Polk couple encounters 9-foot-long rattlesnake while bird watching

[@davebartels612]

I grew up on a farm in eastern Nebraska. When I was in high school biology class my teacher said I was telling a lie when I said that we had rattlesnakes in our area. He tried to make a fool of me in front of the class. By pure coincidence while fixing pasture fence that weekend I saw a skinny, weak rattlesnake who must have just come out of hibernation. He was an easy catch and my biology teacher was a little embarrassed when I took it to school that Monday. Yes, I took a rattlesnake to school. The 70's were a little different.

[@BleuBelair]

I would have thrown it at the teachers face and say NOW YOU BELIEVE MEE?

[@JDMHaze]

@@BleuBelair lmaoo

[@timjones6637]

I love the 70’s year.. we use show off about deer rifle…

[@Pootie_Tan]

I would have put it in the teachers pants 👖

[@DragerPilot]

That’s when learning by observing was allowed, and teachers weren’t wannabe politicians.

[@lloydandcathyterry3299]

Actually, ya'll, I never said that my husband and I thought it was 9 feet long, the reporters got that from who knows where. What we were amazed at was it's WIDTH even more than its length. It was just one fat (and long) snake. Couldn't get video AND photos because as quickly as it was moving from tall grass across the road and into more tall grass I had a choice of pix or a video and with my little camera video takes a minute to come up - 3 pix was all I could manage. So, there you have it from the photographer - me.

[@jermainebradford8071]

9 feet really

[@HarryPotter-uv8yp]

Good to hear your perspectives first hand. Misinformation spreads faster than truth, and faster than that rattlesnake. In that regard, congrats on taking those photos with such a rare and fascinating subject! Fingers crossed for another lucky encounter (though hopefully with something less dangerous)!

[@xmrpaintx1]

I was gunna say 9ft... bs... but I could see that being a behometh pushing 6ft easy, and it's fat like a baseball bat... wish you could have gotten better shots of the head... must have been huge!

[@AtarahDerek]

So even when you give them accurate info, MSM still spins it to fake it.

[@AtarahDerek]

@@bigdaddydiesel5520 Yeah, it's so rare that it's literally never been recorded. So rare, in fact, that a diamondback reaching eight feet has never been recorded. So very, very rare that the longest EDB on record is seven feet, nine inches--15 full inches shy of the super, super rare, never-been-seen 9-foot diamondback.

[@brycewalat5321]

That snake is so big, it doesn’t have a rattle - it has its own percussion section!

[@jeffsartor6577]

That’s hilarious!!! Good one

[@ronwest1368]

😆 🤣 😂

[@juanvaldez2656]

Ba dum tssss

[@heatherwilliams2565]

😂😂😂😂😂@percussion section

[@jodihertle5319]

Lol good one!

[@paulf3358]

Maybe you could SEE the rattlesnake IF the news station didn't have their banner taking up the entire bottom of the SCREEN????

[@jackthe1one.497]

Paul F YOU R RIGHT CANNOT SEE SO CALLED BIG RATTLER. DUMB NEWS BANNER....

[@antoniopressey6508]

Good music right here

[@plz043]

I quite watching WFLA news for that reason alone. Too distracting !

[@dufus2273]

yeah , i hate that

[@nileperch1069]

I thought the same thing !!!!!!!!! Absolutely unbelievable 😠

[@mwroberts79]

In 2005 the video is titled “couple sees 9-foot rattlesnake”… in 2021 “woman fat shames plus-size snake..” 😂😂😂

[@stevieray4520]

Ha ha did you write your on material

[@ssl5745]

😂🤣

[@joesnuffy1061]

aint that truth, she said width wise it was just huge, thats what she said! get it haha

[@lisaschreiber2893]

LMAO!

[@jimmygrant424]

@Rob Mintz ohh did he butthurt you?? Did Matt insult your other liberal snake family?? GFYloser!!!

[@MrDennisLB]

That big rattlesnake is a good hunter and is feeding well.

[@dorsebradford9844]

That snake is normal size in the southwest

[@collinsgreenlee1673]

I know! What in the world has that thing been eating? Probably whatever it wants.

[@dellbeard3818]

@@dorsebradford9844 no as a kid I grew grew up killing and skin them and selling the skins. 7 feet is the biggest I've ever seen in my life 9 foot rattlesnake is very old and a feeds well. No they're not that big in the Midwest

[@edwardparkhurst9804]

You got that right!

[@Jokertuning]

Never been hunted is why

[@patfal1514]

I'll never forget an old photo I saw in an old "general store" years ago on a trip through Ga.A very tall man holding an obvious rattlesnake across his shoulders (you could see the diamond markings and rattles) that reached the ground on both sides of him!! You could tell from his "build" that he was a tall man (thin,lanky long legs) This was many years before camera phones etc... maybe around 1974 so no photo shop etc... Snake had to be at least 10-11 ft. ! I've never forgotten the picture and I'm 70 years old now, was only 19-20 years old when I saw it

[@jancezkiewicz.r6215]

My buddy in zellwood has a pic if him with a couple 7 footers. I imagine there are longer out there ...

[@user-dw2tm3jm5h]

Peterson's gun shop has a 10 foot skin on the wall in mt dora.

[@ILoveOldTWC]

While they may not reach 9 feet long, they are the world's rattlesnake species. Their numbers are dropping because their habitats are being destroyed right and left by land developers that use their habitats to building infrastructure.

