[meteorite-list] Mojave Green Jeans - Images of a Killer Snake

[Adam Hupe]

Dear List Members,
 
Just a note to warn meteorite hunters not to be too complacent.
 
The most feared creature here in the Southwest is the Mojave Green  Rattlesnake 
and rightfully so considering its venom is 75 times more deadly than  that of a 
Cobra. You got about 1/2 hour to get anti-venom and if you survive a  bite from 
this fellow, you can count on around a $60,000.00 hospital bill. They  come out 
in the fall and you are most likely to run into one in the morning  warming 
itself in the sun.  They hide in and around creosote bushes which are  
everywhere.
 

I see people listening to I Pods or wearing metal detector headphones  while 
searching for meteorites, oblivious to their surroundings.  The only  warning we 
got when we ran into this deadly snake was the shaking of its rattles.  I have 
heard Western Diamondbacks before and their rattle is much  louder than the 
Mojave Green.  I had a lot more confidence searching with knee  high Kevlar 
snake boots until we ran into this fellow. The snake we ran into  was up in the 
bush waist high before it dropped to the ground and took up a  strike posture.
 

We nicked named this large and fat, 4 foot plus snake "Mojave Green  Jeans"   
Luckily, I had an image stabilizer on my camera.  I may have been  shaking more 
than the snake.  The closer I got to it, the quicker the rattle shook.  At one 
point, it sounded like a constant whoosh instead of a rattle.  I  would back off 
to about 6 feet away from it and then it would go silent for a  while so I don't 
think they give you much warning.  Just two weeks ago, we ran  into a snake we 
were unable to identify which struck out at my brother in laws  magnetic cane.  
It was also hidden in a bush.  It wasn't a rattler but had some  pretty wild 
looking checker board pattern. 
   
Meet Mojave Green Jeans:
http://themeteoritesite.com/AMojaveGreen-a.jpg
 
I Counted 11 Rattles, A Very Mature Snake:
http://themeteoritesite.com/AMojaveGreen-b.jpg
 
Side View:
http://themeteoritesite.com/AMojaveGreen-c.jpg
 
The Business End - Poised To Strike: 
http://themeteoritesite.com/AMojaveGreen-d.jpg
 
Be Careful!
 
Happy Hunting,

Adam