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Post by pontiac1940 on May 1, 2023 3:58:15 GMT
Today, I had a nice snake outing with a young friend. It was sunny and warm (27°C) and it was easy to find the snakes catching some rays on the high banks of the Oldman River in Lethbridge. These are prairie rattlesnakes ( Crotalus viridis) and although poisonous bites are not deadly to humans. They occasionally kill small dogs. They eat rodents and small birds. These snakes stay underground for about 6 months in wintering dens called hibernacula. They huddle together in dens deep enough to prevent freezing. A hibernaculum can hold large numbers. In spring they emerge from the dens and disperse for a few months and return to the denning area in late August of September and start spending nights in the dens as the nights get colder. A good afternoon.    |
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Post by BuckSkin on May 1, 2023 5:48:19 GMT
That is one point upon which I agree with both of my grannies; the only good snake is a dead snake.
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Post by jackscrap on May 1, 2023 9:02:45 GMT
Just how close were you when taking these Clive, the sharpness and details are amazing. I love viewing snakes, so long as there is a pane of glass between them and me...
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Post by cats4jan on May 1, 2023 12:29:04 GMT
Another amazing set of photos. The detail is, well, amazing. 😉
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Post by pontiac1940 on May 1, 2023 14:00:11 GMT
Just how close were you when taking these Clive, the sharpness and details are amazing. Thanks. The light was good and the decent lens results in sharp photos. The 200/600-mm lens has a minimum focus distance of 2 meters. These were shot at 2+ meters. |
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Post by dandc on May 1, 2023 19:14:56 GMT
Mental note to look up how many feet 2 meters is . . The last time I took a photo of a rattler (one I would have walked very close to while taking photos if I hadn't stopped and looked around in time) . . I took photos from around 30 feet away and thought that was close enough ;^)
Great shots as always Clive!
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Howard
Established Forum Member
Posts: 475
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Howard on May 2, 2023 0:46:49 GMT
Great photos of beautiful creatures, Clive. 2 metres? You are a braver man than I!
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Post by pontiac1940 on May 2, 2023 1:13:20 GMT
2 metres? You are a braver man than I!  Seriously, these snakes are non aggressive. They would never come toward you. You would have to step on one or poke it to get it to strike. They just want to be left alone. I've had them move past me a few feet away and they just don't care. (Meh.) Yesterday, the snakes were still hunkered in the den holes as it still gets cool enough at night for them and they are not ready to leave the protection of the dens. I am more worried about getting a tick on me (Rocky Mountain fever or Lyme) or bitten by a black widow spider. |
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Howard
Established Forum Member
Posts: 475
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Howard on May 2, 2023 2:17:03 GMT
2 metres? You are a braver man than I! Seriously, these snakes are non aggressive. They would never come toward you. You would have to step on one or poke it to get it to strike. They just want to be left alone. I've had them move past me a few feet away and they just don't care. (Meh.) Yesterday, the snakes were still hunkered in the den holes as it still gets cool enough at night for them and they are not ready to leave the protection of the dens. I am more worried about getting a tick on me (Rocky Mountain fever or Lyme) or bitten by a black widow spider. Fair comment, Clive. Ticks and black widows ("red backs" to us) are indeed nasty little buggers. |
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Seriously, these snakes are non aggressive. They would never come toward you. You would have to step on one or poke it to get it to strike. They just want to be left alone. I've had them move past me a few feet away and they just don't care. (Meh.) Yesterday, the snakes were still hunkered in the den holes as it still gets cool enough at night for them and they are not ready to leave the protection of the dens.