[@onemercilessming1342]

The critter looks as if he's just swallowed an escaped python from the Everglades.

[@rogerhegemier8491]

Just think of How Many Chicken Dinners =, you could Make from this Bog O Snake !!! YUMMMMMMMM !!!!

[@561REALTLK]

Everglades doesn't run up to Polk county

[@johnkovich8874]

@@561REALTLK that's precisely why it states "escaped." In addition, sarcasm must not be your strong suit.

[@marinz4life]

Funny you should say that because my first thought was I wondered if they’ve cross-bred and this big rattler is the result?

[@amirabrown4990]

couple: *taking pictures* rattlesnake: “don’t mind me , i’m just passing through .”

[@hotpockets3660]

9 foot, 6 foot or 3 foot, either way if you get bitten by him, you've just had a bad day for sure.

[@philliphageman5194]

Being bite buy grown aldut rattlesnake you have a 20% chance of a dry bite. If it is baby it 100% chance of venom bite and a full dose. But it is always 100% human fault getting bitten by a rattlesnake snake. When they ignore their warning.

[@ceciliabrierley3127]

21st

[@csick11]

@@philliphageman5194 being bitten is not something to be worried about when confronting 9 foot snake. They will wrapped you up swallow you up alive

[@philliphageman5194]

@@csick11 and the moon made of cheese.

[@csick11]

@@philliphageman5194 not so bright are you?

[@meedwards5]

My husband used to work at the Kennedy Space Center and he saw rattlesnakes that size several times. They do get massive in Florida!!

[@gadgetguyify]

Yes... I've heard that the eastern diamondback is the largest of the rattlesnakes.

[@chado3000]

Why did the rattlesnake cross the road? To get the chicken.

[@killerpickle7320]

Love this comment

[@juliorosas-cortes424]

hmmm, sooooo, maybe that's why the chicken cross the rode!!!!!!!!!!! you did it!!!

[@ralphsinamon5222]

Why did the chicken cross the road and roll around in the dirt and then cross the road again? It wanted to be a dirty, double-crosser!

[@margaretkinnaman8585]

I think that snake wanted to sleep off a huge meal it already had rather then hunting for that darn chicken.....😂

[@lucienvandegaart3611]

To eat the rats coming from up north seems an endless supply and they just keep coming messing up our state with the way they do things like we give 2 hoots. Best thing they ever gave us was tom brady thats all

[@jorgegonzales4153]

Wow! I thought it was a gator’s tail at first. I’ve see rattle snakes like that in area as a child. Scary.

[@randytricker8585]

Me too.🤔

[@steveofett8571]

Rattlers are lazy and not really interested in people. Don't screw with it and they won't bite you.

[@lloydclaussen9132]

Thanks , now i would only half shit myself to death if I run into one

[@tazmankb26]

your avatar....that's like your opinion man. Seriously though I'm more concerned with Cottonmouth or Copperhead but we have all three in Texas.

[@cm1133]

Not true AT ALL!

[@lcvb1624]

bull

[@neckofthewoodsupdated7549]

@@tazmankb26; Which of the 3 is the worst ones????

[@LoneTinaja]

The Eastern Diamondback is the largest species of rattlesnake in the U.S. A University of Georgia website states that the longest specimen on record is 96 inches (8 feet). I think it is very unlikely that the one that Lloyd & Cathy Terry saw would be substantially longer than the 96 inch specimen on record. I’ve read their comment that they never said they thought the one they saw was 9 feet long.

[@CryptidWalks]

In a gift shop at Calico ghost town, in Barstow, California there’s a picture of a guy from early 1900’s holding a dead 10 footer.

[@danielburdette6648]

Great report, Fish! Great to see one of my old classmates from high school rocking the camera! Proud of you, Anthony!

[@metablue4454]

Thanks WFLA... just make up the length (based on what Cathy says below) as you go to get more eyes on you. As someone who spent 20+ years in journalism, if I had made up stuff like that I would have been fired for misleading the public.

[@MrLittlebuddy]

WRONG! You would not be fired in todays media for lying. You would be promoted.

[@catsooey]

After media monopolies became legal in 1996 (Telecommunications Act) and the number of mergers that our crooked courts and government have rubber stamped - it’s very obvious that the PTB did not want a functioning media and felt they were able to get away with destroying it. They gradually chipped away at the regulations until the 1996 TC Act stripped out everything. They eventually got control of the internet as well. It’s destroyed our country and made the events of the past 20+ years possible. I feel bad for the kids - us older folks are sickened by it, but the generation who grew up under it don’t even know the difference.

[@joannhurt4978]

They all lie , all the way to the White House , is nothing lies

[@nategardoski1895]

The good old days

[@joshuabrooks4907]

The one thing I like about rattlesnakes is the fact that they're very courteous.

[@edwinreeves6506]

I encountered a Cottonmouth 2 summers in a row about 10 miles north of Kansas City , Mo. In the late 1980s which was about that same size, crossing a road. The 'experts ' say they don't exist around this area. Right!

[@kittiepride7772]

Cottonmouths look similar to banded water snakes, HOWEVER, the best way to tell is a cottonmouths eyes are slit and a banded water snakes are round, and cottonmouths usually have a chunky body and will wiggle the end of their tail to try and sound like a rattler, and, they gape their mouth open and the inside is white that is how they got the name cottonmouth, they also will musk but are dont generally persue people, they too are just trying to survive.

