Big Rattler From The Southern Woods...

Um yeah, they (wildlife and fisheries folks) keep accurate records of what is reported and verified. There were accounts in 2009 of a 15' rattler as well, but turned out to be a little over 7 feet. Somebody used forced perspective and inflated the claims.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/15ftrattler.asp

Unverified claims are just that, unverified.

Of course, maybe you mean this guy...
http://snugglynoodles.com/wordpress/2010/02/western-diamondback-rattlesnake/
http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/foru...inch-97-pound-diamondback-rattlesnake-killed/

First, it is a different species. Second, you have forced perspective. It isn't 9'1" long. It also isn't 96 or 97 lbs.
 
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No one has four foot long arms... and his are not out stretched... Snake is no more than 20-22 inches closer... With a snake that big... (body shape and number of diamonds (I counted 33-35+ depending on how much definition you want to look at) is a good reference point) you would be strained to hold it on a stick (stick must be strong too) with outstretched arms...

And then you have 13-14 rattles and look at how small they are compared to even the smallest end of body...

Yes that is all of 7 feet...

Brent
 
No one has four foot long arms... and his are not out stretched... Snake is no more than 20-22 inches closer... With a snake that big... (body shape and number of diamonds (I counted 33-35+ depending on how much definition you want to look at) is a good reference point) you would be strained to hold it on a stick (stick must be strong too) with outstretched arms...

And then you have 13-14 rattles and look at how small they are compared to even the smallest end of body...

Yes that is all of 7 feet...
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No one has 4 foot arms. That is true, but the comment was in reference to your original posting where the guy is holding the snake closer to the camera via a stick or section of log of some length via his partially outstretched arms. He is definitely forcing perspective. So now we have gone from 8.5' to 7' a significant reduction of about 18% and putting it well under a record length.

Nobody doubts its a big snake, but it isn't the snake that was claimed.
 
I am saying MINIMUM of a 7' But not having layed my stingy tape measure alongside... I won't go along with the 8.5'...

Someone did, in fact, use the claim of holding it 4 feet closer to the camera...

Anyone else here surprised by their strength when trying to catch one alive???

I learned even a 2-3 footer is surprisingly powerful... Learned that when my stick broke as I tried to keep one pinned down to grab it with my hand...:eek: Glad I learned that as an early teen when I was MUCH quicker to react than now...;) This guy/gal might almost dislocate your knee if it struck hard...:D

Brent
 
Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if that snake is at least 3 feet closer to the camera than the guy.

I'd estimate that his right hand is at least 18 inches in front of him. That stick is hard to estimate but I don't think 18 inches is unreasonable, at all. I wouldn't be surprised if it's 2 feet.

I'm estimating that the end of the stick is about the width of a man's hand, 3 1/2-4 inches wide. It measures 1/2" on my screen. The snakes measures about 11 inches on my screen. That would make the snake 22 times 3 1/2-4", max of 48 inches.

The average width of an adult human head is 6 inches. Even completely ignoring the perspective issue, that stick is no wider than the man's head, 6 inches or so. Considering that the tip of the stick is AT LEAST 2 or 3 feet closer to the camera, which is very likely at least 1/2 the total distance between the man and the camera and probably more like 3/4, a reasonable estimate for it's width is again 3-4 inches, making the snake still around 4 feet max.
 
I found them!

These are from a rattlesnake hunting newspaper back in the 80's. Just wondered what you thought the size of some of these might be...

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Stick is against his chest. I challenge anyone to show me a diamond back four feet long with thirteen rattles and them be that narrow compared to the tail. Obviously no hands on experience.

Brent
 
My wife encountered a monster rattler in her garden years ago. Called me on the cell phone, was working that day with a guy from Finland. Much hilarity ensued.
That was till I got home and saw just how darn big the snake was! 6.5 feet. 14 buttons on the rattle.
I still have the rattle. My friend in Moreno Valley CA bought a piece of property that was loaded with big rattlesnakes, he killed em off to protect his dogs.

Then his property was totally overrun with packrats and pocket gophers. Don't mess with ma nature.

S. Cal has some big rattlesnakes.
 
Wow, those are some large snakes - all of them. I know a guy that spent three days in the hospital and almost lost his foot from being dumb enough to try to chase a pygmy rattler off a trail with his toe. Unfortunately his toe was clad in a running shoe. Lil pygmy had enough tooth for that, and he was maybe a foot long.

I get the creeps everytime I need to go into the crawlspace below the house. At least those monsters would be big enough I might see them before they become annoyed.
 
Nope, no hands on experience with snakes, but if that snake is 8 feet long, that guy's head is 12 inches wide.

I have no doubt that it's a big snake, but every measurement I take indicates that it's a lot less than 8 feet. I might get 4 feet, 5, 6 feet. No where near 8 1/2.

The perspective is radically wrong. It's painfully obvious that he's holding it well out in front of him. It might be 18, 20, 24 inches, but it's certainly not held close to his body.

I don't know, too many variables.

I do know one thing, if I'm making extraordinary claims about the size of something, my pictures would include a tape measure and theirs should too.
 
His arms are bent so not fully extended. Now look at the one my son is holding. Blow it up and look at the rattle and tail. I have handled over 150 that were three or more feet. With several dozen four or more.

Brent
 
Have never seen a 4 or even 5 footer with 13 buttons. Handled one years ago just over 6' that had 12 buttons. My guess is this snake is not 8 1/2' and do agree that the snake is made to look bigger in the pics., but I have no problem at all guessing this snake to be in the 6 1/2 - 7' range.

Would love to see the fangs on this specimen.

Too, a bit off the DB subject but many don't believe the length's nor the aggressiveness of cottonmouth's either...

...until they spend some time around them.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT have a degree in Herpetology nor photography BUT have enough experience in both fields to be dangerous....to myself. :eek::D
 
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