Baby rattlesnake suns himself beside dock at family cottage
Rattlesnakes are often villainized, striking fear in hearts of people around the world. In fact, ophidophobia, fear of snakes is the second most common fear among people. Only the fear of public speaking is more overwhelming or more common.
Snakes have been depicted in stories and movies as threatening and dangerous for thousands of years. They have been blamed for all manner of horrible situations, dating back as far as biblical times. With many species of snake being dangerous, if mishandled, it is no wonder that people are so fearful. But snakes are rarely a hazard unless provoked, with the exception of larger predators like anacondas or pythons.
Ontario, Canada has only one venomous snake. The Massissauga rattlesnake is equipped with a venom that could make a person ill, but only very rarely could it kill a full grown human. In almost all cases, the snake was startled, stepped on, or handled carelessly. This is a young Massassauga rattler who has taken up a position to bask on a rock beside a dock at this family's cottage. Being well acquainted with nature, they know that the snake can do them no harm as long as they keep out of striking range and give the snake no reason to be alarmed. Snakes prey on small rodents such as mice and young rats. Humans would never be considered a food source and rattlesnakes are not aggressive, except in self defence.
Even still, nobody wants to get bitten, so it is highly recommended that long pants and shoes be worn in wooded areas in cottage country in case of events like this one. Fortunately, rattlesnakes have adapted so that they possess a hardened tail that emits a buzzing or rattling sound when they shake the tip of their tail rapidly. Unlike what we hear in movies, the sound resembles a bee buzzing loudly rather than a baby rattle in the hands of an excited child.
Rattlesnakes are extremely beneficial animals, keeping rodent populations at bay. This helps prevent the transmission of parasites and disease and helps avoid the cost of damage due to rodents in our living spaces. If you get a close look at a rattlesnake, observe it from a safe distance and consider yourself lucky. Normally shy and reclusive, it is a rare opportunity to find one out in the open like this beautiful creature.
-
2:01:19
John Burk
3 hours agoPope calls us fools, O'Keefe video, and Hammas fires on the US.
26.1K84 -
19:05
Adam Does Movies
8 hours agoI List Off An Insane Amount Of Movie Remakes! #movies
10K2 -
LIVE
The War Effort Podcast
9 hours agoRob Moore Exclusive Interview
239 watching -
1:05:04
Russell Brand
8 hours ago“There’s NOTHING Left!” 600,000 Ukrainians DEAD! | Colonel Douglas Macgregor On The Ukraine War
165K477 -
1:40:20
Barstool Yak
5 hours agoThe Yak with Big Cat & Co. Presented by Rhoback | The Yak 4-26-24
21.8K2 -
18:36
Stephen Gardner
3 hours ago🔴Trump RAGES against Judge... IMMEDIATELY Threatened with MORE GAG ORDERS!
20.1K40 -
2:58:04
The Charlie Kirk Show
4 hours agoThe Very Winnable 2024 Election + Biden's Big Tax Hike + AMA | Antoni, Kane | LIVE 4.26.24
94.7K64 -
2:05:48
Film Threat
19 hours agoBOY KILLS WORLD + CHALLENGERS + MOVIES, MOVIES, MOVIES! | Film Threat Livecast
31.1K4 -
1:37:49
jeffahern
6 hours agoFriday Freak Out With Jeff Ahern! (9:00am Pacific)
29.3K3 -
4:00:59
LumpyPotatoX2
7 hours agoFortnite Friday on Rumble - #RumbleTakeover
37.5K4