Rattlesnakes of the Desert South West Part 1

[lhends24]

Hi Al, you don't have very many rattlesnake vids, so can you enable viewing so that we can watch on a mobile device please?

[viperkeeper]

@lhends24 Done

[TheGhostScorpion]

i noticed the camera you used, normally your videos i don't see how you hold the cam when taping cause you get pretty up close with the critters. did you design the arm for the cam. or was it store bought?

[viperkeeper]

@TheGhostScorpion Something I made.

[N330AA]

That Arizona rattler is gorgeous

[Tarzan07330]

what substrate in your opinion would work best for juvenile Crotalus atrox?

[viperkeeper]

@Tarzan07330 Reptil bark

[Tarzan07330]

@viperkeeper thank you for getting back to me so quick

[mandivideo]

i live in arizona and i had a very close encounter with a sidewinder have you ever had a sidewinder

[viperkeeper]

@mandivideo Yes

[zachryan10]

wow, that first snake, the Arizonan black tail is just beautiful.

[brnleague99]

At 7:02ish is that a fang hanging out of his mouth? That white thing? I ask because it looks blunted.

[8BitBastard]

@brnleague99 appeared to me to be a piece of substrate stuck to his lip

[Truthseeker4449]

Once This video was over an ad for snake cages poped up. heh heh

[Truthseeker4449]

Thanks to you and your friend for making this video and part 2

[Snakehunter0930]

I love the looks of arazona blacktails. I hear that they have a temperment like a timber, is that true?

[brnleague99]

I was in the House of Reptiles at Zoo Atlanta just yesterday and they had an impressive selection of rattlesnakes. Speckled, Black Tail, Western Diamondback, Mottled Rock (my favorite), Aruban (also an impressive snake), Timber, etc. A good selection. If you ever come to Zoo Atlanta be sure to check out their snakes. :)

[viperkeeper]

@brnleague99 They have many of my snakes on display. I did a videos...check my catalog for a behind the scenes visit.

[arauzxa]

Humans have no right to take the life of any snake, unless they are an immediate danger to them...round ups are not only barbaric, they are primitive as I am sure early human ancestors found any sort of killing "fun". Not including of course, the times when they needed food.

[zcoach01]

Thanks Al I love rattlers not that I won any but I think their cool.

[oddcarl1]

I have to say I agree that the unregulated slaughtering of snakes in places like Texas is not okay. Now, if snakes were allowed controlled hunting like other fur-bearing or game animals, in which only a certain number of tags a year is allowed would be fine, as regulated hunting is actually a tool of conservation efforts in maintaining a balance of animals.

[snoopval]

while I never like to see a human get bit or hurt I think that hunting animals for sport is ridiculous and like you said a large population of animals is around for a reason. They are controlling pests that these hunters don't even think of.

[garrettkirn]

i live in az and i see rattle snakes all the time. there fun to watch but just dont get to close and fuk with them

[BitisNajaLover]

Al, what is the golf coarse called?

[michaelrayspencer]

I'm gonna agree with Viperkeeper. Roundups for killing are stupid and barbaric. There is literally no point for them. I find and work with crotes in California on a regular basis and I run into my fair share of people that kill them quite regularly. They're amazing snakes that were here long we were. I see no point in killing thousands of them solely to make hatbands and boots.

[JOM123456]

Only Redneck inbreds support rattlesnake roundups

[mrJAB513]

what does it mean if a snake does an extended tongue flick?

[crotalus89]

hi viperkeeper, you say you dont keep rattlesnakes very often, is there a particular reason why you wont?

sam

[viperkeeper]

Pit Vipers in generally actually. You cannot work as close as I can with the other snakes. They're very prone to over reaction because their pits are alway lock on you.

[FruBabyAngel]

I find it very offensive that you have the nerve to call my people barbaric for killing snakes for sport. thank you hammerlanedown i totally agree w/ you ....-.-

[viperkeeper]

I stand by what I said.

[snake5891]

I wish people would stop attending those roundups then they would cease to exist.

