With all the talk of trouser snakes how 'bout a real one?

[Kali]

First rattler of the year. Taken with kid's cell phone camera - in the rain.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

1. I thought we were actually going porno or something here.

:P

[rug]

2. I can't see the tongue on that snake.

[idgiehkt]

3. see, to me

that is terrifying. Do you kill them when you find them? And you say "first"?

:scared:

I checked your profile and saw you live in Arizona...I used to watch that "Venom E.R." all the time and it made a believer out of me, I think it's filmed in Arizona. Good grief, 'kid's cell phone'? That looks like such a close pic, did your kid's take the pic? You must have nerves of steel.

wow.

[Kali]

5. We mostly only kill them if they are in the yard or the barn area.

First one of the year just means the first one seen since winter.

Yes it seems a bit close up to me as well (kid is legally an adult, but being mom he will always be kid)

My youngest son was actually bit when he was 18 months old. In the house, no less. It was August and we were home alone - a time of year when they sometimes come in the yard so I made him come in the house while I was doing the dishes. A tiny baby diamondback had gotten in somehow - probably under the screen door and he picked it up. I heard a little cry and figured he must have pinched his hand in the tailgate of the metal truck he was paying with. Fortunately I saw the snake before it got behind the bookcase or who knows how long it would have taken to figure out what happened?

He took 12 vials of antivenin and his first helicopter ride to Tucson. 15 years later he would take another due to a fractured skull, but that is another story. His whole arm swelled up but he was ok after a few days. Can you understand why I have postponed letting him get his driver's license?

[Xipe Totec]

4. Them's good eating!

but you need more than one to make a good pot of rattlesnake chili.

[Kali]

6. You know, I have killed quite a few of them and skinned a few too

(made some belts and hatbands back in the 70's, MAN :hippie: )

But I have never eaten one. The kids always want to try it when we get one, but they never seem interested in doing the prep work, know what I mean?

[Xipe Totec]

7. If you've skinned one, you're practically there

Strip the skin, cut off about an inch from the neck, gut it, and toss it in the pot.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The texture of the meat is very dry, hence the need for a heavy sauce like chili or mole.

A curry or masala would do just as well.

[Kali]

8. isn't that kind of boney?

sounds easier than breading and frying though.

[Xipe Totec]

9. All the meat is two long muscles

along and outside the rib cage. You could, if you like, just strip the meat off and discard the ribs; it's not like fish, where the bones are embedded in the meat.

However, if you bread it and fry it, the ribs become crisp and crunchy like cracklings and you can eat them as well.