Question about Texas rattlesnakes!!!

I can't post the meme because it'll get deleted for language

 

I’ve lived in Texas for nine years without seeing any rattlesnakes. Heck, I drive regional and have been all over the state, Oklahoma and Louisiana too. Not a one.

Same thing with tornadoes. I’m not saying there aren’t any, but most folks don’t get killed by either one!

 

This is the only rattle snake I've ever seen

 

"Red and yellow kill a fellow, red and black, venom lack."

The ones where the red bands touch the black bands are scarlet kingsnakes. Not venomous.

The ones where the red bands touch the yellow bands are coral snakes. Very potent venom, but fortunately very small mouths.

 

I have lived most of my life in rural West Texas and South Texas, working out in the oilfields hauling crude oil, and I have never come across a live rattlesnake. Your chances of coming across a live rattlesnake at truck stops and warehouses are practically nil. They prefer to be in warm dry places where they will be left alone, away from all the noise and vibration caused by trucks. They don't like to interact with anything that is not potential prey.

If you do happen to come across a rattlesnake, freeze. The rattlesnake may choose to go away. If it does not, back away slowly. Sudden movements will scare them, which will cause them to strike especially if they are coiled up. Their strike distance is about half their body length, but it is lightning fast.

Just be aware of your surroundings, you'll be fine. Welcome to Texas.

 

The small snakes are no big deal, you might never see one. But watch out for the big snakes.

 

If you want specifics, the US only has a small list of native venomous snake species. Rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouth, sidewinders, and coral snakes. Various types of each of those species.

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (not in TX), Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (in TX), and Western Coral Snake (in TX but bites are rare due to it's small size, less then 2ft) all have an estimated 20% death rate from bites. The rest of the venomous snakes in the US rarely cause deaths.

But, this is just speaking about NATIVE snakes. The texas climate could easily allow a non native snake to survive, ie, an escaped pet.

 

This post is turning to the "Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom "