Rattlers in WI

Country-Side Breeders · Post by **Country-Side Breeders** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:18 am

Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a non-venomous rattler? The DNR is talking about releasing these in Manitowoc Co., here in WI, in order to control the turkey pupulation (because why on earth would they give out more permits for hunting them...that might make sense for them to do!!! :scratch: )...but at the same time, they're working on getting the pheasant count up. I'm wondering...maybe there is such a thing...AND they only eat turkey eggs!!

But serioulsy, I didn't know such a snake exsists and wanted to see if any of you had heard of them.

WildRose · Post by **WildRose** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:39 am

I'm not an expert, but while I've heard of sugically devenomized rattlers I've never heard of a rattler that was not venomous at birth. Sounds like garbage to me. There's a ton of non venomous snakes that prey on ground nesting bird eggs, but the rattlesnake to my knowlege is not one of them. Rat snakes, chicken snakes, bull snakes, and coach whips all will prey on eggs. Perhaps someone a the DNR or the reporter they talked to has some seriously crossed wires.

All in all I don't see snakes fairing too well at all in a climate as cold and wet as Wisconsin but stranger things have happened I suppose. CR

Country-Side Breeders · Post by **Country-Side Breeders** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:51 am

We do actually have them surviving here in the state...LaCrosse has them nested in the bluffs, much to my surprise. Hopefully, the wires are seriously crossed...don't want to have to deal with that if I don't have to...I'll leave that for you guys down there to have fun with.

GrouseHunter22 · Post by **GrouseHunter22** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 10:57 am

There isn't any snake that would eat a turkey egg and pass up a grouse or pheasant egg. Are there? Sounds crazy to me.

Country-Side Breeders · Post by **Country-Side Breeders** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 5:36 pm

Not that I know of...and that was my point...it's kind of stupid to say that the snakes are going to control the turkey population, but yet the pheasant population they are trying to get back up. If one egg gets munched, my guess is that all species/types would. But, that's the DNR for ya up here.....

GrouseHunter22 · Post by **GrouseHunter22** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:21 pm

Its the same down here. They get hung up on one species and that is all that they think about. Currently that is Elk. If it has to do with Elk they will listen to what you have to say, but if it is about small game or turkeys, they will ignore you.

macstartan · Post by **macstartan** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:38 pm

I have never herd of non poisonus rattel snakes
Soungs to me like the storyBeing told in some states about turkeys causing the decline of quail . Seems as the story goes that turkeys hunt down quail chicks . HOGWASH they may happen upon chicks & if they are small enough , yea maybe.
would sure like to know more about these snakes.
I am sure there are not many snakes of any kind that will survive in those cold climes

Mac

Bird Dog 67 · Post by **Bird Dog 67** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 9:15 am

Being from here in Wisconsin myslef it wouldn't suprise me one bit if our notoriously incompetent DNR would choose to this. God forbid that you can get a turkey permit with your small game license!! They're getting as thick as the mosquitos!!! Give me a break!!

Country-Side Breeders · Post by **Country-Side Breeders** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:10 am

My thoughts exactly!!!

macstartan · Post by **macstartan** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 7:42 pm

GrouseHunter22 wrote:There isn't any snake that would eat a turkey egg and pass up a grouse or pheasant egg. Are there? Sounds crazy to me.

G H 22
I just 2 days ago killed a black snakr in my pidgeon cage with a pidg chick the size ofa large baseball in it's gut .
This guy favors pidg eggs .
Mac

PA_Sportsman · Post by **PA_Sportsman** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 1:31 pm

Not sure I'd take this seriously. Here in PA it was rumored that coyotes were released to control the deer population. Completely untrue. Anytime you hear about a species being introduced to control another it is more than likely a rumor.

The NWTF has invested alot of money and time to bring the wild turkey back. I think they'd get wind of it and oppose it if it were true.

Featherman · Post by **Featherman** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:19 pm

Listening to WPR, the DNR guy got a crazy call from someone in Door County repeating the silly rumor. He had a good laugh and as one might expect, that's all there is to it. NOTHING.

Country-Side Breeders · Post by **Country-Side Breeders** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 11:18 pm

I'm glad someone other than us hunters thinks that this is an insane idea...

As PA Sportsman said, if the NWTF caught wind of this, there's no way it would go through.

Thanks for all the inputs!

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Rattlers in WI

Rattlers in WI

Not suprising