Sunday, February 26, 2012

Watch out for those Snakes!

Another great day in the desert today, great temps, lots of sun… broken record!   I got out to fly my planes for a bit this morning, but had some technical problems I won’t bore you with, lets just say that gravity won!

Not much else on the go today, other than taking life easy in a real nice Resort!  Into Palm Desert to collect some materials to fix my plane, but that was about it.

This afternoon, we were out looking at the snakes in the desert!

Our Neighbours, Greg and Cindy have two big dogs, and they paid a Company to come into the Resort this afternoon for Snake Aversion Training for one of the dogs.  This Company comes in and does one on one training for your dog!

I did not catch this Ladies name in the pic below, (AKA Snake Lady…)  but her and her Partner ran the course.  She is holding a Pacific Coast Rattle Snake, which is a venomous snake! 

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Below is a picture of their dog, Angee, putting on the brakes when she comes across the snake on a make believe walk.  They use an ecollar, if the dog does not give the correct response to the snake, and they use different scenarios…

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They also used a baby snake, so the dogs know how to react, and leave the area.  About 7 or 8 dogs took the training as we watch, and they all did very well!

This is a typical shot of the desert floor and you never know what is crawling around out there!

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This is where they kept the snakes until they needed them…

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You might have wondered how that Woman could handle the snakes without getting bit!  Good question.  Take a look at the pic below.  The snake is actually wearing a “muzzle”!  It can still breath, drink water, and wiggle his tongue out, but cannot open his mouth to bite!  The dogs are safe! 

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You can get a better idea of the size of this Pacific Coast Rattler, but it is not full grown she was telling me… I don’t think I want to meet one in the desert!

 

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And a big welcome to KCGAZ as our latest blog follower of RVlifeonwheels!  Welcome aboard, and watch out for snakes!

Till tomorrow…

10 comments:

  1. I do worry about snakes here in the desert. Our old dogs wouldn't take well to snake training - they are stubborn Germans. So we keep them on a short leash. I bet that training would have been interesting to watch. Even with his mouth muzzled I still wouldn't have wanted to mess around with him.

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  2. snakes in the desert?..eww..thought they were all still hibernating?..can you say 'scream like a girl!!'

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  3. I wouldnt want to be the one to cut the muzzle off!
    I think we made a mistake leaving that area... weather-wise anyway.

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  4. Looks like good training for the owners and the dogs. Guess with all the warm temps the snakes are out earlier this year. Don't think I would care to hold one though even with the muzzle. Have a great week.

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  5. There have been snake sightings here in Yuma, along the hot sands that border local golf courses. The heat is clearly bringing snakes out in the open....and it's a good idea to keep an eye out.

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  6. Luckily, I do not need avoidance training, it just comes naturally-it is called fear:)

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  7. That's it! You've done it! No more desert hiking for us this year!

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  8. Those snakes still look scary...even with the muzzles! Looks like a great training program.

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  9. Two years ago we were at the Desert Museum out by Old Tuscon City and they had a session on rattlesnake bites. This is one of those deals where the treatment is almost worse than the bite. There are many anti-venom shots (if they can find enough) that are incredibly expensive. Not sure if they are covered.

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  10. Learn something new every day! Snake aversion training! Who'da thunk it?

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