Your choice.

However, my previous dog Freya came very close to dying from a rattlesnake bite. I doubt out current dogs would show any better sense, and the older one had a very bad reaction to the rattlesnake shot. I myself am easily distracted, not always thinking about where I am going or putting my hands. We have removed a lot of rattlesnake habitat - tall weeds, piles of wood and the like. And I keep a shovel by my kitchen door. I have yet to use it because we don't see them frequently, but my husband has.

I have actually given up hiking in the nearby hills due to avoiding rattlesnakes and mountain lions. They did not used to bother me so much, but these days they do.

Rosefolly

I agree, it's your choice. How about contacting whatever local agency is in charge of wildlife management and discussing options? I doubt a wildlife biologist's first option would be "Kill".

Can't even imagine having to worry about a deadly animal in my yard! The only thing I ever have to worry about is coming across a skunk at night. Definitely not a predator, but very inconvenient to be sprayed by. I also have only seen one little gardner snake in the yard. Definitely harmless. I could also not harm an animal. But I would want it relocated. Good luck with it all!

Rattlers, King, Gopher and Black Racers were all "indigenous personnel" in the Newhall garden, with whom I lived for the 18 year life of that place. I quickly learned the best defense against a snake of most kinds (NOT Black Racers, which are not poisonous, but will scare the Hades out of you!) was a strong stream of cold water from the hose. Being cold blooded, they HATE it and will try to get away from it as quickly as possible. Black Racers, on the other hand, are ATTRACTED to the stream of water as they know that is where they are going to find food! I learned that the hard way, when I tried to encourage the snake to move away from me and he, instead, began rushing TOWARD the hose stream, resulting in the hose going one way and my landing in a rose bush in the other. I only killed the ones who refused to be "encouraged" and presented too great a danger being left where they were. They do a great service and, being predators, will always lag behind their prey in populations until feast becomes famine. With all the rains this season, this warm period should see a tremendous explosion of diseases, insects and vermin of all types. The snakes, raptors and coyotes should explode next year in response. As they generally eat about once a month, if they are to make any significant dent in the "food supply", allowing them to eat their fill is in our best interest, but I agree, I don't want to share "personal space" with them. Their "food" is attracted to water and that attracts them. Perhaps one of the new snake repellents might help to keep him from visiting where you are likely to reach into his "personal space"?

I am SO grateful snakes (and gophers, squirrels, moles, coyotes, rabbits, etc.) are not part of my gardening world now! They were interesting and "fun" way back when, but a 60 year old body doesn't respond to those rush of adrenaline "flight or fight" episodes like a thirty and forty year old body does! I do agree with you about not molesting them whenever possible. We have already, through our "unnatural selection", created rattleless rattlers and unmarked strains of Black Widows, and probably many more "incognito threats". I can only imagine having to worry about the snakes with dogs! Thankfully, that's also off the table here!

Thank you all for your non-judgmental stance. My husband also suggested the spraying with water. I have to admit that a black racer, even though not poisonous, rushing toward me would definitely disturb my equilibrium! Rattlesnakes normally don't spend much time in one place, but I think this one finds everything to his liking here. Incidentally, strangely enough all the gophers we had plaguing us the first few years have completely vanished since the long drought. I hope it stays that way!

You could call animal control and ask about how to have him relocated like someone else suggested. I live with copperheads, not nearly as dangerous as rattlesnakes but would not be comfortable knowing that I had a rattlesnake in my gardens. I spend way too much time outside, I wouldn't take that chance. Good Luck!

Except, many communities require YOU catch and trap the snake before they come retrieve him. Been there. Oh, Ingrid! You haven't LIVED until one of those little buggers comes rushing toward you! LOL! The hardest part to remember is, he won't hurt you. He may bite you if you grab him, but otherwise, he's only interested in eating and being as far away from you as possible. Those we also had in Encino.

Ingrid, I greatly admire your calm and gentle views on having this snake in your garden. We discovered yesterday morning that a black bear is living in our neighborhood. He was in my next door neighbor's garden eating the bird seed in broad daylight :) This is extremely rare as I live on an island.

