r/OffGridGriff • u/GMAN7007 • 4d ago

Wish me luck

There's a rattlesnake outside of the camper. I can hear it but I can't find it. Gotta make sure it's not around when the girls go out.

5 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

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6

u/GMAN7007 4d ago

Update: didn't fine it. Hopefully it just left and doesn't hang around we're not a fan of them.

2

u/Procrastinating-Elf 4d ago

Glad you're okay!

Usually the rattling means they feel directly threatened by something, so they will be likely to move away once they think the threat is gone. Maybe they heard or felt vibrations from movement inside the camper and once that quieted down they took off. 

If you think that box is giving them a place to hang out, I'd consider moving it further away and just put up with a bit more of a walk to toss your trash.

2

u/GMAN7007 3d ago

Yeah might have to do that. Something I didn't mention was I did initially see it. I went to grab a piece of wood to move it but it went somewhere before I got back to it. It was a baby, they rattle a lot more often it seems because they're still figuring things out I think. Just have to keep an eye out.

4

u/Msixel724 4d ago

If there is anything that would make a good hiding spot around your trailer, do your best to move it safely! Snakes thermo regulate so they'll look for warmth and cover at the same time. Definitely be careful letting the girls out!

4

u/GMAN7007 4d ago

Unfortunately I do, I have a wooden box type thing on the side of the camper to put trash bags in because I don't have anywhere to put the trash frequently. Generally people out here burn the trash but with the red flag warnings it's a big fire hazard. I'm going to ask my neighbor next week who helps out if he can burn it in his burn pit. He's a volunteer firefighter if he does if I would feel better. I have a routine I've been doing since Riley got bit by going and checking everywhere they walk around as before I let them out. It's completely possible I've missed them they're hard to see I just have to try to the best of my abilities. They behave a little differently at this altitude. It gets around 50 at night at this point which really slows the snakes down. By next month it'll be in the 40s. They're generally nocturnal but with the cold temps they slow way down. I did see that they usually hatch near their winter dens which are usually in the canyon next to the river. Hopefully the majority will stay over there.

1

u/Mckimber1980 4d ago

Oh my! Glad you’re ok!

3

u/GMAN7007 3d ago

Doing good, didn't find the snake so I'll keep an eye out today. It was just a baby one by the looks of it so I'll have to be a little more careful. At this point they don't really know what they're doing. They don't know who to behave yet I think is the right way to say it.

1

u/Mckimber1980 3d ago

Maybe you can train it. LOL