Growing up in Maryland, I longed to visit a dude ranch. I expected to ride horses and talk with cowboys and drink in the western experience. I didn’t expect to encounter a rattlesnake.
My father instilled in me a fear of snakes that I gradually overcame years later while volunteering as a docent at the Denver Zoo. Like many others, I grew up believing that “the only good snake is a dead snake.”
Leaving Home
After leaving home in 1964, I finally got my chance to spend a few days on a dude ranch. I headed to Wickenburg, Arizona, where I was surrounded by the West. Cowboys, horses, and desert scenery enthralled me.
It was on a ride through the desert with the head wrangler and another couple that we heard the buzzing. A rattlesnake lay coiled next to a nearby cholla, warning us of his presence with his rattle. The old wrangler jumped from his horse and handed the reins to one of the other riders. I followed suit and joined the cowboy who grabbed a stick before approaching the varmint.
The buzzing increased as the wrangler began poking at the snake. As the attack intensified, the snake hissed and struck out. I watched the cowboy battle the rattlesnake, all the while admiring his bravery and rooting for his victory.
Kill the Predator
Bruised and bleeding, the rattlesnake finally weakened and died. Victorious, the old wrangler pulled out a pocket knife, cut off the rattle, and handed it to me. I treasured it!
But as years passed and I learned the importance of predators in nature, I became saddened each time I came across my little box that preserved and protected the rattle. I still have the rattle, but now it is a symbol of disrespect for and ignorance of the role performed by this predator.
The snake had been minding its own business. There was no reason we couldn’t have ridden by, giving it a wider berth and sparing its life. It could have lived to continue consuming more disease-ridden rodents and play out its purpose as predator and prey in the food chain.
Old Prejudices
The old wrangler harbored old prejudices and revulsion common in ignorance and misunderstanding. To him, “the only good snake was a dead snake.” He probably passed away with those feelings intact. I am fortunate to have gained an understanding of the importance of such predators that help maintain a balance in nature.