Rattle snakes in Nevada desert or other dangers to watch for.

I

ironworker

New member
I found a nice place out side of Fallon NV Elevation is 4,000 FT. Early in the morning am I likely to run into some Rattle snakes ? Coral snakes? Gilla Monsters?
 
Larry,
It is real unlikely for you to bump into a rattlesnake, although they are out there. Scorpions are out at night a lot out in that Fallon area but they are usually under the cow pies during the day. If you hunt out there, like the Indian Lakes area, kick over some pies and see...Walt
 
Hi Walt Hows life ? Still in East Nevada or Utah? I found a real nice area out side of Fallon that has a canal and a desert road that never ends. Plus no off road riders or at least early in the morning. So Walk you don't think I need to wear chaps or what ever you call them? I suppose don't turn over any rocks and watch where I sit. I'm leaving the Fox pro home.
 
You have very little to fear of Coral snakes as they are very reluctant to bite and very small fangs, envenomation from a coral snake is very rare because they actually have to bite,hold on and massage fangs in to get deep enough to envenomate properly. However, they are extremely toxic and contain a Neuro-Toxin that can kill a man in under an hour, if you survive you will experience cramps that you can't possibly imagine, difficulty breathing and joint pain that can last as long as 2 months.

Avoiding snakes is actually very easy, but it isn't condusive to good hunting. Simply take heavy steps when walking, snakes are very sensitive to ground vibration and will avoid you at all costs because you aren't on the menu.

Bark Scorpions are what you will want to be conscious of, they actually kill more people every year than you would think. Interesting bit of trivia: Do you know how to judge a Scorpions toxicity by sight? The smaller the pincer's are the higher the toxicity. Bark scorpions = small pincers Emperor scorpions = large pincers.

As G.I. Joe says "Knowing is half the battle"

Well now you know.

Chupa
 
Chupa-This is random but after readin your posts I just had to say somethin.Im still a G.I. Joe fan and Im almost 20 years old.I dont know if thats somethin I should admit but ya'll aint gonna tell nobody.....right?I dont think theirs anything wrong with being an overgrown child anyhow so on second thought,tell your neighbors if you want to I dont care. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As for the snakes and Gila Monsters.Just wear snake boots,watch wear you step/set and dont pick em' up and you'll be alright.Gila Monsters are pretty cool lookin critters but I hear that once they latch on to ya they dont want to let go. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Last edited:
Quote:
but I hear that once they latch on to ya they dont want to let go.




That's because they don't have hollow fangs like most poisonous snakes, they have grooved teeth that the venom runs through into the wound. They've got to "chew" it into you.

I know, too much Discovery Channel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
ive ran into a couple rattlers in my days in the nevada wilds. also lots of bull and garter snakes . pretty sure gila monsters are farther south, and never heard of coral snakes round here. definatly scorpions, cant say official name for sure, lil yellow skinny tail'd ones. Tarantulas in the southern half of the state too. also carefull not to stumble across those big a$$ ant hills, or a wasps nest, they can be testy....
 
There all out there, even close to the city. I got a flat tire at Las Vegas blvd and Nellis a few years back. While waiting for a friend to bring me a jack I caught a baby sidewinder right there.
 
I grew up and lived in Vegas most of my life. I've killed several rattle snakes out on the desert while bird hunting. None of them were trying to get away from me, all of them were coiled, rattling and ready to strike. I don't know where that falsehood about them always trying to get away from you came from. I never found that to be true. I've seen three gila monsters around there, a few mohave green rattle snakes, never seen or heard of a coral snake in those parts. Scorpions, centipedes, vinegaroons, tarantulas are there. I left there when I retired, never so glad to get away from such a godforsaken place!!
 
Quote:
I don't know where that falsehood about them always trying to get away from you came from. I never found that to be true.



I can see where my response could very easily be mis-interpreted, it was a pretty broad generalization. Let me elaborate. "Most" snakes will alert you of their presence or try and get away from you, I use the word "Most" because there are a few snakes that absolutely will do nothing but stand their ground and fight, but those snakes are not indigenous to the U.S. and are illegal to own without proper registration. I am speaking of things like Mamba's,Puff Adder's and Saw scaled Viper's and a few others. Snakes are like many other animals however and have varying temperments and personalities. So in short anything is possible... Just ask the Wicked witch of the East... somebody dropped a house on her head... What are the odds /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

Chupa
 
Grizz here.
I've seen and killed several Mojave Greens over the years
and can say without a doubt not only will they stand thier ground, they will sometimes come right toward you.
 
The Prairie Rattlers we have here can be pretty mean at times but I have'nt ever seen one that would'nt try to crawl away if it had the chance.I've noticed the smaller ones will coil up and buzz at you and strike at their own shadow practically but if you give them some space they will usually high tail it out of there.Most of the bigger ones will buzz at you but wont coil up unless you mess with em'.Their usually buzzin as their tryin to find a hole to crawl into.But just like anything else,they dont get big by bein stupid.Thats just prairie rattlers though but maybe different species of rattlers have different temperments I cant say for sure. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
The only snake I've had actually come after me was a HUGE bullsnake.It was over 7 foot easily and that thing was instantly mad when I found it.It flattened out its head and I mean to tell ya that thing was strikin high enough to bite me in a place I did'nt want to get bit.I've always heard Racers and Coachwhips will chase ya too but have'nt ever had it happen to me....yet.
 
You don't have to stay away and not hunt in Nevada. I never hesitated to go out whenever I wanted. Just be aware, watch your step and realize they are out there. In all the years I lived there I was never bitten by anything. I was just relating my experiences and what I saw while I lived there. I'm sure there were snakes and other vermin that I didn't see retreating from me. I just meant to say that rattlesnakes will not try to get away from you everytime.
 
I don't have much experience with Rattlers other than the occasional timber or pigmy, but we have got Cottonmouths, which can get aggressive. You mostly find them close to water. You hear stories about guys out fishing on a moonlit night and seeing something on the water. They shine the light and it's a Cottonmouth coming over to introduce itself to them.

They're different from the regular watersnakes around. They're usually real dark and "husky" ie- big around for their length. They've got pretty blunt tails and a white mouth. The ones I've come across would rather get you than retreat.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top