Reptile & Amphibian Forums

found this lil guy in the high desert of Sol Cal. we think hes a southern pacific but not to sure. can some help me ID this lil guy. Thanks Joey

you would be correct in thinking that it is a southern pacific...where abouts were you in the high desert?
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Kevin
Southern California Organization for Rattlesnake Research and Education SCORRE05@hotmail.com

The Deep Creek area in san bernadino county

Yes, that animal is a Southern Pacific...not sure about that head grip that you have on that animal tho....Considering that some populations of Southern Pacific rattlesnakes have a pretty virulent neurotoxic venom, you may want to consider a 3 finger viper hold the next time you want to put your fingers that close to the snakes' head....Even then, I personally know of people that have received a nice fang in the finger because the snake was able to fold it's fang outside it's mouth while it was "secured"....IMO, the best bet is to keep your hands as far away from the business end as possible.....

Pretty lookin' snake tho....love the yellow tip on the tail

-AzAtrox

its funny u say that cuz in fact a fang did slip out and tag his finger. its werid cuz u discrib it jus like it happened. heres a pic of his finger about 29hrs later.......

>>its funny u say that cuz in fact a fang did slip out and tag his finger. its werid cuz u discrib it jus like it happened. heres a pic of his finger about 29hrs later.......

Now that I know it wasn't you, I'll tell you my first thought was that whoever is holding that snake REALLY needs to learn how to do it properly before trying again. You can decide how diplomatically to tell him that.

And even if it was the person posting the pic, I would have said that same thing; poor technique and one more reason why many folks in the field have no business looking for venomous snakes; there was absolutely NO reason to pick that snake up (and as other mentioned, screwing around with a So. Pacific is no laughing matter). Heck, learn proper tubing techniques for crying out loud; that would have been a better option than pinning and not holding the animal correctly (someoene must be watching too much T.V.). Just venting but I hate to see bad field herping.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>>>its funny u say that cuz in fact a fang did slip out and tag his finger. its werid cuz u discrib it jus like it happened. heres a pic of his finger about 29hrs later.......
>>
>>Now that I know it wasn't you, I'll tell you my first thought was that whoever is holding that snake REALLY needs to learn how to do it properly before trying again. You can decide how diplomatically to tell him that.
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

i didn't realize it when i saw the pic, but now that you mention it, that's the worst grip i've ever seen(venomous or not, personally). i have handled 4 venomous snakes in my life(besides rear fanged's). all southern pacifics. never been bit. and i can't stress how lucky i was on a couple occasions!!!!!!!! regardless(of my stupidity in the past). keep your distance. handling a venomous snake is no laughing matter!!!!!!!! you must know the right grip(you must be in complete control[without hurting the snake of course])! and never take your eyes off of the snake! just admire and enjoy them in their natural habitat(keep your distace). it's much, much safer!
hate to be such a bummer. just don't want to see people die who don't want to die.

peace

and what dosage measurement on crofab per " bag " ? Just never heard of the bag and thought crofab came in vials. Makes it sound like given intra-venously drip fashion. I don't know.

np

Sorry, it was 8 vials, not 4. $24,000 worth @ $3,000 p/vial. follow up visit went well, He's fine now.

Glad he's doing well, but I wonder....Did he learn anything? If not and he can afford to drop 24K on a stupid mistake, he is certainly welcome to write me a check for 24K and make THAT mistake....at least that wouldn't land him in the hospital!!!!

-AzAtrox

I saw that grip and knew it was not going to be pretty. It's seriously stupid to hold a Helleri period, no less like that. I'm surprised to see they only gave 4 vials of Crofab, which doesn't work well against that species. I would have thought 6 to 10 minimum. Where was he treated? Does he have a followup appointment for another series of blood tests>

Al
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Save a Rattlesnake...Skin a Sweetwater Resident!

Deep creek..never heard of it..how do I get there from the LA area?
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Kevin
Southern California Organization for Rattlesnake Research and Education SCORRE05@hotmail.com

nevermind..mapquest is my friend
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Kevin
Southern California Organization for Rattlesnake Research and Education SCORRE05@hotmail.com

I'm with Larry & Arizona on this one. The grip was fine for a cobra, but certainly not for a crotalid. Learning the difference is almost as important as learning how to use the proper tools so that hands on is not necessary. Field handling is darn near never necessary. I'll stretch my neck out here & say that the only times a pin situation may be necessary is for venom extraction & to a lesser degree, medical treatment.

~~Greg~~

You are dead on for the most part, I do extractions here in California and there have been a few, very few, when it was necessary for me to use my hand, i.e. when the hook or grabbers would not fit into the space, or if I was on my belly and drug it out with a hook but did not have enough room to get myself in a position to hook it correctly, then I would rather 3 finger it than drop it at my feet. But he was using the wrong grip for sure, helleri do stick those fangs out and you have to be careful at all times.

Where can I learn grips, tube tech., and general experience in the Las Vegas Area? I am a newbie.

I don't know about Vegas, but an excellent website you should try is www.snakegetters.com. Lots of good stuff.

Bill Huseth

I would aiways use the 3 finger grip even with elapids it is just safer if you need to go hands on. oh yeah the only hot i ever handled was an eastern cotton mouth which tried to side fang me and musked all over me i smelled like rotten fish all the way home good thing I knew what I was doing and it wasn't a trip to the hospital