I must admit, even though black bears are normally not aggressive it still makes me nervous as I have children and outdoor pets (dogs).

I agree that it may be advisable to see if your snake can be relocated.

I'm fine with them. It's a matter of being extremely careful in the garden is all. Boots not sandals. Heavy gloves, or reach with grabbers, and never reach into an area you cannot see all of and all around of Snakes eat rodents, which is good. They eat lizards, too...don't like that so much. Lizards eat earwigs. Love lizards!

Ingrid, I recall you having several lovely pets and if they are outdoors (even occasionally), then, if I were you, I would call the local wildlife control or county ag commissioner to relocate the snake. If this rattlesnake is around your house for a long time, I'm afraid it's possible that the den could be nearby... hope not! While we as humans can take cautionary steps to avoid the worst, unfortunately pets are still vulnerable. All the same, I applaud you on your courage and your efforts to find the most humane solution.

Rosylady, black bears scare me a lot more than rattlesnakes because they are unpredictable, and those used to humans probably even more so. Please be very careful, especially with your children and pets being outdoors. That is one animal I would want relocated to a wilderness area, although the poor bears have less and less of that to fall back on.

Kim, I didn't know you were expected to catch your very own rattlesnake and then hand it over. I am able to do that but I wouldn't trust many people to make that a successful venture. I did read that the majority of people who are bitten are (inebriated) adult males who think it would be a good idea to go all macho and pick the snake up!

Relocating the snake is bad for it because it will be in competition with resident rattlers and they will be driven out or will die of hunger. I've done it quite a few times (always with the help of someone else) but realize now I didn't do them any favors.

vesfl, we have never had outdoor pets because of the predators we have here. One dog refused to be walked and was indoors only, and the rat terrier was walked on a leash about four times a day, but otherwise never allowed outside. One cat did garden with me, but he's long gone and was also super savvy, and all cats since then have been indoors only. It makes me very angry when people casually say "Oh yeah, we lost her to a coyote", and it wasn't the first animal they lost that way. Much too common around here, and probably in many other places.

hoovb, perfect advice, all of which I haven't followed, but must rethink now. I also really like lizards and was very upset to see one of our ground squirrels happily dining on one!

Yes ma'am, I've read statistically, it's generally Caucasian males under the age of 35, most often with alcohol, who are most bitten. Often because they believe they can be faster than the snakes. Nope! Check with your local animal control folks. In the Santa Clarita Valley, a friend who lived in Valencia (west side of the valley) found one in her front yard. Animal Control told her first that rattlers are NOT 'in Valenica', but only in Canyon Country and Newhall (east side of the valley), as if the snakes respected the artificial community boundaries. But, if one DID happen to find its way west, they would happily come to get it IF she trapped it first. This from a lady who went catatonic from just an alligator lizard. They also required it in the east side of the valley as it was the same Animal Regulation department covering us over there. Animal Reg. in the San Fernando Valley had the same policy (probably because both were LA County) when I called just to see what they would say. I agree. We seldom do any animal any benefit by relocating them.

Kim, I've seen rattlesnakes strike and it's just a blur, your eye cannot follow it, but these yahoos who pick them up are probably not reading the literature first. A cobra's strike by comparison is very slow, which is why snake charmers are able to use them. That's funny to be told that rattlers are NOT in your area when you've just seen one. Ah, life is strange.

Reminds me some guy here in FL on the news just recently tried to kiss a rattlesnake and got bit on the tongue. I'm sure he must of been drunk. I didn't hear if he lived or not.

What also creeps me out about FL is some people keep 'pet' cobras and then they get loose.

Pet cobras???? That is so sick and so unfair to the snake. Letting them loose is the most harmful thing I can imagine. Not bad enough that pythons are destroying the ecosystem. We humans are simply too stupid.