[snake5891]

I'm going to have to side with viperkeeper on this one and against you and hammerlanedown. People involved in the rattlesnake roundups truly are barbaric and only do it for sport (if you can call it that) and tradition which makes you no different than the Spanish who participate in bullfighting and kill the bulls.And i disagree with hammer, roundups are not necessary and help farmers by eating rats. Plus you only make rattlers more dangerous by removing the ones that rattle and are easily found

[RNSSR]

I totally agree with viperkeeper, this activity is rounding up rattlesnakes and killing them for fun is barbaric.

[MW2Hacks22]

@FruBabyAngel Your people are Barbaric.

[GuilleBiochemist]

@FruBabyAngel If you were the least bit educated, you'd know what would happen if such snakes were completely eliminated by 'your people'.

Figures...

[marketdemon]

@FruBabyAngel

You and your friend Hammerlanedown ought to get together and breed. I am sure your spawn would be some of the most ignorant and idiotic people around. Don't you realise that every time humans mess with the natural order of things, everything goes to pot? Do some research into what happened when humans wiped out wolves, or carrier pigeons, or freaking doo doo birds for that matter. If you and the other retards want to kill something, I say go for each other THAT"s Productive!!

[amnotfamous]

@FruBabyAngel your barbaric to have the nerve to go to a snake lovers channel and say that.

idiot

[prairiebutterfly]

I agree, in south eastern Alberta, the rattlesnake population has decreased significantly. I lived out there for a few years and while I was extremely afraid of them, I never killed any and avoided them on the road. A farm house that didn't have a mouse problem fifty years ago, was overrun with mice now. People are killing too many even though they are protected here. One man said to me any rattlesnake he sees is a dead one... no matter what. It disrupts the balance of nature.

[Hammerlanedown]

"Viper Keeper" you're one sadistic Dude. You show your "idiocy" by your comments accusing those that kill them to be "Barbaric." Come out on my ranch and work with me for a week. I think you'll have a drastic attitude change.

[viperkeeper]

I've lived in AZ for a number of years...remember, they have lived there for millions of years and will do so long after we are gone.

[xsnakemandougx]

how bout you stay on your ranch with know snakes or rattlers youll nottice a fowl diffrence.. rodents

[Hammerlanedown]

Rattlesnake roundups are necessary. If you were a farmer or rancher having to live and work in their habitat, you'd no doubt support the roundups also. I know a lady in AZ who was bitten by one on her patio. It took 37 viles of anti-venom to save her life.

[snake5891]

If you continue with your rattlesnake roundups not only do you risk being knee-deep in rats but you are also making it more likely that people will get bit because the rattlesnakes will evolve and change their ways and will rattle less and less. They will eventually stop warning us of their presence.

[Thamnophissirtalis]

Is the toung flick a warning sign on all snakes or just some?

[viperkeeper]

It's primary funcetion is as an sensory organ but some will use it to convey a message...like back off jerk...

[Thamnophissirtalis]

Thanks you seem to be able to answer all of my questions.

[xinumacretes]

i love snakes.

[dpedwards08]

I highly doubt that rattlesnake roundups do a whole lot of damage to rattlesnake populations just because of their successful reproduction rates. It would be like hunting squirrels. Squirrels, just like rattlers, aren't fixing to run out any time soon.

[viperkeeper]

You certainly have lots to learn.

[heart4herps]

The roundups have done a huge amount of damage. In past years it was easy to 'round up' snakes by the thousands...now they have to look far and wide to find even a few. We disrupt nature's balance at our own peril. Vermin like rats, mice, and rabbits do much more damage to crops than snakes do to people. We're only hurting ourselves by eradicating the rattlesnake. Roundups are inhumane in the extreme!

[racarte09]

I'm aspiring to be a herpetologist and what you do is something similar to what I would like to do all day everyday. I'm going to college this upcoming fall and wanted to know if there was any advice you could give me or how you got to where you are now?

Thanks Viperkeeper.

[viperkeeper]

Watch the video " Shop 101 & Back to school.

[username2022]

i have what looks like a tiger rattler i caught in poway near ocean side how large do they get

[viperkeeper]

Tiger Rattlesnakes are not found in California most likely a Southern Pacific Rattlesnake. If it is about 3 to 4 feet. You need a permit to keep it.

[fa272]

Great video I love rattlers :) Here in West Virginia, we have two species of venomous snakes. The Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake.

