The cost of being bitten by a rattlesnake

[zulu]

I would like to see that evidence. First I have heard that. Removing it from its environment will kill it, but not a simple relocation to a similar environment. In fact, there are many snakes that have lived longer in captivity than normally live in the wild. They may not be able to find their old den or whatever, but that is not normally much of an issue.

A Ball Python in the Philidipha Zoo has lived for 48 years way far from its natural territory thousands of miles away.

Relocating 'nuisance' animals often unhealthy for wildlife

Even More on Rattlesnake Relocation

Your "captivity" (e.g. zoos) examples aren't valid because the snakes will be taken care of by humans . . . unlike dropping them in the wilderness.

 

[DonTom]

Then why kill anything; ants, roaches, spiders, mosquitoes, ticks.

I doubt if we could wipe the entire species of any of those out if we tried our best to do so. Just too many of them, unlike snakes where many have been wiped out in many areas.

For a good example, the timber rattlesnake used be be very common in many areas but they now believe they are extinct in some entire states where they used to be very common.

The timber rattlesnake used to be found in Michigan, Delaware, Maine, and Rhode Island, but it no longer is.

And now very rare in New Hampshire.

And you can guess why. Yep, because of us humans.

-Don- Gila Bend, AZ

 

[Isaac-1]

My guess is a lot of it is loss of their native habitat, forest land being converted to farm land, etc.

 

[DonTom]

Your "captivity" (e.g. zoos) examples aren't valid because the snakes will be taken care of by humans . . . unlike dropping them in the wilderness.

Okay, but here at the Sonoran RV Park, they relocate then perhaps a quarter mile away and it says in your own link:

"relocating them close to their original range improves their survival chances."

The problem here is we need to define what was meant by "territory". I think of a snake's territory as being less than a half mile or so.

I would never say anybody should relocate any animal far from their original range. That can cause all types of problems for it and the other animals.

BTW, won't you agree that the Burmese Phytons are doing very well in the Everglades? Way, way too well. And that is far from their natural range and especially far from their natural territory no matter what definitions are used. The problem here is the effect they are having on the other natural wildlife, but the Phyons, unfortunately, are doing very well in the Everglades.

-Don- Gila Bend, AZ

 

[Isaac-1]

Here is another article with more information about this case. Parents Hit with Nearly $300,000 Bill After Their 2-Year-Old Needed Antivenom for a Snake Bite

The price quoted was the pre-insurance cost. After their insurance company negotiated with the hospital, the family paid only $7,200.

The problem with articles with sensational titles like this original one is that the next family may hesitate to call 911 or go to a hospital if they fear the cost might cause them to lose their home, have to declare bankruptcy, or spend the rest of their lives in debt. And that would mean the child would likely have died.

The family received such a bill, but they were not "left with" this amount to pay, so this is misleading.

This is much the same issue as with helicopter med-evac, when people hear that it will be a $50,000+ bill, they opt to take the $5,000 ground ambulance instead for the 50 mile trip. I had a scanner radio about a decade ago, and would often hear the med-evac helicopters being dispatched to some accident, or ambulance call where the paramedics on sight recommended helicopter service, followed 5-10 minutes later with a call back saying patient as declined service, likely after being informed of the potential cost.

 

[DonTom]

My guess is a lot of it is loss of their native habitat, forest land being converted to farm land, etc.

Yes, the biggest issue is humans and our housing.

But farms are usually not too bad for many snakes, Rat snakes, corn snakes, etc are very common around farms. The corn snake got its name from being commonly found in the cornfields.

But for some snakes and some other reptiles, housing is really bad. But seems to be extra good for other species. In Reno, large gopher snakes are very common around houses. They are often found in backyards, sides of houses, sometimes in garages, etc. And I would say the Western Fence Lizard is more common around houses than anywhere in the boonies. Every house seems to have many in the front yards.

For whatever reason, housing does wipe out many other species. But some reptiles like housing areas even better and multiply like crazy.

Every September, when the Western Fence Lizard eggs hatch, thousands of tiny lizards are in my front yard in Reno. Some are in Auburn, but that is a more natural environment than around my Reno house and not nearly as many.

-Don- Gila Bend, AZ

 

[solarman]

If they are that dangerous, why not kill them. The entire species should be exterminated.

well, one could say that about the human race.. who's more dangerous, us or the snake ?

