Our neighbor got bit by a brown recluse just below the knee. At least that's what they think it was. The venom did horrific damage to her leg. She went through 6 operations and even had to get her bone removed from below the knee and a rod put in its place. After seeing that I think that, if I had a choice, I would much rather get bit by a copperhead!!

Came 7 feet away from stepping on a rattler out on the prairie yesterday! Luckily it had ate something and he gave me a warning rattle. He made a crow or 2 happy the following morning.

I'm pretty neutral on snakes, can't say I love them but then I know they have a valuable place on keeping the mice down and we have plenty of those around so can't complain.

Now my grandma on the other hand is absolutely terrified. Hates the mere mention of them. Several years back we were all visiting my uncle on his ranch in MT. Earlier that day he had a rattler cross the road in front of him. He and my Grandpa got out and killed it, and he always cut the rattles off. Later that night at dinner he realized he still had the rattle in his shirt pocket. When Grandma wasn't paying attention he pulled the rattle out, held it under the table and started shaking it. Grandma was gone before have of us realized what he was doing and she never did come back to the main house the rest of that night.