I encountered this beautiful Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius) while putting the canoe in the Wekiva River. These snakes are venomous pit vipers native to Florida and the southeast USA. However, they are rare, shy, and rarely encountered. When encountered if left alone they will retreat, quickly. I strongly advocate leaving Florida's wildlife alone (including venomous snakes). The snakes were here long before any humans and they deserve a chance at life just like any other species.
These snakes are small (that's an acorn near the rattlesnake's head) with adults usually growing only to 16-24-inches (40-60 cm) in length. The largest ever reported was 31-inches (78.8 cm). Males and females have found to be about the same size with little sexual dimorphism.
As seen here they have a relatively thick body that is grayish; back and sides are marked with rows of dar gray-black, irregularly shaped blotches. Blotches on the back are especially dark and are often separated by a reddish-brown stripe down the spine. Obvious dark bands run from each eye to the corners of the jaw. The tail is tipped with a tiny rattle that is prone to breaking off. This specimen had a well-formed 4-5 chambered rattled.
Pygmy rattlesnakes produce cytotoxic venom that is strongly hemorrhagic and tissue toxic, but devoid of any neurotoxins. Because the species is so small and unable to produce and deliver large amounts of venom it is unlikely that a bite to an adult human would deliver a fatal dose of venom. However, it would be an unpleasant few days after any such bite.
The snake's normal diet consists of insects, frogs, lizards, small snakes, nestling birds, and mice. It will flee from large mammals (humans) when given a chance.
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The tiny rattle (close up below) makes ample buzzing noise to get one's attention. This particular individual was docile and non confrontational.
Normally found in flatwoods, sandhills, mixed forests, floodplains and around lakes and marshes these snakes don't dig their own burrows, rather they share burrows dug by gopher tortoises or small rodents. I have encountered three separate individuals recently likely due to the ongoing flooding of the St. Johns River basin (from Hurricane Irma rains).
The camouflage on this species is amazing. Look below at a mostly unedited photo. If one wasn't really looking closely where they walked they could easily step on this snake in this typical Florida groundcover. He was near a flooded riverbank on gravel covered with oak leaves, spanish moss, twigs, etc. Impossible to see easily. I'm always looking, and I wear polarized, prescription sunglasses, which helps to block out the ever present Florida glare.
Some people call this species the ground rattlesnake, leaf rattler, death rattler, bastard rattlesnake, hog-nosed rattlesnake, or the spotted rattlesnake.
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Political Cartoonists Respond to Las Vegas Massacre
With each modern American massacre, from schools to theaters to music venues to places of worship, one way to grieve and unite is through art. Creatively, cartoonists are often the first responders.
In the immediate wake of last week's shooting in Las Vegas that left 59 dead and hundreds injured, there has been a torrent of politically laced words—often the usual volleys about the NRA and the Second Amendment and automatic weapons.
Cutting through the fog, here is how editorial pictures have offered commentary:
Cartoonists across the globe turned to their tools in the wake of the slaughter in Las Vegas that killed 59 people and injured 527 in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history
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