Up Close Rattlesnake

[doccash]

I was out 'birding' with my camera a couple of weeks ago when I ran across this really mad Prairie Rattler by a windmill stocktank. I was broadcasting bird seed and the weeds were quite tall from a nice wet summer. This snake would run at me then coil up and strike until I got tired of it and ended it all with a shot capsule full of #9 shot in a .44-40 Winchester Deluxe Takedown short rifle. The close up shows the 'pits' of the pit viper and the vertical slits of the pupils that are characteristic of poisonous snakes. Note the well developed eyebrows that protect the eyes. Dr.C