Before I go any further, I have to apologize. I killed a rattlesnake yesterday. It had my daughter and her friend trapped in a car. They couldn’t get out, or move without running it over. I would have moved it if I could, but there are little kids in the neighborhood, and animal control doesn’t respond to snake calls unless they are inside your house or in your yard.
So, I feel bad, but not so bad that I didn’t break out the digital microscope.
Seriously, I feel horrible. But it was a wet year in Southern California, which means more plants, which means more bunnies and gophers and rats and mice, which means more snakes and hawks.
So feel free to hate me as much as I hate myself.
But it is amazing the variety of scales this thing has… had…
I could have just thrown it away and not told you about it.
That is part of his rattle.
Okay, once again, I am sorry.
I sort of panicked in the moment. The girls were screaming because Mollie’s friend almost stepped on it trying to get out of the car before they knew it was there, my wife was freaking out, the dogs were barking, the cat was circling. I did the best I could.
Bye.
Pouring My Art Out 
I can’t blame you. I would probably have done so myself if only I knew how to kill it.
Machetes work pretty well.
You didn’t do it out of malicious intent and saw no other way around it at the time. There is no need to hate yourself, but it is understandable.
Thanks so much.
I will try to treat your subjects more kindly, my lady!
Why thank you, good sir!
I do love animals.
Really terrific macrophotography photo essay
Thanks.
You did the best you could was all I needed to hear. Don’t be too hard on yourself. What kind of rattler was it? Western diamondback?
I grew up in the Mojave desert. We used to go snake catching for fun. They are fascinating and beautiful creatures.
They are, but a little scary.
Scary isn’t a deterrent. Scary helps you be more respectful, more careful.
Well said!
I think so.