[@edwardmoore5325]

They have some big eastern diamond backs in Washington d c.They are mostly found at 1700 Pennsylvania ave and at the. Capital.sometimes you see them being driven around but mostly they are crawling like their western cousins.stay safe people

[@barbarapatterson4132]

They have lived for a long time to get that big. I have seen them in New Mexico and some kids I grew up with caught one bigger than that. It's skin was on display for many years in a trading post. His fangs were as big as a little finger.

[@TerrellSpivey]

This guy has the perfect new casting voice and accent lol

[@rodiejoe1334]

Estimated 9'. That meens the snake was actually 6-7' TL. Im going with 6' being very familiar with human exageration guesstimating snakes lengths.

[@roberthertz6634]

Same thing with trousers snakes we all add length. Its a snake thing

[@beekay5914]

humans are the worst exaggerators, in spite of what they say about ground squirrels

[@coreypeters1752]

@Devils Adversary That's a load of nonsense the biggest Eastern Diamondback on record isn't even 8 feet and weighed over 30lbs

[@coreypeters1752]

@Devils Adversary 7.8 feet 34lbs

[@angrypop2594]

Walk in Water road was a 2 lane road in the 1970s and several of us witnessed a rattlesnake that crossed the road that was all of the way across one lane and at least a third of the way across the other lane. No we didn't have cameras but it was at least 12 feet long without a doubt.

[@janetkelley1160]

The biggest rattlesnake ever caught and measured was caught by Jim McAllister in Fernandina Beach Fl. It was 7 feet 11 inches. For years Ross Allen at the Silver Springs reptile exhibit offered a $500 bounty for anyone producing a snake of 8 feet, it was never paid out. The Eastern Diamond back is such a striking snake people tend to magnify it’s length but it is the overall birth of the snake that makes it seem so big.

[@wyominghome4857]

I've seen them that size in eastern Montana, but where I live in Wyoming there are no poisonous snakes. Not sure why. Maybe it's the 6800 ft. elevation or the extreme cold in the winter. Whatever, I'm glad they're not here. There are rattlers in southern and eastern Wyoming however.

[@BrandonPerez-ob7hs]

How big are the rattlers in eastern and southern Wyoming?? Close to this size?

[@bigmikec9]

I saw one , here in MS , that was 8 ft +. He was also crossing the road.

[@stripervince1]

Very nice. I live in Polk and have seen some big diamondbacks, but not that big. That's huge. Good job!!!

[@johnramirez5996]

I was in Alabama and 1 guy I met when I was 16, (I'm 44 now). Had a skinned rattler that he kill in his parking lot by his business. This snake skin was more than 10 ft about 13 to be accurate. He rolled it out on the floor and my eyes were wide open. To see a dangerous snake this size ! OMG! What would happen if this snake gotten a hold of someone?

[@dustinmarshall5741]

When i was 17 and living nahunta Ga one of my entertainments was catching wild snakes and one day while driving down a naturally used dirt road a Diamondback around that same size was leisurely strolling across it. My mother was in the cab with me as i slammed on the brakes and got out to retain the snake. She was upside down inside the truck screamings but she also can testify to a rattle snake this large for they do exist and are quite common just too damn smart to get caught most of the times. I enjoyed the rareness of the catch and kindly let the snake on his way.

Georgia is also where the world's record EDB was found. 7'-9" and 34 lbs. 72 years ago and the record still stands. Glad you did the right thing and let it go on it's way...rats probably weren't too happy.

[@Tweedle457]

No, I wanna know why is the banner across the picture of the snake .........

[@pagliaccisghost269]

Grew up in the woods of Florida. I saw one once that was stretched across the WHOLE dirt road. I wish I had a camera, because it had to be 15 ft. Wish I could prove it...

[@leliad7602]

My mother, who was born in Florida in 1920, also grew up there and reported seeing snakes long enough to stretch across a dirt road with the head in one ditch and the tail in the other. I had no reason to doubt her, as humans typically kill the biggest animals around, either for trophies or out of fear. Unfortunately, cameras were not available to her either when she lived there.

[@jeromedavid7944]

Thanks for clearing things up in the comments section. This coming from the proverbial "horse's mouth" made it even more transparent of how the events as well as the size transpired.

[@tommythomason6187]

A bite from one that large could kill you in short order without immediate medical care.

[@OmarLopez-ll8xd]

Here in Tucson, Arizona Dbacks are normal size avg. 6" to 9+ " You can see it at THE LOOP BIKE PATH all days of summer, differents sizes.

[@beekay5914]

Eastern Diamondbacks and Western Diamondbacks are not the same species.

[@scottg6754]

No 9 ft rattlesnakes on record. Largest rattlesnake on record is 7"9. Those things are thick and among the heaviest venomous snakes.

[@ReaperCVPI]

Actually theres been bigger than 9 spotted just not cuaght . sometimes google isnt perfect but there definitely has been

[@ghostwalk2446]

The woman who took the pic actually commented and said neither her nor her husband said it was 9 ft

[@ronniehdable]

I have seen a photo in bithlo of a black man holding a rattlesnake on his shoulderand close to his body. The photo was 1945 and the snake went from his ankle in the front, to his ankle in the back. it had to be 8-9 foot. They are out there for sure. Glad they let it be.

