Jul

22

Big Snake in Montana?

July 22, 2008 | 47 Comments

Soyamaven sent me this picture with this information: “Reportedly, this 9′ 1″, 97 lb. snake was recently found east of Helena, near Canyon Ferry Lake.”

I don’t know if snakes in Montana routinely grow this large…but I’d hate to meet up with one.

Big Snake in Montana?

So…can anyone confirm or deny that this snake was indeed captured near Canyon Ferry Lake?


Comments

47 Comments so far

  1. Randy on July 22, 2008 11:49 am

    The size would indicate an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_adamanteus
    While the size is certainly possible it’s very unlikely this is a Montana snake.

  2. Courtney on July 22, 2008 3:18 pm

    That’s a Western Diamondback, you can tell by the black and white rings near the rattle. So, probably NOT found in MT, unless it was an escaped pet. I also suspect that the reported length of the snake is an exaggeration, made easier by the angle of the shot. I think that looks like it’s about 7 feet, which is adult size for a Western Diamondback.

  3. Maleesha on July 22, 2008 7:24 pm

    I saw a VERY large rattler on the highway near Lewis & Clark Caverns a few weeks ago. Not that big…but it was pretty stinking big. I hope they don’t ‘routinely’ get that way or I’m going to have to rethink my outdoor love.

  4. Maleesha on July 22, 2008 7:27 pm

    Check out this link:
    http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/txsnake.asp

  5. Craig on July 22, 2008 8:35 pm

    One of my buddies lives out by the lake. I’ll ask him.

  6. David in Great Falls on July 22, 2008 11:14 pm

    Well, it looks like this is a whopper of a tale — that Snopes link nails it. Thanks Maleesha!

  7. abishua on July 23, 2008 6:26 pm

    I don’t think I’m going to tell anyone it’s not of MT origins..darn it anyway.. I had people arguing with me that it was a boa snake and they live among the rattlers of Montana so eastern/western what dif. it’s huge, it’s ugly and it could hurt BAD!!!! Everyone should be aware of what’s out there when walking in the wilderness. It wouldn’t be any better to be eaten by a griz would it?

  8. Walter Greenspan on July 23, 2008 6:40 pm

    Yes, thanks Maleesha!

    (Walter Greenspan, otherwise known as “Soyamaven”.)

  9. Maleesha on July 23, 2008 9:52 pm

    Yes, let’s tell everyone these things are so common in Montana that everyone has at least one under their front porch! :) I’m on board!

  10. Kayla Sevalstad on July 25, 2008 4:33 pm

    I go camping every summer at Canyon Ferry Lake……I have never seen anything that big there ever!!!! Last year i ran into a bull snake that was about 5 feet long……..other then that one time i have never seen anything like this snake!

  11. montana on August 1, 2008 7:11 am

    don’t kid yourself, montana is loaded with these people eaters and love children

  12. shawn on August 3, 2008 12:17 am

    only one? these things usually live in groups of 3 or more, you have to wonder where the other 2 are now. probably looking for this guy

  13. Kirk Goolsby on August 4, 2008 11:14 pm

    This is a hoax. The snake is definitely a western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox).

    Their range takes them nowhere near Helena, Montana, nor do they reach the length sited. The extreme maximum size (very rare) is around 7 feet. Exceeding that by 2 feet is hard to fathom to the extreme.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_atrox
    http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/rangemap.php?species=64311

  14. Kirk Goolsby on August 4, 2008 11:30 pm

    One other thing: Try holding something that weighs 97 lbs on the end of a stick like the guy in the picture. It is not possible. 97lbs. is the size of a small adult. I am a strong guy and I know there is no way I could hold something half that weight on the end of a cantilever like that guy’s snake-stick.

  15. Diamondback Dave on August 8, 2008 11:00 pm

    I got my nickname from having a magnetic attraction to all sorts of rattlesnakes. Wherever I go mining , I am usually the one to come up on a rattler. Be it a western or an eastern Diamondback, they are all to be respected. My trusty walking stick has been a great aid in keeping a wide berth between my pack animals and I and coiled surprises on the trail. After taking a close look at the submitted photo, I came to the conclusion that figure/ground comes into play. If one holds out an object close to a camera lens and stands in the background, the closer image will have an exaggerated size. This photo could be of a snake measuring anywhere from a 3 footer to a 5 footer (by my estimation). Then again, I could be off a bit on that length. That fellow in the photo must be mighty strong to be able to hold out 97 LBS. so easily. He must be a throwback from the early gold rush prospectors cause we all like to spin a few yarns on occassion.

  16. Humm on August 12, 2008 4:30 pm

    EUGH!!! — And to think that is my old stomping grounds……yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. JJ on August 12, 2008 4:55 pm

    A man obviously measured this snake…because men stretch the truth about all measurements! Diamondback Dave has it correct when he talks about the distortion of an image when held close to the lens. Experiment with your digital cameras at home and you’ll see how most images look twice as long/large as they really are!

