Author Topic: Rattlesnakes in Missouri ........BIG ones (Read 1784 times)

ponydog80 · « **on:** November 02, 2005, 05:43:16 AM »

My company does service work for a Window manufacturer in St Genevieve Missouri , just north of there...they are building , what will be , one of the nations largest concrete plants..right on the Mississippi. A lady who is our customer contact has a husband who is a heavy equipment operator, making the road to the Mississippi river, so they can move heavy equipment in . ....some pretty brushy, rough country......word is , there are some 6 foot long timber rattlers being found or "discovered" in that area. For those of you not familiar with it, say an hour south of Saint Louis....right along the river. I know there are 7 foot long Eastern Diamond backs....and I have personally seen 7 foot long rattlesnakes in South Texas.....but never one that big here.....not just one or two being found in Missouri ......the term "dozens of them " is being used....watch your step..!!!!!!

bullet maker · « **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2005, 04:20:42 PM »

Hi ponydog80

I have a old guineas book of records, 1992, (I think), and I remeber one fact they printed, that is the velvet tail rattler, is the heaviest poison snake in the world. Their is a live one in some zoo up north, newyork? I don't remeber except-- it is 7ft 9 inches long and weighs 35 lbs.

You are right, their are some big rattlers out there. I have heard that on the red river in southern Okla, and Texas, there are some water moccasins snakes that are bigger that a mans thigh, and 5ft longand bigger.

bullet maker

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Heavy Chevy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2005, 06:20:26 AM »

Good snake?
DEAD snake!

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2005, 04:17:27 AM »

TM7 - a number of years ago a buddy and I were hunting in the Catskills and shot two of them - first ones we had seen since coming back from Colorado - first ones we cooked up since Colorado too.

There are also some rumored to be near Syracuse - I think there is a known or registered den out that-a-way. Also, Snake Mountain at Lake George has a registered nest of Pygmy Rattlers.

Interesting thing about Rattlesnakes - from birth they are as poisonous as they will ever be.

And no, they are nothing to pick up and play with. But, a 12 gauge with #6 or #4 shot completely removes the venomous part and the rest is quite edible. The skin also makes great hatbands. Mikey.

1911crazy · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2005, 10:51:36 AM »

We had a 6' timber rattler here in the water shed area. I have also seen 5' black snakes in the same area but it got out of the road before i could run it over.

Do snakes eat good? I ate eels when i was a kid my uncle would split them in half and fry them up after coating them with egg and flour. These were big saltwater eels. This stuff is ugly but it did eat good.

rockbilly · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2005, 05:18:43 AM »

:shock: Don't get me wrong now, there are some big old rattlers here in Texas, they normally only grow to about six feet. The Eastern Diamondback is larger than our snake, but either one can make a wet spot in your pants if the conditions are right. :roll: :roll: :roll:

jritter · « **Reply #6 on:** November 23, 2005, 07:24:22 PM »

Timber rattlesnakes are actually a relatively common species in southern Missouri. They get very fat but usually not more than about 4 ft. in length. They are very timid and shy, and it is very rare to encounter one. Herpetololgists believe that they may have learned behavior of not rattling in front of danger, to keep from being killed.
Sounds like during construction, they encountered a den. Timbers seem to have territories, and always return to the same den site in the fall to overwinter. There may have been snakes from miles around at the site.
It is also true that venomous snakes conserve their venom. It is what they use to subdue their prey, so they only use it for self defense if they have to. It is common to have very little, or "dry" bites. If they give you the full dose, look out.

p.s.: I have experience with the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the St. Louis Herpetological Society.

clodbuster · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2005, 11:12:09 AM »

I can remember a few confirmed timber rattlers in the Kansas City area over the last few years and many copperheads. I think you can find them all over MO.

CEJ1895 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2005, 06:09:02 AM »

I had a very interesting "meeting" with one when I was a kid on a boy scout overnite trip on the Conn/Mass line. Went deep into the woods to answer the call of nature and just as I lowered my shorts I heard that very attention getting rattle!! :shock: I was constipated for a week! I won't bother them if they don't bother me otherwise its 180 grains of snake be gone! CEJ...