Can you believe-Decapitated Snake Bites Man Before Biting Dust

[BlueStar-57]

Now there would have been a good shot to capture.
Are we sure it did this decapitated or did the guy stick his finger in it's mouth playing around and hit the fang or through spasm's have it close on his finger? I've seen one's body spasm for about an hour, but have never seen a head hop up or around .
What's your take?
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/13858249/detail.html

[kamari]

Originally Posted by BlueStar-57

Now there would have been a good shot to capture.
Are we sure it did this decapitated or did the guy stick his finger in it's mouth playing around and hit the fang or through spasm's have it close on his finger? I've seen one's body spasm for about an hour, but have never seen a head hop up or around .
What's your take?
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/13858249/detail.html

It doesn't say how long after the shovel to the head that he tried to pick it up. Sounds pretty believable to me. Even more probable if it were a small amount of time (a few seconds) between the head severing and him reaching down to grab it.

[bgpro611]

Another good reason to stay away from snakes!!!

[dcnctx]

(I've) Seen the head hop around... Actually if you leave any neck at all on a rattler then I will be foolhardy to get too close to it, much less try to pick it up barehanded. I've seen one with 4" of neck move itself all over the place and be ready to strike if it had the chance. Even the head alone will open it's mouth, move, and try to strike given the opportunity. I've even seen the headless bodies start to crawl away from the heat of a campfire after being motionless for several hours in the afternoon. I was not surprised at all by the story. Only surprised so many hadn't seen the possibility of such an incident, including the county agent. Be careful around rattlesnakes of any kind. Last I heard the first round of anti-venom shots runs about $6000 bucks. This guy must have tried to pick it up almost immediately for it to move so vigorously. It would have been an interesting photo.

[ratbert]

Years ago I was at a rattlesnake roundup in Ballinger. I was talking with a guy that was buying the live snakes and freezing them for use later to make hatpins and belts. I noticed he had paraylsis in his right arm and he said that he had a table full of frozen heads that he was thawing to pull the fags out. He had reached ove to pick one up and got his arm close to one and it bit him. He said the snakes had been frozen for six months.

[BlueStar-57]

Interesting feedback and good knowledge to know. I have only shot a 2 or 3 in my time and skin a couple of them. Had no ideal how much anti-venom cost. My Grandmother as a child was bit by one and back then no local doctors so her Uncle stuck her leg in some kerosene that evidentially drew the poison out and she never had any problems from it later in life. Now with so many other additives in kerosene don't know if I'd risk it or not.