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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tortoise Tom" data-source="post: 136201" data-attributes="member: 27883">Interesting. Your info on the Catalina rattlesnake differs with what I've been told by all the herpers in this area who handle them and other species. One guy says if you get bit by a Catalina rattler, it won't kill you, but you'll be a veggie the rest of your life. Our local helleri would not be fun to be bitten by, but it won't turn you into a vegetable. Having never been bitten by either, I really can't argue one way or the other.The main species I encounter and handle are Southern Pacifics. I've literally been chased by them. I figured they were just moving in one direction or another and as I kept zig zagging to get off line, I quickly realized that damn thing was following and trying to get me. I've had other ones literally launch their entire bodies into the air while striking at me. I would never have believed it had I not seen it. So much for that "safe" striking distance. I've not handled prairies, but I'm told they are much more aggressive than helleri. Helleri will also usually tame down over time and with handling. Several friends do dog training clinics for snake avoidance, and they say that after a while the helleri tame down and stop striking, while the prairies never calm down.</blockquote>