  18. Bisket on August 13, 2008 4:17 pm

    WOW!!!! And how big was that fish again??? I’ve lived here all my 46 years and have seen all sorts of big rattlesnacks and there is nothing like this in this state. I’m sorry to ruin your fish story. Try this on someone that might believe you.

  19. Serena on August 16, 2008 11:13 am

    When I first saw the picture, I thought….Where are the mountains. You can’t take that kind of picture with so much sky anywhere around Helena without having Mountains in the background.

  20. randy on August 25, 2008 9:08 pm

    I live near canyon ferry and I heard this wasnt from canyon ferry. If you look up 9 or 10 foot rattle snake in google images, you’ll find this snake and guy in about five different states.

  21. Rande on September 7, 2008 5:12 pm

    It’s all perspective. I catch rattlesnakes (Mojave) all the time, to observe them and remove them from roads. I often get my son to take a photo of me holding the hook toward the camera so that it looks much closer to me than it really is. Same idea.

  22. Britt Turner on September 8, 2008 5:37 pm

    I grew up in Helena Arkansas on the St. Francis refuge. Have seen lot of 6 and 7 foot timberrattlers. If conditions were right the snake could reach 9 feet. I have heard my grand father speak of rattlers that would stretch across the road, but i have never seen one this big.

  23. Bruno on September 9, 2008 6:55 pm

    So…. Courtney (july22) thinks a western diamondback is not found in Montana!? Hah, what a moron…its the most common snake in Montana. I bet she thinks Montana is on the East Coast, hence – eastern diamondback!!! Or maybe Montana is somehwere in ASIA!!!!

  24. Courtney on September 10, 2008 1:10 pm

    Wow, Bruno, it’s just a snake, hardly reason to get your panties in a twist. Besides, you’re confusing the Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis), also called the Prairie Rattlesnake, with the Western Diamondback (Crotalus atrox). The Western Diamondback is a Southwestern desert rattler (look at a map of the US, then look at the bottom, left portion of the country, there you’ll find the American Southwest). The Western/Prairie Rattlesnake is the only venomous snake found in Montana (look to the right of the State of Washington, no, not Washington DC, the STATE, and you’ll find MT).

  25. sam on April 27, 2009 1:29 pm

    Hey all, I am a pro editorial wildlife photographer, I was wondering if anyone knows of any snake dens near the billings,mt area. am looking to find an active den site to photograph. thought i would post on the blog and see if anyone has any advice. thanks in advance!!!! please just email me!!!!

  26. mischief on May 25, 2009 7:47 am

    It certainly is a Central Montana Rattler. My landlord uses them in his buildings to keep the rats under control. This works well except I have to trip all over them to get out of the building for work.

  27. Monte on June 18, 2009 1:28 pm

    This picture made it to us just after the snake was caught in 2007. It was from Oliver B.C. in the Okanogan drainage just a few miles north of the border. It measured 9′1″. We have large rattlers in the Okanogan drainage as well as the tributaries of the Columbia. The rattlers in the desert areas are much smaller.

  28. Betty on September 25, 2009 3:03 pm

    I would love to buy some property in Helena montana or on the outskirts by the rivers. With children how safe would this be? Are there snakes all around the Natioal Park areas. I would like a small vacation spot to fish but dont want to worry about snakes taking our little ones lifes. What to watch out for???? Your input or advise is appreciated.We have a big family.

  29. Betty on September 25, 2009 3:08 pm

    It is my understanding that rattle snakes can jump 8 feet. If this is a live snake he is holding. It sure doesn’t seem like a good thing to do. I heard they are good to eat but no thank you.Taste like chicken!! :)

  30. Betty on September 25, 2009 3:20 pm

    Years ago as a child I lived in Montana .My mother did all the worring. Besides what is lerking in the bushes, do you run, walk slowly or stand still??? For get out of dodge if you see one.

  31. mike from helena on November 22, 2009 10:09 am

    Of course, Betty. If you’re an out-of-stater, there’s a rattler under every bush! Seriously, I know there are rattlers around, but I don’t think I’ve seen 3 in the wild in 50-some years. With all due respect, I have to agree with the fellow’s take on the 97lb claim. No way anyone short of The Hulk holds 97lbs out at THAT angle. That alone casts enough doubt on the claim to put it in the fable category.

  32. Diane on December 3, 2009 2:40 pm

    Betty…there are snakes…and I saw three this summer. And actually one of them was under my deck…I live near Three Forks and yes…they are plentiful. The good thing about rattle snakes, is that they will usually let you know that they are there. A few years ago there was one, probably at least 5 feet long in my yard, while my daughter was playing outside…she was 3 at the time. It just stayed in one spot…I was able to grab her and get in the house. My friend Cindy has killed them on her own with a shovel. They can only strike half the length of their body…so yes they are here and this last year they were plentiful. We killed one in the driveway too…but we play in the woods and at the lake with no problems…

  33. Cheri on December 18, 2009 9:53 pm

    I visted Montana last summer and can’t wait to visit again. I’ve found reading blogs is a good way to learn about an area and that is what I was doing tonight when I saw this picture. I was so amazed because last summer this same pic was all over the internet here as having been killed in a town 50 miles north of here in Poplar Bluff, MO. I even talked to some guys who swore they were the ones who killed it. My friends and I even thought we could identify the buildings in the background. And yes these things do grow that big here but now I wonder if it was all a hoax.

