Even so they are common here in the desert, rattlesnakes are not frequent visitors to the ranchito.  They do make an occasional appearance, usually during the hot summer months. Still, it is extremely important at night to always use a flashlight when walking outdoors. Snakes are nocturnal, and you need to take extra care if you have to walk around in the dark. The snake pictured here was attracted to a leaky water hose, and he was chillin there in the shade underneath a mesquite.  I did not kill him; I baling-wired an extension to a rake, looped him over it, walked him out a distance from the house, and turned him loose.

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