Quote:Spookiest was one rattling at me waist high while passing a sage bush.
Have had only one up in a bush but the bush was between the forks in a trail and he didn't rattle. Scary, that!
Fortunately, of all the rattlers I've encountered, I would only rate two as aggressive. Both actually came after me, one had been peppered with a charge of #9's from .357. The other I was running toward to get close enough for a pistol shot.
Absolutely my funniest "rattlesnake encounter" was when my hunting partner (who shall remain anonymous) and I were walking through two foot tall grass in our hunting camp one summer in preparation for mowing. Let me add, over the years, we killed more rattlers in camp than we ever did out in the pastures and I could tell more "rattler" stories on my partner than you can shake a stick at, as he seems to have a natural affinity for rattlesnakes.
I was following about 5' behind when my partner screamed like a little girl and performed a variant of the twist which would have made Elvis proud. He ending by dropping his pants, at which time an 8-10" Texas Spiney Swift, having climbed my partners leg inside his pants exited the premises, every bit as agitated as my partner!
Since the TSS is a tree lizard, notice the claws above and use your imagination a bit.
I never laughed so hard in my life but, even though it has been at least 20 years since the incident, my bud still doesn't think it was nearly as funny as I do.
Regards,
hm