Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake, Anna, Clearwater FL, pg 3

In this photo of Anna's snake, the head and neck are shown in close-up view. However, as previously noted, the eyes--which are positioned in the upper portion of the dark cheek stripe--are not visible. This snake is in the latter stages of ecdysis, before it sheds its skin. Thus it is nearly blind and, as might be imagined, extremely irritable. This specimen, found basking on a warm walkway in the heat of the day, was soaking up some solar radiation to help speed its shedding along, when Koji, Anna's dog, came near. Now that it has shed its skin, it has regained its normal faculties and has likely retreated into an underground den for the winter. However, for Anna and her neighbors, judicious applications of snake repellent (the easiest to obtain, Snake-A-Way, is carried by most big-box discount stores in the nursery/pesticide aisle; follow the label directions carefully), along with careful removal of all harborage areas in yards and vacant lots (wood and rock piles, debris, etc., where snakes and rodents--the snake's natural prey--can hide and reproduce), will help to prevent this kind of unfortunate occurrence in the future. For images of Koji's bite, and her progress toward full recovery, click here. PAGE MENU:   1  *  2  *  3  *

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