[@clarkblount7788]

Try again , New Mexico 10 ft picture of carcass the in paper.

[@hotlanta35]

Ok it’s official 😂👌

[@alswann2702]

My family's originally from the Nichols area. In the late 1930s my granny shot a rattler in the barn. They had a Model A truck and tied the snake's head to the front bumper passenger side and wrapped him around the truck tying his tail to the rear bumper driver side. They drove to town where the town doctor cut the head off, put it in a jar of formaldehyde and displayed it in his waiting room, jaws propped open! I have family photos of similar size rattlers killed in the area in the '60s.

[@wrigman]

You folks were very lucky to see a rattlesnake THAT big! They get that way by staying away from people……

[@em945]

Insightful😁

[@expiredwater4118]

Exactly. But most of the time, it's not the snake going near people. People enter its territory. Many people enter their territory just to kill them. That's why timber rattlesnakes are endangered in New York.

[@wrigman]

@Sean T I used to live in So.Cal. I rode my mountain bike in Chino Hills state park, the Santa Ana mountains(they were practically out my back door) and the Lake Perris area. There were days when it was a total snake fest. I used to be afraid of rattle snakes. Found out they really are one of the least aggressive snakes out there. Give them the respectful distance they deserve, they are cool…. Saw one snake like the one in the video up in the Santa ana’s it reared up on me because I surprised it. I just kept going and so did it. No harm no foul….. About the time I became comfortable with them being around, I came across a side winder. They ARE aggressive and will chase you. Thankfully I was on my bike and was able to speed up and get away. But that little dude chased me for a good twenty feet! Bottom line is don’t screw with rattle snakes, they won’t screw with you……..

[@abbaby555]

Would make a nice belt

[@nachomom-fk2bi]

Alligators do the same thing.

[@bobsmoot2392]

I've know snake handlers struck by large Eastern Diamondbacks in Florida. Snake boots blocked the fangs, but they got big bruises from the impact.

[@Covey7342]

That looks like one that my mom ran over when I was kid. It stretched from one side of the road to the other. It felt like we ran over a speed bump.

[@SONJASAVEDBYGRACE]

😳

[@pughoneycutt1986]

In 1992 I saw a rattlesnake that had to be close to 10 feet long it was crossing a forest service road about 8ft wide, and it's head was off the road about a foot and it's tail about a foot off the road on the other side

[@mr.george-pht]

Imagine what they had in those areas about 200 years ago before humans. I bet they sad some serious monsters.

[@KennethMixson]

I heard that at one time someone had a large reward around $100,000.00 for the capture of a large rattlesnake over 8 feet long. It was never claimed.

[@roberthertz6634]

It got out of the bag.

[@chuckgates1171]

100 years ago that was common

[@daleslover2771]

Absolutely!👍

[@gaylewilliams4805]

Huh?

[@peppermartin2079]

In Augusta Georgia in 1963 a local told me he saw a sixteen foot Swamp Rattler cross the 16 feet wide levee road during a rain storm; head going off on one side and tail coming on the road on the other side at the same time.

[@thomasbroking7943]

I thought there would be a good picture, I've never seen a rattlesnake that big 6 feet is huge. I sure would have liked to see it

[@haylocktransport6695]

Back when Disney World was being built out of that swamp in the 1960s , there's alot stories there about huge rattle snakes , gators and moccasins the size of logs .

[@jorgegonzales4153]

Lol. Disney built the “swamp.” I used to bale hay there before Disney scammed many of us for our ranches. Yes big snakes!

[@haylocktransport6695]

@@jorgegonzales4153 there's some wild ass stories from the development there .I mean workers getting killed by gators , snakes and skunk ape s throwing rocks at them .

[@jacobjohn6942]

It looked like it didn’t need to eat for several more months lmaooo

[@patriciathomas3855]

There is this troll among us here in this thread I don’t think I need to say who as most everyone has been reading his argumentative comments, insulting people etc. Anyway to clarify, 9ft rattle snakes are hard to believe I get that. Doesn’t mean that they don’t exist in the right circumstances. When I referenced the snake I saw it was over 30 years ago prior to cell phones with cameras or I can assure you I would have taken a picture. But it was a sight I will never forget. I lived in a small town west of Lake City Florida called Olustee. It is located in the middle of the Osceola Forest. 6ft rattlers are the norm there. Yes we did eat rattle snake and alligator. Anyway, insults and name calling is not necessary. These posts are meant to enjoy, comment if you want without fear of someone weeks later still out there being a troll. To everyone else who has commented I would apologize but then I thought that I don’t need to apologize for sharing an experience I had many years ago. Why would I want to make up something like that. I have no interest in snakes and I am glad I no longer live there. To this day if I am walking in the grass I am always looking down. That is what I was taught to do from an early age especially after a hurricane or bad rain storms. I live where it is too cold to worry about snakes too much any more.

[@zamonium]

They *don't* exist, we have herpetologists who study this sort of thing. There are no nine foot diamondbacks, in ANY circumstances.

[@yorthelooserhooclamesthewi2733]

SpeedBall ... Lol A 6 foot long copperhead is the stuff of FANTASY . They don't exist that big . Good STORY tho

[@tshearn624]

I kill every snake I see if it is on my property. If I run into one off my property I get away and let it go on it's way. I refuse to have snakes on my property because I will not risk my kid or any other kid getting bit on my property.