  34. C. Helgert on April 26, 2010 11:34 am

    That photo has been making the rounds. It was a post here in Michigan a couple months ago, with a caption placing it in Michigan. Not true. The only viper in Michigan is a Massasagua rattlesnake, also known as a Pigmy rattlesnake. It is stubby, growing about 12-24 inches in length; venom generally non-fatal.

  35. towersour on May 18, 2010 1:10 am

    Well the picture is fake no doubt there, and we have lots of snakes in Mt. the only dagerous one being the Rattler. I have lived on the eastern front of The Rockies for years and everytime I see a snake they are interested in getting away from me, and I them. Helps to know their preferred areas as well and avoid them if you dont like snakes. I think they are a beautiful part of our wildlife and enjoy observing all the many harmless species we have here.
    Michelle

  36. David on May 21, 2010 10:57 am

    I first encountered this photo in a safety e-mail purporting this snake to have been found at the old Hanford town sight on the Columbia River, near Richland Washington where the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is.

  37. maria on June 8, 2010 10:07 am

    will when i was walking trail side in sidney seen black long snake so i have know i did if it was posions so i stop about 100 feet away from it! (dont like snakes)!!!!!

  38. tanya on March 5, 2011 4:56 pm

    That is a western dimond back and they can live in Montana I just saw one last summer

  39. The Critter on March 6, 2011 4:50 am

    That Same picture Was Show In The local Paper in North Carolina Sayin it Was Killed Here? Theres No Telling Where It Was At

  40. Mimi on April 29, 2011 10:12 pm

    Well, I see that the gentleman is holding his stick at a high angle, his elbows close in to his sides and personal experience with lifting heavy objects tells me that the snake is likely what is claimed it it is>so many feet long and so many pounds heavy. That thar’s a real rattler and I wouldn’t want to tangle with that gaul-dang thang, at least, not to mess with it like some fellers do when they see one laying on a roadway and stroll over and pick it up-yep, they always get envenomated. Phew! I could about break out in a sweat every time I look at it. An area not far below the head of the snake is curved and I do believe that it is alive because a dead snake that hangs from a stick hangs straight. It’s using it’s muscles but the gentleman does not seem to be afraid. You can tell that he’s handled plenty a rattler in his day. He knows how to handle them so he knows how to approach them, pick them up and likely never get bitten. It may have already eaten and the man is no real threat but he probably knows when to put the big critter down when it has become tired of being treated like a string. Wish I could learn all that he knows from him but because I can’t then I will still admire him.

  41. Amanda on May 5, 2011 12:23 pm

    I’ve seen this picture before. It’s an Eastern Diamondback that was caught in Florida. Just letting you know.

  42. colton on June 19, 2011 12:41 pm

    couple years ago i was picking up hay bails near box elder we killed a 7′4 western diamondback

  43. charlie springer on August 4, 2011 4:26 am

    Perhaps the deep rooted fear of snakes makes humanity tremble is rooted in their insecurities,Ignorance and emotions.
    Snakes are a nasty critter at times but I really think mankind is far more nasty then any snake on the planet.

    Why do we let our imaginaton take over at such a photograph?….It is just a snake that no doubt wanted to be left alone and away from you.

  44. ryan on August 16, 2011 12:43 am

    some friends of mine down the street when i lived in montana in the bitterroot killed 1 in his backyard about that big cutt its head off with a knife.

  45. Danny Noonan on October 13, 2011 6:34 pm

    That isn’t an eastern diamond back nor a western diamondback rattlesnake if it this so called picture came out of Montana. Thats just a really big western rattlesnake/prairie rattlesnake. Yes they are around Lewis and Clark County. Not really all that common, but they are out there. Eastern d-backs are found in the eastern portion of the U.S. While western d-backs are found in the southwestern portion of the U.S.

  46. matt on December 7, 2011 6:47 pm

    When i was kid. I was repairing fence with my dad near the base of the highwood mountains about 9 miles east of belt, MT. I think it was in the summer of 86…Any way, my dad killed a Monster rattle snake with a sixteen lbs. sledge hammer that he actually threw end over end striking a direct hit in the head. Amazing shot! the snake was 8 feet 3 inches long and had 14 rattles and a button. It ended up as a couple belts and a hat band. Snakes DO get that big here in the tanny.

  47. Paul on January 5, 2012 11:07 am

    Entertaining photo. I’ll show it to my Afghan soldiers and tell them that where I grew up, our snakes make their Russel’s Viper look like a punk! We’ll have a good laugh. Thanks

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