prey and/or threats.

Or so I've been taught....

[Tom M]

"Rattler babies (http://www.desertusa.com/may96/du_rattle.html) have venom and short fangs and are dangerous from birth. In fact, they are more pugnacious than the adults. Although unable to make a rattling sound, the youngsters throw themselves into a defensive pose and strike repeatedly when disturbed."

This one just ran away when confronted with a shovel.:cool:

[PattyD]

My sister is a R.N. who once had a patient that chopped a baby rattler in half with a shovel. He went to move it away with his foot and it still bit him! He almost lost his leg. I'd be very careful!!!!
Patty

[Chuck S.]

I like snakes....but I keep my distance.

Great photo, Tom!

[nkeevers]

Tom, great shot! I hate snakes and I definitely don't go near them. Got home the other day and when we opened the garage a black snake came out. I had my hubby go chase him with a broom. And, of course, now he's in my bushes somewhere!:eek:

[msbrad]

Tom, great shot. If I had almost stepped on that I wouldn't have been taking a photo. I would have been changing my britches:eek: :D :D

Yup me too
m

[TonyW]

Great shot - a few snakes up here but the only poisonous one is the Massasauga Rattlesnake and that is very rare - I've hiked in all their remaining habitats and the only ones I've ever seen have been stuffed in museums :)

Tony

[Debbie Z]

Wow, that looks like a beautiful Diamond Back to me. I am guessing that it is a young one. They were all over where I grew up. Nice shot!

[Byron Gale]

One time, while resting on a fallen tree during a hike, I discovered that a nearby bump on the log was not actually attached to the log... but instead was one of these little coiled beauties. Quite a thrill!!

We ended up leaving each other alone.

[Andyd]

Why did it have to be snakes? :)

-Indiana Jones

[Wags374]

Great shot! I agree that babies are no less dangerous than adults, my dad always cautioned us about the babies. My dad used to catch rattlers for his biology classes. My mom made him move them out of our basement because even in cages they freaked her out. And she was worried that one of us kids (ages 3 and under) would get into a cage somehow.

One of his former highschool biology students is now one of the leading herpetologists (sp?) in the world. Guess he really loved my dad's classes and hands on teaching style. Probably wouldn't be allowed to teach like that in this day and age due to liablilty issues.