[@MegaRiffraff]

I grew up in eastern Kentucky so have seen lot of rattlers , never seen one that long , they were most dangerous in spring and fall when the weather was cooler they would try to get inside the house , couple times they made it both times they were around the fireplace , one got up on the mantle and stretched out , my uncle seen it when he went to set the clock .

[@judejude8746]

The thought gives me goosebumps.

[@lesschattermoresplatter5769]

Ask the old folks and they😢always say “dog days” are the most dangerous for vipers biting people.

[@kevinpride6543]

That is beyond snake. That is a Grandmother Serpent.

[@bobdixon4998]

It's not that big. Channel 8 moved the image off center and out of screen. I caught one in 1980 university parkway Sarasota that measured 7'4" and 7" diameter

[@elppedro77]

Nature's pest control! Very efficient and does not poison the environment! I have come across many rattlers and they are not aggressive at all. When they see you, they usually go the opposite direction and try to get out of sight.

[@FTWilliams616]

I'd like the Rattle snakes I've seen to meet the Rattle snakes you've seen and learn some manners because all the Rattle snakes I've seen usually chase us in a not so friendly manner. The only good snake is a snake far from me! 🥺☠

[@margaretkinnaman8585]

@@FTWilliams616 I have never had a snake chase me. I have had a few take exception to my being there and they coiled up but never struck at me since I very sensibly backed away.

[@boogieman1899]

Im from Texas an i dnt No r think u have a clue WTF u talkN Bout...

[@johnhunter8192]

7o i0

[@happity]

Almost walked on one in tall grass. It rattled at me, and I jumped a foot. Don't think he moved.

[@mikejohnson7768]

i was driving in pooler ga and saw a rattlesnake crossing the road this thing literally took up almost 1 whole lane width wise as it moved across the road

[@skeeterinnewjersey5256]

I am glad to see that there are still a few big ones left alive. If you think rattlers are bad news, wait until the state is overrun with squirrels, rats, mice, nutria and anything else that rattlers help control. You might like them better.

[@Dnez44901]

Exactly

[@IXIKAYAKOxSAEKIIXI]

Oh wow, like we need snakes to get rid of them, especially venomous ones

What's the matter Skanky - did I upset you? Too fuckin' bad, sissyboy.

[@jackthe1one.497]

Melody Szadkowski YOU R SO RIGHT...IT'S THE WAY OF LIFE. EAT AWAY RATTLER,FEASTING TIME...YUMMY DISEASED RODENT'S & STINKY DEAD 🐦'S ... LIFE-CYCLE IN THE WILD.

[@merkur8777]

Personally, I'm in favor of ridding the country of venomous snakes. Reason why? They have several snake hunts each year near where I live and countless rattlers are harvested. The farmers are all for it. Why? Because even with the hunts farmers lose many pets and livestock each year due to snake bites. Several humans have even died from snakebite this past year. There are no rattlers where I live and I live in a farm town next to a grain elevator. One would think rats would be swarming but I rarely see them. Why? Because cats, hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, and so on keep them in check without help from reptiles. Which could explain why there are so few non-venomous snakes around here. They're not needed.

[@johnshaft5613]

The snake in the picture is an Eastern Diamondback, and they do get large, but it was not a 9 foot snake. How do I know? First of all, there has never been one close to 9 feet historically recorded, and the largest of the snakes have gradually been decreasing in size due to human activity and habitat destruction. They do not attain anywhere near the sizes they did back in 1900. Nowadays a 6 footer is a giant. But the main thing, I have been listening to rattlesnake accounts my whole life, and everyone (that is EVERYONE) who is not a snake expert exaggerates the size of any rattler they spot by at least 30-50%. This is partly because rattlers are heavy bodied snakes, making them look longer than they are, partly because exaggeration is a key part of effective story telling, and partly out of terror. I would wager, based on the totality of circumstances, that it was a 5 foot snake. No larger. I don't blame the cute old couple for the dissonance, I blame the media account, eager to sensationalize a story without doing basic fact checking. Nothing new....

[@V1124az]

The reporter was looking down while he was talking- tryin to look out for that snake, I guess 👀 🐍

[@rayknox1862]

Raised on a farm in south Georgia it was common to come across eastern diamondbacks , when i was 13 i came across one like that and it scared me , he was huge , i kept my distance on this one and just watched him disappear under a old falling down house.

[@rickpetersen41]

So where are her great photos

[@bbmatias22]

Rick Petersen I’m the video genius

[@strangesoren2694]

Rattlesnakes can get rather huge. An old friend's stepdad who used to go motorcycling up in the hills said if you ever got a bit by one of the huge ones, look to the east because that's the last time you'll ever get to see the city again.

[@addicted2tone349]

9ft is just an obscene length for an eastern diamondback. With that perspective it's hard to say if He's that big or not. He's still got a huge body though and at least 6 to 7 ft long. I say he because males are usually larger in rattlesnakes than females are. I'm guessing he's a big old granddaddy...

[@addicted2tone349]

56 426 225 I agree, I was just giving the benefit of the doubt.. He's big but not that big.

[@TheTraveler33]

It's not less than 9 ft. to someone who is afraid of snakes. Most people will swear it was 20 foot long, stood up on it's hind legs, told them it was going to eat them and chased them for over two miles. Lol!

[@lukemccardle2379]

Back in 97 my fiance now wife saw a diamondback crossing the road here in Columbia co and he was every bit of 8ft long I've seen a few that were 4 or 5 ft but that was the biggest rattler I ever saw.

