Indeed, taking unnecessary chances with a rattlesnake is beggin' for an ER visit...

You'd be shocked how easily many rattlesnakes can "slip" a fang outside their mouths and into a finger...C. o. helleri can give a nasty bite, and some populations have decidedly neurotoxic components in their venom making for a very "touch and go" experience.

There's really no need in 99% of circumstances to ever put your bare hands on a rattlesnake...Above and beyond the obvious physical risks to you (and the substantial medical costs in the event of an envenomation), pinning a snake stresses it out and many will thrash around wildly when restrained in this manner. It's quite easy for a snake to suffer a substantial spinal cord/neck injury while this is occurring....all because you wanted to get "cool pics" of you holding a rattlesnake....

Blatant (and unnecessary) silliness.

Do everyone a favor and use a hook next time.

-Kris

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