r/snakes • u/fireconsumer • 4d ago
Wild Snake Photos and Questions - Not for ID Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake!
I was around Tallahassee, Florida and saw this huge rattlesnake! I made sure he got off the road safely. He was super cool!
63
u/Electronic-Being-549 4d ago
This is a dream snake to see in the wild! Great find, thanks for making sure he got where he needed to go!
36
u/fireconsumer 4d ago
I can't believe it happened only a few hours ago. I was shaking after. One of the coolest things I have ever seen. So thankful to see it!
10
u/Electronic-Being-549 4d ago
And to see one that big is super lucky, go buy a lottery ticket man lol
7
u/ashkiller14 4d ago
Funny to hear its a dream snake, you see plenty of them if youre in their region.
22
u/Venus_Snakes_23 4d ago
Only 5% of their habitat remains. They're currently being petitioned to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. They're more common in Longleaf Pine Savannahs but still relatively rare.
14
u/ashkiller14 4d ago
They're more common in Longleaf Pine Savannahs but still relatively rare.
That's right where I live lol. Most people around here still have the mindset that they need to be KoS, and it is NOT easy to change those people's minds. Diamond back, timber, pigmy rattlers, and cottonmouths and all still considered nuisance species in GA.
8
u/Venus_Snakes_23 4d ago
Unfortunately very true. Hopefully, the EDBs will get listed and protected. It might be difficult to enforce, but being such a well-known species, maybe it'll get enough news coverage to discourage people from killing them.
1
u/Owmuhback 4d ago
The nuisance species list kills me. "Can't own any native species to protect their populations" awesome! "Unless it's venomous or 'scary' then who cares about ecology" what
1
1
u/notmyfault2024 3d ago
You realize the people most willing to murder innocent animals in the wild are white people right? They let their irrational fear dictate their treatment of creatures that belong here more than we do.
1
u/ashkiller14 3d ago
CRAZY statement brother. Not onky did you bring race into something where it just isn't, but you also act like most of the world isn't 400 times worse than the US and EU when it comes to conservation.
0
u/notmyfault2024 3d ago
Stating a fact. 97 percent of people that trophy hunt are white. White people don't like me pointing it out. Humans in general are bad for the planet. We all know this. But the sheer amount of damage to the environment caused by white people is astronomical. Why should be sugarcoat it?
1
u/ashkiller14 3d ago
Massive misrepresentation of statistics. Please go talk to a statistician. Legit just walk into some prof's office and they'll happily tell you how stupid you sound.
1
u/notmyfault2024 3d ago
You must be white. White people don't like hearing that their race is not perfect. And that is coming from a white guy, so it is NOT a racist comment.
1
u/fireconsumer 3d ago
Lmao never thought a simple post about a snake would lead this racism.
→ More replies (0)
13
8
3
u/Onlooker0109 4d ago edited 4d ago
Is it venomous or not? I am not a snake-lover, but I definitely would have tried to help it cross the road safely. If it was not potentially in danger of getting run over, I would have run for the hills instead. I would not have been able to leave it in the road though.
30
u/fireconsumer 4d ago
Very very venomous.
I used a fishing pole to guide it off the road. I was really worried about it getting hit by a car since it was around a blind curve. If it was in the middle of the open road I would have left it, but I wanted to make sure it didn't get hit.
17
u/fionageck 4d ago
Even if it were in the middle of the open road, helping them cross is still a great thing to do! Some assholes will deliberately run them over, sadly :/
8
u/fireconsumer 4d ago
So this was in a wildlife preserve, so I'd assume people wouldn't do that, and would be on the look out for animals.
But people are assholes, and I'm not sure they'd feel the same about that snake. I'm glad I got to see it, and hopefully scared it a bit, so it stays away from roads and people!
8
u/YearOutrageous2333 4d ago
It is venomous.
1
u/Onlooker0109 4d ago
Thank you. I still would have tried to help it cross the road after losing control of my bladder - I couldn't leave it to get run over.
1
u/Sea_Yam6987 3d ago
"Why you give me tribute of fishing pole, Hooman??? Have no thumbs, cannot fish. Stoopid hooman. Please bring rodent. (I am generous and benevolent. Will tolerate lame offering. Will not bite.)"
1
u/notmyfault2024 3d ago
You know what's crazy, is normally the temperament of an EDB in North Florida is worse than those in southern Florida
2
u/fireconsumer 3d ago
It was very very defensive, but that was it. I've never been around another EDB so I can't compsre it, but it was interesting.
It never hissed or struck, just very willing to coil up and rattle. I'd say it was a pretty peaceful animal overall. It just wanted to be left alone.
1
u/Duckey_003 3d ago
"Just take my fishing rod it's all I have!" OP probably
1
u/fireconsumer 3d ago
Haha, I did to have something to protect myseof with, but also because it was a good way to get a scale of the snake. Can't exactly measure how long he is!
1
1
1
43
u/otkabdl 4d ago
What a beauty! You are awesome for helping it cross!