 

[Tulecreeper]

If they are that dangerous, why not kill them. The entire species should be exterminated.

Everything has its niche in the ecosystem.

 

[Tulecreeper]

I believe there's plenty of evidence that shows removing a snake from its territory is as good as killing it.

I would like to see that evidence. First I have heard that. Removing it from its environment will kill it, but not a simple relocation to a similar environment. In fact, there are many snakes that have lived longer in captivity than normally live in the wild. They may not be able to find their old den or whatever, but that is not normally much of an issue.

A Ball Python in the Philidipha Zoo has lived for 48 years way far from its natural territory thousands of miles away.

-Don- Gila Bend, AZ

As a 30-year employee of Fish & Wildlife, I have relocated scores of nuisance animals of many different species. The most common being bears and Mountain Lions. And the most common issue/problem with doing so is that the relocated animal will do one of two things: #1- It will not be welcomed by others of its kind in the area in which it was released and therefore will keep traveling until it finds an area of its own, which may be in another person's back yard and we will eventually have to start over again, or; #2- It will displace an animal already there, which in turn will displace another, and so on in a domino effect and eventually there will be another nuisance animal for us to deal with.

I don't remember ever hearing of or talking about our relocating an animal being the cause of its death. I guess it could happen if the relocated animal were to be killed by the dominant animal already in the release area, but that would be so rare as to be of no concern.

But sometimes things don't go exactly as planned and the animal takes exception to being moved.

 

[Oldgator73]

But sometimes things don't go exactly as planned and the animal takes exception to being moved.

At least one of the guys in the photos stayed safe.

 

[Chef Duane]

Everything has its niche in the ecosystem.

Yup. Kill all the snakes and you'll be overrun with rodentia. Too many rats and mice means fleas. Rat fleas carry the Yersinia pestis bacterium that causes Bubonic Plague aka The Black Death in humans. And if Bubonic Plague breaks out it means we'd all have to get a 7 to 10 day course of antimicrobic therapy vaccines including tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, or streptomycin. More vaccines means more pissing and moaning in internet discussion groups. OMG. So if you kill a snake that means you just like to argue. And nobody wants that.

See how I put that together.

 

[DonTom]

As a 30-year employee of Fish & Wildlife, I have relocated scores of nuisance animals of many different species. The most common being bears and Mountain Lions. And the most common issue/problem with doing so is that the relocated animal will do one of two things: #1- It will not be welcomed by others of its kind in the area in which it was released and therefore will keep traveling until it finds an area of its own, which may be in another person's back yard and we will eventually have to start over again, or; #2- It will displace an animal already there, which in turn will displace another, and so on in a domino effect and eventually there will be another nuisance animal for us to deal with.

I don't remember ever hearing of or talking about our relocating an animal being the cause of its death. I guess it could happen if the relocated animal were to be killed by the dominant animal already in the release area, but that would be so rare as to be of no concern.

But sometimes things don't go exactly as planned and the animal takes exception to being moved.

All of that is expected. Many animals need to establish a territory. Young ones especially. I do believe some reptiles are territorial, such as Chuckwallas after they once find their perfect rock with a crevice to hide between as needed. But moving them two or three miles away, they simply look for a new home to establish their new territory, just as they had to do when they were young. A few could get eaten by another animal in the process, or whatever, just as happens when they are young and looking.

Of course, the environment and natural range need to be the same.

Every adult (but not the young ones) Chuckwalla I have seen anywhere
Had a home that looked like this:



And I have seen many. The most I have seen was in the rainy month of May in Joshua Tree Nat'l Monument on a hike to Lost Palm Oasis. Seemed to be one on every rock that had a crack as shown above. And that hike is full of such rocks.

-Don- Tucson, AZ (Gilbert Ray Camp).

 

[Onyrlef]

Yup. Kill all the snakes and you'll be overrun with rodentia. Too many rats and mice means fleas. Rat fleas carry the Yersinia pestis bacterium that causes Bubonic Plague aka The Black Death in humans. And if Bubonic Plague breaks out it means we'd all have to get a 7 to 10 day course of antimicrobic therapy vaccines including tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, or streptomycin. More vaccines means more pissing and moaning in internet discussion groups. OMG. So if you kill a snake that means you just like to argue. And nobody wants that.

See how I put that together.

I'm no Nostradamus but I predict a 100% anti-vaxxer come to Jesus moment shortly after a rattlesnake bite.