he should not have messed with it without a long set of pliers until the sun set and rose again, all reptiles can bite you headless or not until nightime falls and the sun rises, I've seen it many times but cannot explain it.

Yes and Yes. This is a freak accident (obviously) and he should not have been messing with the rattler to begin with. I cannot understand the whole sportman's ethic about "catch and release", "eat what you kill", and "respect nature", when snakes are still considered vermin.

I don't think that snakes should be killed just for being snakes, even the venomous ones. That said, Mr Anderson may have had a good reason for killing that snake. they could have been:
1. they found the snake by the swing set that his grand kids play on.
2. It was in the barn and had been eating the baby chickens.
3. It could have been near his workshop and he didn't want to chance an encounter when he couldn't see the snake.
4. Maybe Mr. Anderson thinks that fried rattlesnake is real tasty.
All of those reasons would be good enough for me to kill a rattler. I would not have killed a non venomous one though.

Brad,
What is the reason for killing these magnificent animals on sight? Are you afaid of them or ignorant of their naturally designed purpose? A well placed head shot will kill a song bird. Why do you use a 12 gauge when a .410 would do the job? Is the "12" more manly?
Jim

Brad;
I forgot to ask, are those 25 years of records based on the research compiled by your Texas rattlesnake roundups?
Jim

Jim, I am really curious if you have ever seen one of these magnificent creatures outside of a zoo, a book, or the Discovery Channel? How close have you actually been to a Rattlesnake (and I’m not talking about outside a glass window!!)?

You should come visit rural Texas some time and spend 10 or 12 hours outside a day for a couple of weeks. About the third time you are within 1 foot from stepping on a coiled rattler (whose neck is swelled up like a balloon with venom, ready to inject) on your door step or by your car, maybe even a reptile lover like yourself would reconsider your policy on 'kill versus leave behind for someone else to step on'. There is still such thing as 'good manors' in some places, if you know what I am saying!!

Brad,
I confess to being a venomous reptile enthusiast. I have a Florida Venomous Reptile License. I handle cobras, rattlers, and vipers quite regularly. Yes Zach, I would be very interested if Brad could become Delta certified to ship all those snakes my way (although Texas laws are quickly making this unlikely). Brad, I am tempted by your inititation to visit rural Texas for a snake hunt.
Jim

That is an interesting question that comes up regularly on the snake forums (with no definitve answer). I understand through research that snake repellants do not work. I am guessing that the problem is related to having a food source (attractant) for the snakes. I would aggressively go after this with lots of rodent extermination. What kind of rattler do you have? The most common in your area would be Western Diamondback or Prairie. I could care less if you are zipping off a few snakes for personal protection. I don't like a generalized attitude that the only good snake is a dead snake.

John,
You're scared of snakes?
Jim

Okay, that was uncalled for. I shouldn't have let snide remarks get to me. Here's what gets me about issues like this:

Being from a rural area, I think I'm closer to wildlife than most city slickers. If there was a way to wave a magic wand and make all rattlers leave my area, that would suit me fine. But now on to reality.

Some folks like to capture wild animals and keep them captive in cages for the rest of their lives. Why? So they can play with them like some kind of toys and talk about how magnificent they are. I can't imagine anything as cruel as this. That's about in the same category as Michael Vick.

When they decide to play with these toys, they control the time and circumstances of the play period. Practically no risk involved there except for the really stupid. Pour those venomous snakes out in the house where they can strike from any where at any time. THEN come talk to us about shooting the ones in our yard.

I have a coral snake living in the bushes in front of my house that does not bother me at all. The reality is that as long as there is a food source, every snake you kill will be replaced by another. Better just to understand them and learn to accomodate. If this can not happen, move to where there are no venomous snakes.
By the way, I assume everyone has read or heard of the little boy killed by a stray bullet meant for a snake. Now that's irony.

Let me start by saying this, thanks to my mother growing up I have an uncanny fear of snakes. I'm cool with them as long as i see them first. I have not killed a snake in my life, as scared of them as i am, however, the first one (deadly) that attempts or succeds in biting me, dies. I'm sorry, I'm going into wild life biology, I know how much they mean to people, and feel horrible when i can't help but hit them on the road, but when a snake is threatening my life, or the life of a loved one, that snake has crossed a line. Living in Missouri and Kansas most of my life, I've seen my fair share of rattlers, corals, copperheads, cotton mouths, and other various pit vipers, There everywhere and a part of life.

To the guy from Texas, I belive you should get some advice from the guy in Florida. He deals with these animals daily if i remember correctly.

To the guy from Florida, be objective and give him some advise knowing that he has a family and crops to protect no matter the cost. The advise you already gave is great, get rid of the food source, you get rid of the preditor.

I know that the world is full of "bunny huggers" and "ruthless killers" but when you team them up, and get them to work together, that is when conservation works.

I would not take a chance with rattlers my self. There are quite a few here in Southern California. Unfortunately this is a big liberal anti-gun state. (I want to go back to Nebraska.) However, when I go to un-developed areas to hike, fish and get away for the rat race, I am sure to be wary and have a large stick handy. although I would rather have my side arm. Yes rattlers do perform a vital function. However, in overdeveloped liberal places like here where they are not regulated by hunting, snake bites are all too common and I would have no problem taking one out as hundreds more will hatch during the season.