Fact Check

Texas Rattlesnake

Photograph shows a 9-foot rattlesnake caught in Texas?

Published Nov. 14, 2005

Claim:

Claim:   Photograph shows a 9-foot rattlesnake caught in Texas.


Status:   Undetermined.

Example:   [Collected via e-mail, 2005]




WE GROW 'EM BIG IN TEXAS!!!

This snake was recently found at the old Turkey Creek gas plant
located just south of the Alibates Turnoff on Highway 136 south
of Fritch Texas.

[THAT'S JUST NORTH OF AMARILLO]

Click to enlarge

A reminder that these creatures are actually out there and no matter what you believe, sometimes they should get not only prescriptive
rights to be there but the full right of way!

9 feet, 1 inch - 97 lbs.

No matter what anybody else tells you, kill the snake before you try to do anything else to it! It's the safest way for you and the snake doesn't care anymore.

DEEP-FRIED RATTLESNAKE

1 medium-sized rattlesnake (3-4 lbs.), cut into steaks
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup cracker crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1 teaspoon salt
dash pepper

Mix dry ingredients. Whisk milk into beaten egg and use to dip snake steaks.
Then coat them with dry ingredients. Fry, uncovered, in 400 degree oil until brown.



Variations:   Later versions of this e-mail forward place the pictured snake in Missouri:



Next time you're out in the tall grass, remember this one.

This snake was recently found at the J & L Tack located just south of Poplar Bluff on Highway 67 south of Town.


Origins:   We don't know the particulars of this photograph's origins, but it looks to be another case of a genuine image accompanied by some possibly inaccurate or exaggerated information. (The snake's positioning closer to the camera lens than the man holding it makes the reptile appear larger than it really is, and even a 9-foot rattler is unlikely to weigh anywhere close to 97 lbs. unless it had just ingested a large animal.)

Last updated:   11 June 2007


David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.

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