I went outside to spread some ant poison on the fire ant mounds in the back yard... looked up and saw this. By the shape of its head you know it's poisonous! I backed away, pulled out my phone and called my neighbor. Not a copperhead - was it something worse? I had my camera hanging around my neck, so I tried to take some pics. I was shaking so bad, I thought all would come out blurry. It just sat there, coiled, with that tongue darting in and out of its mouth. My neighbor arrived with a long pole to shoo it away... Only then did it show its tail and rattle! Timber rattler or canebrake rattler if you prefer.
I don't see as well as I used to and I could've been on the way to the ER in an ambulance, if I hadn't looked up and saw it in time. It's regarded as one of the most poisonous snakes in the USA because its fangs are long, they go deep, and some have neurotoxic as well as hemotoxic peptides in their venom.
It slithered off into the bushes and I will be far more wary when walking outside until colder weather comes and it CAN'T come soon enough for me! My neighbor giggled and said we live in the country. It was the first snake I've seen all summer long too.
SOOC and very surprised it's not too blurry from 15 feet away from the subject. Now to calm my BP down. Whew!
Oh my life. Very very pleased we don’t have anything like this over here. It’s a great photo (I’d have needed a very big telephoto as I’d have been a very very long way away from it)
I was scared for you. so glad you're ok. right away I had to google if there're rattlers in Ontario and yes, there are. they're called Massasauga. a grayish looking rattler.
Oh my gosh! I can only imagine how your heart must have raced. Well done to get the shot and not pass out either. Please start walking with a long stick.
Wow! I'd move right out of there :D I almost shit myself because of a harmless white house snake - the only snakes we have around here (grow around households and are really harmless). But rattlesnakes... no ma'm! Thanks!
Anyhow! Very interesting that you had the guts to linger and take photos. I would have run so that Usain Bolt would have been ashamed. Or would have fainted...
OMG what a near miss! You were lucky this time; be more careful in the future. You must have been very brave and alert to remember to take a few shots of him, knowing he was very dangerous.
@joysabin Hopefully, it has gone deep into the woods. Thank you!
@haskar Thank you, Haskar! I will be more watchful.
@ludwigsdiana It was luck - not skill! LOL! Thanks, Diana!
@monikozi There are far worse snakes of the human kind in housing developments today. I'll be more watchful about where I'm going. I had to keep an eye on it until my neighbor arrived. Trying to take my mind off my fright at 15 feet away wasn't too bad.
@sangwann I think the good Lord was watching over me, Dione. Thank you!
What a narrow escape, you did well to get such a clear shot! Glad you are safe. We only have one poisonous snake here in the UK, the Adder, which is poisonous and can be fatal but that is rare. I have only ever seen one once.... thankfully... from a distance!
Scary to come across. I have a healthy respect snakes. We have a number of venomous snakes in our area. We are going into snake season as our weather is starting to warm up.
Oh, my! My hubby and boys have encountered them in the woods on hikes in NC (not too far from you). Not something I want to find in my yard. Great shot. Following you!
@30pics4jackiesdiamond Not brave at all, Jackie! Still shaky. Thank you!
@kvphoto Thanks, KV! I try to be. I'll be carrying a ten-foot pole outside now.
@dutchothotmailcom Thanks, Esther! I'm sure I'll have a few nightmares from the experience. LOL!
@wakelys Thanks, Susan!
@cdcook48 Adrenaline pumped wildly through me at the sight. 15 feet away, I wasn't too worried but ready to jump a mile high. Thanks, Chris!
@linnypinny Me too, Lin! It crawled into my bushes out back. I hope it heads for the woods and stays far away from me.
@danette You know it! They are so cryptic in leaf clutter.
Glad we don't have them in Edmonton. They are found in Southern Alberta though
@kwind It'll do. Thanks!
@milestonevisualmedia Not courage. Just something to try to take my mind off the fear until my good neighbor arrived. Thanks, Ron.
@milaniet Thank you, Milanie!
@bkbinthecity Thank you, BKB!
@yoland Thank you, Yoland!
@joysabin Hopefully, it has gone deep into the woods. Thank you!
@haskar Thank you, Haskar! I will be more watchful.
@ludwigsdiana It was luck - not skill! LOL! Thanks, Diana!
@monikozi There are far worse snakes of the human kind in housing developments today. I'll be more watchful about where I'm going. I had to keep an eye on it until my neighbor arrived. Trying to take my mind off my fright at 15 feet away wasn't too bad.
@sangwann I think the good Lord was watching over me, Dione. Thank you!
@blueberry1222 LOL! Nope ropes... I'll remember that one.