[@lukemccardle2379]

Its in Florida and I was the one driving the car when it came across the road I saw it myself my fault I didn't disclose that in the previous comment I am 6ft 3 and I know it was longer than that .

[@lukemccardle2379]

Columbia co is in extreme north Florida its county line borders Ga.

[@briant2140]

I saw a diamondback rattlesnake in Florida on Tosahatchee trail a few years back. It came out of the bush and onto the gravel road. My friend said it came out to get warm. Anyway, we estimate that it was about 5 ft. There was another car with two other people in it who got out and agreed with us about the length. I do not exaggerate. I can tell you that the snake was at least four and a half feet long, but probably closer to five feet.

[@ramonakillimanjaro3638]

Very handsome fella, just hanging out and doing what all good rattlesnakes do, scare the shit out of people.

[@ronaldstarkey4336]

Yep

[@jj-ce8bb]

Yes they are scary but there miss judged there still animals

[@OneBlueFroggy]

@@jj-ce8bb - newsflash ! 💥 Snakes are NOT animals !

[@jj-ce8bb]

@@OneBlueFroggy yes they are there just very unique

[@scottfed3878]

You idiot they are a reptile

[@3rdranger1recon19]

Years ago many of these snakes could be found from 7 ft up to even 14 ft; so 9ft is not hard to believe.

[@kitbailey6963]

Eastern Diamondbacks can grow well beyond 6 feet in length. So long as the snake remains healthy and has both a good water supply and an abundance of food sources, it's growth rate can easily be over 6 feet. Eastern Diamondbacks are very reclusive creatures. Hunting by night and warming up during the day, they're very hard too spot, except by those that know how and where to look for them. As for its girth, it's likely this particular specimen just ate. Personally, I prefer the Western Diamondback myself. We have many out here on my ranch. They're beautiful to watch as they go about their business. 🐍KB

[@bearlyphased]

They can but do they.... not much at all or else this wouldnt be news

[@richardhincemon]

Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake 7ft.9in.34lb documented by Guinness World Records 1946.Crotalas Adamanteus they don't get that big anymore due to habitat destruction and the gene pool hunted for trophies in the sixtys killed off the largest specimens. This was a very large Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake.

[@functionalgirl1]

Hello Bartow. I graduated from there and lived at the Villa. Wonderful little town. I counted about 11 rattles. Correct me if I'm wrong don't the number of rattles determine age?

[@TheAndyharris]

Should of caught it because it shattered the largest diamond back on record by over 1 1/2 feet. I think they guessed the size and missed by a few feet lol.

[@MrGlorybe]

In a suburb near Ft. Lauderdale a tool shed was knocked down and out came an 11 ft. rattler with an 18 inch girth. The workers killed it and measured it with their tape measures. The Forida diamond back is a species unto itself. The huge one that I saw personally was brown with the diamond markings rather than the usual gray. I was in the country and had no need to kill it or disturb it as human contact was very unlikely.

[@TheAndyharris]

Jim Sadler your story would be better if you started it with ..... Once upon a time ..... Because there has never been an 11 foot rattlesnake .

[@johnhickman9926]

4Cs .plugs sorry dude you wrong record are 2 snakes in ark that was 25 an 27 ft caught in same area

C'mon Hickman, for Christ's sake. The longest indigenous North American snake species is the Indigo. And it max'es out at just under 9 feet. The longest pit viper is the EDB and it max'es out at just under 8 feet . And neither species resides in Arkansas. (have you ever heard of a search engine? It could save you a lot of embarrassment in the future)

[@johnhickman9926]

56 426 225 go to Forrest city ark newspaper an look it up they had the pictures of both snakes in paper they was killed like 2 years apart believe it was in 80 when it was world record

[@ILoveOldTWC]

I know where Bartow is - about 10 SSE of Lakeland, and 10 miles SSW of Winter Haven.

[@michaelwthalman]

On an average year 7k people in the U.S are bitten by venomous snakes and average 5 deaths a year. Far more people die from fire ant stings then rattlesnakes. Far more people die a year from simply tripping and falling down. I live with them around my house, I train my hunting dogs on snake avoidance and managed no incidents in 47 years...

Michael - I too, along with my wife, all our siblings and neighbors grew up in hills that were loaded down with them. We were all taught at an early age to simply avoid them. We did and no one was ever bitten.

[@curlyanneb1973]

Michael Thalman you also Need to check out what anti venom costs and that insurance doesn’t pay a penny of it, then rethink.

[@antmer3954]

