<p>This happened close to my home town. The only reason it was killed because of the size and the close proximity to children and houses. This was found in a townhouse community.</p>
<p>click picture to enlarge:
[7-Foot-3</a> Rattlesnake Caught, Killed - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville](<a href=“http://www.news4jax.com/news/21162885/detail.html#]7-Foot-3”>http://www.news4jax.com/news/21162885/detail.html#)</p>
<p>Great line from the Comments under the story:</p>
<p>“So you’re telling me that St. Johns County had a 7’ 3” rattler and FAMU’s basketball team doesn’t?" :)</p>
<p>Oh, that’s a funny line. Must share with my friends who are FAMU alum.</p>
<p>But this disturbs me: “He said he usually won’t kill a snake unless it’s venomous.”</p>
<p>Just because a snake is venomous doesn’t mean it needs to be killed. It can be relocated. That’s what trappers typically do. Snakes are an important part of the ecology, keeping down populations of animals like rats.</p>
<p>I live in rattlesnake country. (Southern Ca) I hike a lot and encounter at least one rattlesnake per year. No big deal.
I was painting in the hills last summer and a six foot rattler decided to sloooooowly cross the path under my easel. I just kept very still, he went on his way (one inch from my feet) and settled nicely in the shrubs next to me . They are actually pretty benign and just want to be left alone.</p>
<p>NSM:
I had the same reaction - why kill the snake just because it’s venomous? I don’t see why it couldn’t have been relocated. There are enough rats and other rodents around that we need the snakes around to balance it. </p>
<p>musicamusica:
The slithering an inch away must have had you holding your breath a bit.</p>
<p>^Not really. Now if he had been coiled up and I had come upon him by surprise…that would have me frightened. But since I am very calm and centered when I paint, I think he sensed that I was not a threat. Besides he had just come out from under a large rock and was cold. They move pretty slowly when they are chilled. I am MUCH more frightened by bears and mountain lions. A rather skittish frightened bobcat crossed my path a few weeks ago and scared the hell out of me.</p>
<p>I agree, snakes, venomous or not, are not dangerous unless you are foolhardy enough to try to pick it up. Of course, you can always surprise one, but even then, they tend to just slither away unless they’re backed into a corner. Snakes get such a bad rap. My S went through a snake obsession as a kid and at one point we had a collection of 5 in our house. They make nice, clean pets (only poop once a week), if you don’t mind the feeding ritual (and the bag of mice in the freezer).</p>