Ingrid, have you considered that a deadly reptile in your yard is a lawsuit waiting to happen? You know to watch out for it. What about the mailman, the neighbors, their pets, and so on? I second the suggestion to call animal control and ask what your options are.

I get your point, Mcnastarana, but the mail delivery person and neighbors definitely know they are there. They live and work in that area and the snakes are "indigenous personnel". I'm sure there are articles in the papers, on the news reports and signs posted in areas the public uses to watch for them. The pets? Well, we can only hope for the best. Explore the animal control options if you want. Ingrid, I would imagine the vast majority of the idiots who get bitten are quite inebriated. Unfortunately, you can't fix stupid and it's almost impossible to protect them from themselves.

That is ridiculous to suggest Ingrid is responsible if a wild creature attacks someone.

Ingrid, great that this rattlesnake cannot be near your pets. I admire your thoughtfulness and care for all animals,-- not only your pets, but the surrounding wildlife as well.

I think you did the right thing, albeit taking some risk... I'm amazed that you're able to tackle them if need be.. I know Native American Indian women used to use a stick and a knife to finish the job, and of course they ate them...

My view is that everything has a right to live, besides myself, and I would struggle to kill anything, even aphids have a free hand - house flies? I try hard to get them out... [whilst liberally conservative, I struggle with abortion except in extreme cases].... and fortunately for us here we don't have to garden with anything that might be dangerously threatening like that..

Being somewhat ophidophobic,, with your scenario, I'd have dropped dead on the spot...

Murderers, terrorists and other low life... I might take a different view...

It goes without saying that I hope you keep safe in your garden Ingrid....

One other thought: your encounters with the snake have been when it was a cooler part of the day. This may account for the snake's less aggressive behavior. With hotter weather and during the warmer part of the day, the snake may be more active/aggressive.

Cath

The neighbors are well aware of snakes, since they all have some on their properties. However, just yesterday a fireman was bitten by a Southern Pacific rattlesnake. I imagine he might have been clearing brush and disturbed the snake.

It's true that snakes would be more aggressive when it's warmer, but right now it's so hot here that they would die if they were out and about in the sun. Unfortunately they would be more comfortable when the sun goes down, which is also the only time that I can venture outside now. I'm ever so careful now about where I put my hands and feet.

Marlorena, I promise to invite you to my home only when it's too cold for the snakes to be out and about. I did eat rattlesnake meat one time, many years ago, and would do it again if I were absolutely starving.

Thank you all for your concern about my welfare.

We live in a remote location, no utilities and an hour from town. Medical emergencies are dealt with by helicopter. Wildlife abound. Our cat fought it out with a bobcat twice on our patio and came out pretty much OK (I am still amazed at that outcome and we got rid of the outside water dish that was the attraction). Our dog was bitten by a rattlesnake 6 years ago. We rushed him to the emergency clinic and $2000 later he was OK. However, now we have an almost toddler living with us. I don't think we can risk his life in our two fenced-in acres. The snakes can have the other 103 acres, just not aroundthe house. Relocation does not work with rattlesnakes as they are territorial. Our builders tried and the snake was back the next day. Much as I hate it we have to shovel dispatch.

nancylee, in your situation I'm afraid sacrificing the snake would be the only solution. With its small body mass, a young child would have a much harder time, and your little one has to be your first consideration. My parents did have a dog, however, who survived a bite without medical help. Nowadays, we wouldn't think of just letting it tough it out on its own, but I was just a child then and those were different days.

Ingrid - I, too, am impressed with your attitude toward the snake. I like to let live what I can. We relocate spiders and the like. I used to live in Santa Barbara and didn't particularly enjoy hiking there because of the rattlers I'd see on the paths. The truth is, it doesn't take *much* to dissuade me from hiking, though, and they provided a great excuse. I do also urge you to have some kind of medicine on hand if it's possible in case of a bite. If I had to choose between you and the snake I'd most definitely choose you! (obviously) So, you know, it's a little concerning! Still, you are quite impressive. I'll just be hiding here in Seattle far away from the rattlesnakes...