Though I live in Australia, I have read about North America's Rattlesnakes over the years. From what I understand, the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in the USA. Furthermore, it's widely known the King Cobra of both Asia and Africa is the longest, venomous snake on Earth. The King Cobra is known to reach up to 5 metres (15 feet) long. Here in Australia, our second most venomous snake, and indeed on Earth, the Coastal Taipan, reaches up to 3.5 metres (11 feet) long, and whilst shy, preferring to avoid people, is highly aggressive, and will bite multiple times until left alone, a trait it shares with the King Brown, and other Brown Snakes. The Coastal Taipan snake is reputed to bite up to 14 times, but, like all snakes, will only do so if annoyed or threatened, its venom is powerful enough to see one bite kill up to 25 fully grown men. Our most dangerous snake, which is also the world's deadliest venomous snake, is the Inland Taipan, found around the desert areas of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Northern Territory, reaches up to 2 metres (6 ft 6 ins), is also highly aggressive, and it has a single bite reputed to be venomous enough to kill 100 fully grown men. Another long snake species, which is on a list below, is the King Brown. This snake, which occurs across large parts of Australia, is known to grow to 2.5 (7 feet) to 3 metres (9 feet), has a hiss that has to be heard to be believed. As with all "King" type species, the King Brown does eat other snakes, venomous and non - venomous alike. A second list will show the known longest species. So, I'm not surprised that the American couple in the video encountered a 3 metre (9 feet) long Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, for as I said, this is America's largest venomous snake, and specimens that long are probably more common than many would think. This is simply the first time such a long snake has been located, and photographed. Here is a list of the Top Ten deadliest venomous snakes on Earth: 1: Inland Taipan (Aust) 2: Coastal Taipan (Aust) 3: King Brown (Aust) 4: Eastern Brown (Aust) & Black Mamba (Africa) 5: Mainland Tiger (Aust) 6: King Cobra (Africa & Asia) 7: Kraits (SE Asia) 8: Death Adder (Aust) 9: Copperhead (Aust) 10: Eastern Diamondback (USA) Known longest Venomous Snakes: 1: King Cobra (Africa & Asia) to 5 metres (15 feet) 2: Coastal Taipan (Aust) to 3.5 metres (11 feet) 3: King Brown (Aust) to 3 metres (9 feet) 4: Black Mamba (Africa) to 3 metres (9 feet) 5: Eastern Diamondback (USA) to 3 metres (9 feet) 6: Ferdelance (South America) to 2.5 metres (7 feet) 7: (2 different species) Bass Strait Tiger & Copperhead (Aust) to 2.5 metres (7 feet) 8: Western Diamondback (USA) to 2 metres (6 ft 6 ins) 9: African Cobra (Africa) to 2 metres (6 ft 6 ins) 10: Boomslang (Africa) to 2 metres (6 ft 6 ins) The key difference is that with the exception of the Timber Rattlesnake, which is known to be easily annoyed and aggressive, most species of Rattlesnakes actually have milder temperaments, and are known to be reluctant to bite humans, only doing so if feeling threatened and therefore annoyed.

[@clarkewi]

Eastern diamond backs can easily reach 8 feet.

[@DEADorALIVEkayaking]

Not easily, they can't. Largest on record is shy of 8'. That said, when you're the one looking at him within striking range, they're suddenly in the 12'+ range, until you go back and look at the pictures later!

[@masterbuilderproductions]

Westerns easily reach 7

[@masterbuilderproductions]

And Great basins easily reach 6

[@kittiepride7772]

The rattlesnake round up has dramatically dropped their numbers and a snake surviving that long is rare, that practice has to stop, people do not realize what they are doing to the ecosystem. People's ignorance has caused so many poor animals their lives.

[@robertbihn3005]

@DR Dan why wasn't it recorded as a record ?

[@retirednavy8720]

A standard traffic lane on a road in the US is slightly more than 12 feet. I seriously doubt the snake in that pic went 9 ft. Closer to 6. Decent sized snake, but not a monster but I agree with one thing, it had some girth.

[@deepattison9329]

Makes you wonder what he had for lunch.

[@241hnd]

Does look big but 9 ft???? Nothing else in picture to reference size.

[@girlspooptoo8567]

241hnd Yeah Old people are always exaggerating

[@Automedon2]

If they had gotten a picture as it crossed the road, you might have been able to see it's size relative to the width of the lane, but from that angle it could have been 6 feet.

[@ericgrinnellsr.832]

I seen one bigger by two feet in McClay canyon by Sylmar CA. It was run over by a car and it stuck out by at least a foot or more on both sides of the tires. I also seen an eleven foot bullsnake in my barn. It was hunting mice...probly hors d'eaurves.

You are so full of shit it isn't funny. If you're gonna' lie, at least make it plausible.

[@cdgipson9172]

Imagine the amount of venom that sucker had. Probably enough to kill a football team!

[@Wrastleman903]

You don’t know a thing about snakes do ya? 🤣

[@1stWorldProblemsSolved]

@@Wrastleman903 They clearly don't lol.

[@cdgipson9172]

@MrSuperSativa I've heard that's not true. I know this guy who runs a snake identification and removal business here in East TX. He says it's a myth.

[@cdgipson9172]

@MrSuperSativa Ok. How about the next time you encounter an adult venomous snake; play with it until it bites you. It's a 50/50 chance. You sound like a gambler.

[@FTWilliams616]

@MrSuperSativa Not true at all.

[@georgeshotrodbarn2113]

I got a pic of one on trail camera in SC that was about six feet long and a little over half the size of that one

[@chasecrazyteen]

It was an Eastern Diamondback mixed with Burmese Python. Very rare snake.

[@shelialovett7148]

venomous snakes do not breed with non-venomous snakes

[@gonzalomanriquez4956]

I used to always run into huge rattlesnakes in Babson park and Frostproof growing up.

[@willsweat5413]

Definitely a very hearty Eastern Diamondback but doubtful that it was 9 foot. Still, what a big beautiful snake!