[CrazyNemesi]

Viperkeeper said he got bit by a Timber Rattlesnake when he was 17 years old....I would stay away from those creatures!

[brnleague99]

The tongue flick is a warning? *grin* Personally I'd be more worried about that tail rattle and S-position. *grin*

[brnleague99]

Do you have a Mottled Rock Rattler?

[viperkeeper]

No, these rattlers are from a friends collection

[gnarley123321]

are your snakes bought or rescues or just passer byers or a mix of all 3

[viperkeeper]

All 3

[gnarley123321]

kool. were can you rescue hots tho?

[viperkeeper]

Usually they are conficated by police or F& W

[joeycap9999999]

Yeah, those guys that kill those snakes are barbaric. It would be nice if they would pass some law to protect the snakes.

[JuniorHerper]

rattlesnakes are my favorite kind of snakes you only keep the tropical ones right

[viperkeeper]

I normally don't keep Rattlesnakes at all

[ballpython210]

i live in Texas in fort worth dallas area i found alot of cottonmouths aka water maccusin rattlesnakes

[viperkeeper]

Wow, that's a new species! Congrats!

[edgirallenjoe29]

Im sorry man, there is no such thing. cottonmouths aren't rattlesnakes. what you're finding are agkistrodon piscivorous piscivorous i believe. but i could be wrong about the scientific name

[viperkeeper]

Western Cottonmouth= Agkistrodon leucostoma

[edgirallenjoe29]

thanks, what am i thinkin of? the florida? or southern cottonmouth

[petitebete]

he's so cute

[Arnovitz]

being from Florida i have dealt with many of cottonmouths and copperheads. But now being in California i have many rattlesnake encounters. With smaller ones i just spray the hose at them and they leave. but once i spotted a giant what ended up being a 6 foot rattle snake so i decided to call animal control because this was just to much snake for me. Animal control just killed it.

[viperkeeper]

That's not a good solution.

[Arnovitz]

what do you think? because everyone else i now just kills them. I try to be as humane as possible without coming into physical contact with them.

[viperkeeper]

I'm not faulting you at all. Animal control in most places will capture the snakes and relocate them. Killing them is just wrong.

[Arnovitz]

there were two of them and they were very afraid of the snake, they had one of those pinchers and ggrabbed it by the heaqd and nroke something. Sad

[vman1223]

hey u say SW america, well i live in nevada (1 year now) and all iv seen is horned lizards but not 1 snake yet im near the vegas area u wouldnt happen to kno y i cant find any snakes here?

[gaz691]

hi al, bit of a daft question but on a rattlers tail how dose it make the noise? if you shake them do they rattle?

great vid.

[viperkeeper]

Yes, they rattle if you shake them...they are formed and added after each shed.

[Jakemoney11]

wow thats realy cool

[jasn9021011]

thats cool you said madera canyon cause i live at the base of it

[theemojohnm]

Hey Al, or anyone for that matter...

I have never been much of a ratler guy, but I have an unexplainable fascination for mojaves.

I have talked to several dealers here in PA, and it seems that here mojaves aren't to common to come by in PA.

I do have to admit I question the "legality" of many of these dealers operations.

Isn't the mojave protected? Here in PA, we need no venomous licsence. Are mojaves legal to sell? And if so, anyone know any reliable sources I may obtain one???

[viperkeeper]

There are no legal issues, just not a commonly kept snake.

[theemojohnm]

Thanks Al. Do you have any connections as far as anyone near the PA area that would have any mojaves? I would settle for a WC specimen (in fair condition) From what I understand, you not much of a ratler guy either? Anyone reliable you know where I might obtain one? Any leads would be great!

thanks, John!

[viperkeeper]

No realy but I'll keep my ears open.

[theemojohnm]

PS: Your refference to Matt Harris regarding my feeding question of my Massasauga really worked out great! I even found a good forum with several keepers of this species when I googled some of Harris's work! Thank you soo much!

John.

[SPINOSAURUSKING]

Your right! Anyone who messes with a snake in a bad way deserves to rot!!!

[castingtherunes]

We should round up rednecks and cut off their heads. Then the IQ of this country would increase dramatically.

