Yesterday I saw something that really is a disgrace to the human race. I understand that most people don't share my love of snakes. I also understand that most people have a fear of snakes. What I can't understand is why people can't just let things be that they don't understand or like.
Yesterday I was on my what home from a quick trip to Lowes. I was less than a mile away from home and I saw something I have been looking for for years beside the road. I knew what it was even though I only caught a quick glimpse. It was a Canebrake Rattlesnake. I quickly turned around. I knew it was probably dead but you don't see these everyday. I got out and took a look and I was right it was dead. I picked it up and put it in a container. I brought it home to take some picks and document it.
I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see. This snake wasn't ran over by a car. It's head was crushed like somebody stepped on it and it's rattles were cut off. It was clear that somebody killed this snake on purpose. This snake posed no threat because it wasn't near any homes. It was found crossing the road. Then killed because whoever found it was ignorant of the importance of this species. I'm sure even if they knew they wouldn't have cared. They killed it just to feed their ego and to have a souvenir to prove they are tough enough to kill a rattlesnake.
After I saw the way this snake was killed I called the local police department to file a report. The person that killed this snake committed a crime. Canebrake rattlesnakes are a protected species in NC and also the town of Boiling Spring Lakes is a wildlife preserve.
After the police left I took these pics.
As you can see this was a beautiful animal. I can't understand how a person can be so ignorant as to kill an animal that is as rare and beautiful as this one. This is one of humanities greatest faults, to kill, fear or hate things they don't understand.
I know the person probably won't ever be caught, and even if he is he probably won't be prosecuted. I'm going to make a listing on Craigslist and offer a reward to anybody that saw this snake killed and help to prosecute the person that killed it.
Yesterday I was on my what home from a quick trip to Lowes. I was less than a mile away from home and I saw something I have been looking for for years beside the road. I knew what it was even though I only caught a quick glimpse. It was a Canebrake Rattlesnake. I quickly turned around. I knew it was probably dead but you don't see these everyday. I got out and took a look and I was right it was dead. I picked it up and put it in a container. I brought it home to take some picks and document it.
I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see. This snake wasn't ran over by a car. It's head was crushed like somebody stepped on it and it's rattles were cut off. It was clear that somebody killed this snake on purpose. This snake posed no threat because it wasn't near any homes. It was found crossing the road. Then killed because whoever found it was ignorant of the importance of this species. I'm sure even if they knew they wouldn't have cared. They killed it just to feed their ego and to have a souvenir to prove they are tough enough to kill a rattlesnake.
After I saw the way this snake was killed I called the local police department to file a report. The person that killed this snake committed a crime. Canebrake rattlesnakes are a protected species in NC and also the town of Boiling Spring Lakes is a wildlife preserve.
After the police left I took these pics.
As you can see this was a beautiful animal. I can't understand how a person can be so ignorant as to kill an animal that is as rare and beautiful as this one. This is one of humanities greatest faults, to kill, fear or hate things they don't understand.
I know the person probably won't ever be caught, and even if he is he probably won't be prosecuted. I'm going to make a listing on Craigslist and offer a reward to anybody that saw this snake killed and help to prosecute the person that killed it.