[@lcross558]

yep

[@keithmackey654]

Maybe close to 6 but yea 9 is really pushing it.Next someone gonna say they saw a 8 foot cottonmouth around Tattnall county Ga😂😂😂😂😂

[@billmay7364]

Really a Beautiful Reptile . That's something you just show Respect. Let it Be. You corner it. Well it's a Can you don't want to Open.

[@KingofPepsi]

At the end, it would have been hilarious if the giant rattlesnake poked his head out of the grass and said, "So, you're calling me fat, lady?"

[@bgdesignandsolutions]

A photo, but no video? What kind of photographer is she? Lousy i'd say. Video tape it, then spit a segment to get a photo is your best chance of getting the right photo. I don't see anything here that indicates a 9 foot snake.

[@eldegaf4732]

BG Design and Soultions photographer takes photos dumbass

[@lloydandcathyterry3299]

Reporters came up with that length, not me. I was more amazed at its width. And I have bad arthritis in both shoulders so I can't use a camera bigger than a little Nikon Coolpix that takes forever for video to come on so my only chance to get it was still pix from the passenger side leaning over my husband to take pic out his window that he was still trying to get down. Plus I don't know how to "spit" a segment. Appreciate your kindness, bet your parents are proud of you.

[@jbax247]

Not sure about 9 ft. but eastern diamond backs frequently get over 6 ft here on the sand ridges of south Georgia. I speculate the large girth is a pregnant female.

[@waliahmad3030]

It's all fun and games til you run across one.

[@keithnottellin7188]

In Georgia we have HUGE rattlers. In 1991 at lake blackshear i thought one was a speed bump.... it stretched across the entire road

[@benyoumans9072]

We don't call them big until they hit 7 feet. I have seen a dead one that taped just over 8 feet.

[@finallymyseason5389]

Im gonna send you some proof. Hang on

If you're sending a photo of a tanned rattlesnake skin, don't waster your time. they stretch considerably during the process - a dead 8 foot rattlesnake might impress me - a skin - not so much.

Finally - I'm waiting...

[@Irelandrbi]

Not likely anything close to 9 feet. Longest rattlesnake on record was an Eastern Diamondback at just over 8’. But still cool they saw it.

[@richardhincemon]

Largest Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake 7ft.9in.34lb documented by Guinness World Records 1946 killed by a hunter named Rutledge. The longest undocumented Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake 7ft.11in. caught by Jim McCallister of Florida legendary herpetologist Ross Allen of Silver Springs Florida offered a one thousand dollar reward for any rattlesnake 8ft or longer which nobody has ever collected. 🤔

[@Charley_Goji]

What a gorgeous giant

[@DeadEyeDan16]

I’ve lived in North Ga my whole life and I’m a outdoors type person. I just found a huge timber rattler in my yard for the first time yesterday.

[@mattslev]

People routinely overestimate and wildly exaggerate snakes’ sizes. There are no 9’ EDBs in existence anywhere. Judging from the photo, I doubt that snake was even 6’ in length, which would still be a very large and impressive animal. These sorts of accounts are commonplace but tellingly are never confirmed by science.

[@jasonbennett5382]

I have seen a diamond back at the St John River Wildlife refuge that stretched to the center of the wheels on a Volvo wagon. They do get that long, however rare.

[@sixfigureskibum]

Used to be a timber rattler skin on display at the camp store at Three Rivers just west of Sequoia np I. Cali. I was maybe 6 ast time I saw it in the 70s.. I want to say it was 20 feet.. but best recollection was it covered most of the crown molding of the north wall ..12 ? 18 ? Feet? And the sign likely told about 20 footers from the gold rush days when everywhere was still wilderness

[@richardhincemon]

Skins are stretched and sewn together to make Curiosities and sold to the public for profit.

[@daviddixon2273]

0:59 it looks like a damned aligator

[@johnajackson7379]

That what I thought too..lol

[@JManis38]

The white stripe on the road the snake is crossing is about 4" wide. I estimate close to 6’.

[@JT-sl3ui]

A diamondback that just recently ate a meaL What is all of the fuss about?

[@hitman748]

UPDATE- the snake is comfortable living life out as my boots.

[@patriciafaure3410]

Do you think these rattle snakes is inbreeding with pythons or constructors and have more genes of the rattle snake I think it's possible.

[@zamonium]

You need to study genetics. Do you think it's possible for owls to interbreed with hawks too?

[@skeeterinnewjersey5256]

Can't recall that one species you mentioned, but I'm sure there are no constructors around to interbreed with anything.

[@ReiTheRabbit]

Patricia Faure no, they really can get that big.

[@Charley_Goji]

that is literally impossible, they don't share enough genetic material to even make eggs

[@adamporter3742]

Sounds like you need to look up what inbreed means in the dictionary...

[@mattlechner8442]

when they're super-thick, sometimes it's because they've recently eaten and not fully processed whatever it was they ate. But there can be jumbo-size creatures in all species, larger than average.

[@crazifyit]

That snake looks like it just ate! Love it!

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

I live on a ranch in south Texas. We have those now and again. Scary!

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

All of the nopes......

[@bg9255]

This snake is at least twenty years old. You can zone in on the rattles at the 46 mark, just what you can count, each rattle is a different shade btw, is 18.

[@kurttuchscherer7706]

You can not tell a snakes age by how many rattles it has. Everytime a snake sheds it adds a button. And a snake can shed several times a year.

[@bg9255]

@@kurttuchscherer7706 ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST thanks for the info it has gone the way of old wives tales.....