Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-08-09
THE RATTLESNAKE
An Old Experienced Trapper Tells
About the Rather.

Decofah, Iowa, July 20, 1922, special:
Are you afraid Of a rattle snake
If so read what an old experienced
trapper has to say about them and
see really how harmless they can be.
He has several that he keeps alive
in captivity. Their home at present
is in old milk cans. He keeps an
other pail or pan over each can,
which makes it almost air tight, but
snake requires but little air. Attic
they still have their poisonous
fangs and are the same wild snakes
they were when he caught them in
the woods near his home, he can
handle and hold them on his tonges
within two feet of his head. He
says, there is no danger as long as
you do not excite them and handle
them carefully.
The tonges which he catches and
handles the snakes with are about
four feet long. They are but two
peices of boards with a curve on the
end so he can grip the snake. The
tonges are crossed Just above the
curve or about six inches from the
end of the stick, so as to make a
pincher effect. Just remember the
average snake is a hundred times
more afraid of you than you are 81
it. A rattle snake in particular will
do all in its power 70 avoid meeting
person, and when ever possible
will run from them. Most people
think that a rattler will strike or
more commonly known bite or Jump
at ten or twelve feet. This is not
so. The experience and knowledge
of this old snake hunter is that they
can only strike at about two thirds
their length and not over three
fourths.
Tltho, a rattlesnake's fangs can
be pulled out they will grow back
in again. There are about twenty
fangs on each side of their mouth.
This has been proven by pulling the
fangs as fast as they grow in.
Many who are not acquainted with
snakes think that the little black
tongue that constantly works in and
out of its mouth when the snake is
annoyed is what it bites with. This
is mistake, as the fangs with which
it bites are two teeth on either side
of the upper jaw. To each of these
there is a poison sack connected.
This sack is closed at the connec-
ton with the fangs and only opens
by the jar of the bite. When this
is opened the poison flows through
the hollow teeth.
A good remedy for rattle snake
bite is turpentine poured on the
wound at the time of the bite If
there is not too much blood flowing.
Iodine is also another good remedy
for a snake bite. About two tea
spoons full of salt peter diluted in
glass of whiskey can be taken also.
All these remedies must be used as
soon as possible after the snake has
bitten.
A rattle snake goes to its den the
earliest of any snake. Their dens
are located in lodges or cliffs of rock
Just above the timber line, or clear
ing in the timber. At this place
the ground has more or less gravel
and it does not freeze very deep.
Then dens are located on the south,
southeast, or southwest of a hill.
These snakes eat only about once
month but will live for months
without food or drink when kept In
captivity.
A snake is not ike an animal that
sheds. The average animal sheds
when it is healthy and doing well,
but a snake just to the opposite,
sheds when it is poorly and not so
healthy. 1t is the experience OF tins
old trapper to see a rattle snake shed
as many as three times in summer
However, when they shed that often
they always died before winter
Many think that new rattle IS
formed every year but a rattle is
formed every time it sheds.