Posted on 07/13/2018 8:01:46 PM PDT by ransomnote
A white rattlesnake spotted Wednesday at a Texas park has produced a collective shudder across the country, after a photo of the snake was shared thousands of times on Facebook.
It’s not an albino. Called a banded rock rattlesnake, the seldom seen species of pit viper has a spotty distribution in only three states along the Mexican border (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas), and is known for having a powerful bite, say experts.
The photo was posted Wednesday by The Wyler Aerial Tramway State Park in Texas, a 195-acre park within the Franklin Mountains. “We had this little friend come and cool down by one of the doors at the park,” said the post, adding “rattlesnakes won’t strike unless provoked.”
ReptilesMagazine.com says ”banded rock rattlesnakes are very cryptic in nature and not commonly observed because of their coloration, small size and speed.”
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
Not buying that for a minute. My folks came from far west texas and my dad killed every rattler he saw and insisted everyone else do the same
I think i killed north of 100 by the time i was a teenager and out there they were agressive as hell
He and his dad wore stove pipe tin over their boots every time they went out in what passed for pasture and got struck who knows how many times.
That is Mojave!
Probably T+ genes.
You know you’re in west Texas when at the rest stop on 287 near Mr Goodnights ranch they warn u about rattlers around the rest stop at night laying on walkways to warm up
Depends where your from.
Snakes of color feel oppressed because this snake will not acknowledge its privilege.
Correct a Lot of modern people in the US have no idea what it is like to live among dangerous critters on your property.
We have been sold a bill of goods with the idea that these critters well only attack when you bother them.
They want you to believe that it is always the humans fault.
They want us to forget thousands of years of history.
I despise snakes and usually can’t even look at a picture. These colors are beautiful, though.
No more dangerous than any other rattler it’s size, with the exception of a Mohave which this snake is not. Rock rattlers tend to take on the color of their environment, the common diamond back will do the same just not to the same extreme. On the east side of the ranch the rattler have a red hue due to the red clay, on the west it’s more caliche and limestone, they’ll have whitish color.
Mohave’s are no more aggressive than any other rattler.
AFVN (American Forces Vietnam Network) had ‘public service’ ads, explaining how the local vipers, are unlike Indian underwear.
THEY WILL NOT CREEP UP ON YOU!
So leave them alone.
And I always believed everything my Uncle told me. /s
Ya right.
And you have collected and handled how many Mohave’s? I’ve collected, extracted venom and released 125 Mohave rattlers in the high desert area of California, throw in another 50 from the Trans Pecos and Big Bend area of Texas. On top of this I’ve caught, extracted venom and sold to roundups several thousand Western Diamondbacks. I’ve worked with Eastern Timber Rattlers, Copperheads and Cotton Mouths.
I’ve been involved in two studies, one being the Mohaves in helping to develope an anti venom specific to that species due to it’s dual toxicity and another through the Cancer research center in Texas back in the early 80’s.
LMAO. You too, eh?
...and waste a lot of demo $$$$$$$ in the process. 👍🏻😀
And yes bud, I have had to KILL several as well as help the local fire dept to extract and relocate some...some from garages, and a couple from inside houses, since some people around here leave their doors open during the day.
They are the most aggressive rattlesnake I have ever seen, even more so than the timber rattler from around southwestern Wisconsin.
Sir I don’t care where you’re from, the claim you are making is untrue.
Very well. Come on over from your hideout and make your claims around town. I bet you will find you will be quite a fine fellow with the locals around these parts.
I was stationed at George AFB Ca on the Mojave Desert.
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