Mojave Green rattler story -- zombie dog cometh

We were covering snakes today in Vert. Zoo class, and the subject of vipers came up. Then the subject of venoms came up -- which naturally leads to a discussion of Mojave Green Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus), one of the most dangerous snakes in North America.

As I have mentioned in the past, I grew up taking field trips to the Southwestern deserts with T. and his father, who is a prominent archaeologist. D's specialty is SW indian rock art. On many of these trips he took us into very snaky territory. I never got to see a rattler (was dying to), but of course T., who was afraid of snakes, often did.

On one trip to the Eastern Mojave, D. pulled us into a little dried up shack of a gas station for a fill up and some drinks. This place was right out of an old bugle boy jeans ad, looked something like this but with a bunch of broken down rusted hulls of cars around and a single antique gas pump out front. There was one old guy running the place, and if memory serves he really was sitting on the front stoop in a rocking chair. He was ancient, a real desert rat.

Mojave Greens were a topic of conversation the whole drive out, so of course we had to ask the local about them. "Oh you won't find those around here, no siree. My dog kills em on sight, hates em, just hates em."

Just about then this horrific carcass of a dog limped around the corner. It was some mid sized fuzzy mutt that looked like a zombie dog, missing big chunks of flesh all over its body. It looked like someone had splashed acid on it. The side of it's face was melted back at the cheek, one leg wasn't working so hot and was missing flesh, and a huge bald spot showed on his haunch too. "Been bit 3 times, that dog has. Hates those dam snakes. Lives to kill 'em. So you won't find em anywhere near here."

Any time someone mentions Mojave Greens now, I get an image of the Zombie Dog of the Eastern Mojave and shiver just a little bit.

ps/edit: Almost forgot to mention WHY these snakes are so damned dangerous. They have a strong mix of both hemotoxin and neurotoxins to deliver. Normally vipers only have one or the other, both of them together is quite virulent. One starts digesting you from the inside out, the other paralyzes you, including your respiratory and cardiac function. Ouch.

ppss: No matter how dangerous they are to humans, I in no way condone the gratuitous and ignorant killing of these little guys. They are a vital part of the desert ecosystem and don't recover well from damage to population levels. Just give them the respect and distance they deserve and go your own way please.
[photo from californiaherps.com]

Enjoy your venomous childhood memories,

Bp