[bassfishinfever]

i caught a big rattler a few days ago it was a rush

never doen it again

[1c3d0ut]

hey al i just thought id say as a snake lover i really respect and appreciate the fact you leave a lot of places un named less snakes die that way

[Jinder221]

can u ever touch and like pet any of ur snakes viperkeeper?????

[viperkeeper]

Sure...just for very short instances. You know when to stop when the fangs enter your hand.

[Zalshy]

nice

[rearfanged89]

The Crotalus tigris head reminds me of the Daboia russelii. To a point.

[Katsnake11]

Very nice. The second one that you mention from Tx looks like the Blacktails from North of Tucson. I relocated a blacktail in the Phoenix Area that looked a lot like that. I didn't get video, but have photos. The ones in the Southern half of the state are certainly more beautiful, though.

[ChosenEntity]

I agree. Hope they lose a leg.

I feel bad. I grew up on a ranch, and was taught that when you see a rattler, kill it. I've actually stepped on a Western Diamondback (didn't get bitten though). Dad taught me how to shoot a gun by blowing the head off one. :( But, now that I have snakes of my own, I realize that they have every right to be there. They're beautiful animals, and deserve every right to live that we do.

[medicinemanhb]

i absolutely relish hearing about "roundup" bites.  good call, let'em rot. =)

[TexasStunter]

where have you worked or do you work to be able to know so much about snakes?

[viperkeeper]

I've studied them all of my life.  I read many books and scientific publications on the subject. I attend conferences and workshops.

[TexasStunter]

alright thanks

[FischerFan]

The first Black-Tailed Rattler is especially impressive.

Something occurred to me while looking at it. A number of the subspecies of Neotropical Rattlesnake also have black tails.

This species appears comparable in its slender appearance and diamond/hexagon-shaped markings. It just lacks the distinctive stripes protruding well behind the head.

[bellisor]

Hey Al,

Nice presentation of the rattlers, sir. If I may offer a minor geographical correction. Santa Catalina island is actually off the coast of California roughly adjacent to Long Beach (as opposed to Mexico).

[viperkeeper]

Nope....I'm not wrong... Google Earth these lat/long 25°3937.17"N 110°47'11.02"W

It's in the gulf of California

[wowsaruss]

I live in az and have caught so many of those amazing little guys! love em!

[OddworldFan987]

Hey al,

sorta of topic question what program do you use for editing your videos?

[viperkeeper]

Pinnacle Studeo 11

[DennysReptilleVids]

i live in tucson

[fuelpark]

FINALLY! Thanks AL! a great gift :)

[IMCOnAir]

wonderful three little informative lessons. I hope teachers pick the clip up for educating children where these rattle s' are living to stop this idioty of fun killing. Thank's for doing this effort, Al as you are no keeper of this kind of specimens. Also to Bob... Great, guys, my deep respect ! [ P.S.: I love a lot this boxer nosy face & natural evil-kind look of the tigre, very sweet-funny. Must be very stressful to look all time so angry ;-) ]

[Vid12]

why does crofab cost so much? i figure mamba antivenin would cost more since its an exotic species and the chances of being bit by one in the US are rare. also keep up the good work and videos, very educational and i like that you show snakes that ive never even seen or heard of! :) could you by chance get a video of a Boomslang and vine/tree snake?

[viperkeeper]

Can you say profit! SAVP make serum to save peoples lives. Protherics makes A/V to line the pocket of their shareholders. Americans have money, so let stick it to the americans.

Austin is a very respected conservationist, photographer and all around good guy. What you see on camerais what the produces set-up and want to sell episodes.

[roswald07]

Thanks for sharing Al, as always very informative. Az.Black face is beautiful!

Thanks Bob for supplying these excellent specimens.

[DilaBagomee]

Agreed. Humans do more bad than good on not just snakes but other species as well.

[rattlergr]

Amazing video and beautiful animals!specialy the arizona blacktail!

[Grazzeh]

another great vid and stunning snakes!

[OddworldFan987]

Hey AL,  Just a off topic question what do you use to edit your videos on the computer?

[viperkeeper]

Pinnacle Studio 11

[IMCOnAir]

OWF, we use in our broadcasting channel of TV dept the high end AVID produtcs, too. Excellent quality (this shall not be understood as advertising). For testing you can use/download freeware VideoSpin, the smaller brother of Pstudio... upgrading is possible later on.

