Rattle Snake Awareness... Who to keep your Family and Pets Safe.

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Rattle Snake Information and Education

Hi there again folks... 

I have a passion about what we do here at PetSafe-Kennels.com. 

I always have a round about way of saying things and sometime the information is backwards...

Let me start the blog by saying... That the smartest person I have ever had the privilege of knowing is my Father... He towed a tough road growing up. He was raised dirt country poor. Quit school in the 8th grade and joined the army as soon as they would let him in. He is a self taught man. But his God Given intelligence has lead him down a brilliant path.  He has taught me many valuable things in life.

He has been to Arizona many times in his youth from his native state of Texas. In his Mid-Twenties he made the commitment to move to Arizona. He taught himself not only about the indigenous wildlife... But the plant life, history and the Native Americans who first settled this area. 

I moved here in 2012 to help take care of him as an only child when he was diagnosed with cancer.

My first spring here in Arizona he was getting on to me about being careful because of the Rattle Snakes. What he taught me was very valuable lessons out here in the rural areas.

Rattle Snakes Indigenous to Arizona:

There are two dangerous seasons for humans encountering Rattle Snakes. Spring and Summer.

During the colder months... The Rattler sleeps like a bear... Hibernates. 

Spring:

When the months start to warm up during early spring... This dangerous but yet beautiful creature wakes up from it's long sleep.

There are several reasons why the Rattler is very dangerous in the Spring. 

The first is that it is the females mating season. 

During this mating season the rattler is very aggressive due to the protection of the species during pregnancy. 

During this period the rattle does not use is famous "Rattlers" to warn off threats. And it is aggressive because it is very hungry after the hibernation period and protecting any potential embryos they might be carrying. 

My Father always goes out and cuts down any weeds or over grown grass to ensure that the walking surface is visible to spot any sunbathing Rattlers.

When he does catch one on the Ranch... He does not kill it. He built a homemade snake catcher out of PVC plastic pipe and a piece of rope...

He cut a piece of 1/2" or so PVC pipe about 3 foot or so and run a stiff piece of rope or old telephone wire or something through it and made a slip knot.

He would then catch the snake with the slip knot end and put it in a 5 gallon bucket or big sake... Like the old days "Gunny Sacks".

My Father has a odd but wonderful sense of humor... 

I would ask my Father... 

"Dad.. What do you do with the Rattler if you do not kill it"??? 

Hey told me... Baby Girl, I just take it down to those neighbors I don't like and drop him off!!! LOL (Of course this is a joke - But damn funny).

He actually would drive the poor Rattler out into the desert far away from the public and set him free to live another day.

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The next season to watch out for Rattlers is in late summer... 

This is when food and water become more scarce. The rattler becomes aggressive once more and is actively on the move. It needs the nutrients to hibernate through the colder months.

A good example of this is this video below. We built this Custom Kennel just weeks before this incident happened. The client heard her two small dogs barking. She said it startled her because she had never heard them bark like that. When she walked outside to investigate... She saw this huge rattler going right for her dogs inside the kennel. The Rattle Snake was not afraid of the barking or of the house. This is a prime example of how in late summer Rattle Snakes will take risks.

When we build our Custom Kennels for clients we offer to snake proof their kennel. I will tell you that 90% choose this option.

Once the Kennel is fabricated we go back and line the enclosure with a very fine metal screen. We normally run the "Snake Wire" up 24 inches around the base of the Kennel.

I have had many clients concerned that the snake will climb over the extra mesh protection. I have researched this in-depth... Rattlers are capable of climbing... But VERY rarely do so. We have been doing this for over 15 years and have NEVER had an enclosure breached by a Rattler climbing up and over the 24" snake proof mesh.

If you decide to make an attempt to build your own kennel or dog run see our blog on DIY Kennels. I would highly advise that you Snake Proof your enclosure. Especially if you have a Pet Door leading from the inside to the outside of your house. The last thing you want to wake up to is a big fat Rattler in your kitchen.

Here are a few good links I have found on Rattle Snake Education...

Desert USA

Thanks Cowboy Trail Rides!!!

Home Made Snake Catcher

Desert USA "How to Treat a RattleSnake Bite"

Thanks "The Bark" Website... "How to Treat a Dogs Snake Bite"

"What is important is keeping your"

        "PetSafe"

Elizabeth

Contact me directly with questions or comments;)

"That Be Jack"

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