When we had the fire, we also had a snake. I was too busy deciding its fate to take a picture. It was a beauty, a Mojave Green, that decided it liked our new patio. Our black lab gave warning with her ceaseless barking and we’re glad she did. Luckily, Togowa (the Kawaiisu word for rattlesnake) did not bite her. The dog was certainly within the snake’s striking range.
While Togowa rattled menacingly and reared up toward my husband hissing, I took out my binoculars to get a closer look. It’s hard to tell a Mojave Green but its skin had a green tinge and its behavior was very aggressive. I knew that the snake was deadly possessing two types of venom, a neurotoxin and a hemotoxin. Experience told me that it was unlikely to leave. A few years back a rattler bit one of my dogs and then came back the next day to bite the other. That was quite a vet bill!
The handle on the shovel was too short for such an aggressive snake. We called the neighbor. He arrived in his old safari hat and hospital gown and shot it with a silver pistol armed with buckshot. I felt sad about killing something so beautiful and so powerful. I wish there was some way I could honor Togowa, and thank him for not biting my dog. But the neighbor took him home and ate him for dinner. I guess that’s the way of the world.
Sand Canyon Almanac 
Very nice site! If you would have it, I can write up some stuff on the wind turbine opposition. You are so talented!
Community meeting on Oct. 1st at Dr. Billingsley’s. Will send time soon.
Shelly Young
Friends of Sand Canyon
Yes. Email me something about the wind turbines. See you at the meeting!
Cindy
I liked that story. Your neighbor didn’t give you a bite of the rattlesnake? What was he doing in a hospital gown? What kind of shoes was he wearing, slippers? 🙂
It was more of a hospital issue tunic, rather than a full length gown. They make good work shirts and after paying 100 grand for one (or whatever the hospital charged) why let it go to waste?
I didn’t eat the snake. He said it was chewy.