[Snakehunter0930]

Hey Great video bob had 3 very Beautifull sankes.

[ladybloodrose]

I just love the dark mask on the Az Black Tails.

[relvex]

I totally agree with the cruelty towards native herps, with snakes especially.

Very beautiful specimens!

Thanks soooooo much for the vid.

[DeclanHerp123]

Also ive noticed False Water Cobras warn with the Tongue also

[mikesherps]

Wow nice video al 5* from me i cant wait for pt/2

[bowlingking92]

Hey Al, why don't you like rattlesnakes?

[viperkeeper]

I never said I didn't like them, I just don't have the space for them. Plus at over $1000/vial of CroFab, average dose 20 vials. Where as Mambas A/V is $85/vial, average dose 5 vials...get the picture?

[ludwigtr]

Hm, any particular reason why the price differences is so vast?

It is sad that snakes are so frickin' misunderstood and that people take pride in killing them off. I watched a great PBS Nature documentary recently which really brought forth the positive attributes about snakes. They also brought up the issue with noisy rattlers being killed off. ...

By the way, what is your take on Austin Stevens? Just curious. Sorry for the long comment! O:)

[viperkeeper]

Can you say profit! SAVP make serum to save peoples lives. Protherics makes A/V to line the pocket of thier shareholders. Americans have money, so let stick it to the americans.

Austin is a very respected conservationist, photographer and all around good guy. What you see on camerais what the produces set-up and want to sell episodes.

[bloodshot16]

lol lol, at the beggining with you 2 people, i though it was a mirror, then i noticed one shirt was black, one was grey, then the black shirt moved :D lol

[mack1time]

to watch in Hd type ...... &fmt=18

At the end of the address in your browser

[viperkeeper]

Thanks :-)

[Seere122]

Wow, Thanks.

That bumped the quality of the video up enough to actually watch it in full screen!

[viperkeeper]

Thanks but I'm not to blame...lol All my videos are DVD quality, it's what they allow me to upload.

[ReptileMan27]

Very cool :)

[heart4herps]

Thank you!!! I love rattlers - we're surrounded by them up here in the Mojave desert and my weekends are often spent looking for them. And thank you also for addressing the awful 'pastime' of hunting these snakes for sport. It truly is barbaric and the people who do it should be prosecuted fully. I desperately want the Rattlesnake Roundups ended forever!!! It's incredible cruelty and torture in the guise of entertainment. If it was any other animal, it would never be tolerated!!!

[8yeah8]

Thanks Bob and Al for putting this video up

[eliteoption]

The Black tail Arizona one is to die for, love it!!!

[Reptilekeeper08]

the quality is amazing!!!wish i had a vid looking lke that.cool snake, how much would the tiger cost?

[viperkeeper]

It'e not my snake so I don't really know/remember

[landofthefreemyass]

Al and Silent Bob...lol.

The quality is good- much clearer.

[kurtpe12]

Scary Shorts: You should go through your older videos and get Scary Shorts out of them.

[viperkeeper]

I have no idea how old you are but I don't have much time to produce these videos, no less go back and re-edit old videos just for your enetertainment.

Be happy with what you have to be happy with....

[kurtpe12]

Sorry I shouldn't have asked.....

[elmerfudpucker]

wow, he has some exellent rattlesnakes. I seen a few in texas here a while back

[kurtpe12]

Nice! This is your first rattle snake video in a long time.!

[viperkeeper]

Since I don't keep any and I can't magically make them appear, yes!

[Herper666]

another brialliant videa Al - I have been waiting all weekend for a ViperKeeper video =P

[viperkeeper]

Viewers please note: YouTube is allowing uploads upto 1gB, so this is my first higher quality video posted. It does look to be scrunched as I record in 16:9 and it's being displayed as 4:5

Al

[ScubaTim]

your lucky that you got grandfathered in at over 10min. I'm stuck only doing 10 and its ruff when you post 2 videoes and people don't realize that there is a 2nd part. Your video looks good tho. what resolution are you at when posted?

[viperkeeper]

I uploaded at Mpeg-2 (dvd quality) but they did degrade it some.

[ooglar123]

hot..literaly...

[Pokerboy12345]

Awesome.