# Hey, guess what's on the back porch! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 15, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387 "2013-02-15T14:44:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/21 "2013-02-15T18:16:15Z")
The maximum size for an eastern diamondback is supposed 8 feet. This one has to be pretty close to that, no matter how short that guy is. That is an amazing snake. ---
**Author:** ![IaMoDiNaRy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IaMoDiNaRy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IaMoDiNaRy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/22 "2013-02-15T18:28:07Z")
Wow! Yeah, I try not to kill them if i can avoid it. He’s actually beautiful. What an amazing creature… He must have been after something. Of course, dangerous to do but I would have tried to relocate the big guy just because of how awesome he is. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/23 "2013-02-15T18:44:36Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > That’s here in South Carolina? Hot damn! Low or upcountry? Bad news…it’s calling from INSIDE YOUR HOUSE! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jane\_Doe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/53a042/32.png) [@Jane\_Doe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_Doe)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/24 "2013-02-15T19:06:39Z")
WOW! Thought I had seen some big ones! Look at the size of that head! Anyone know how large an animal this thing could eat? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/25 "2013-02-15T19:15:26Z")
[Here’s](http://people.wcsu.edu/pinout/herpetology/cadamanteus/index.html) one eating a rabbit so… great big rabbits? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/26 "2013-02-15T19:29:09Z")
> [@Labtrash](#): > > I’m counting twelve segments to the rattle, and from what I understand it is uncommon to find a rattlesnake with more than 10 or 12 rattles. One segment is added with each molting of the skin (not every year - a common misconception). Close. Rattlesnakes add a rattle for each molt up to about age 4 (molting around 3-4 times a year). After that, their rattles stay pretty constant in length as they grow new ones and drop old ones occasionally. I know this because I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Also because I went to a nature museum last week and happened to remember this tidbit from one of the rattlesnake areas. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/27 "2013-02-15T19:44:05Z")
He should’ve called Guinness before killing it. 😮 ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/28 "2013-02-15T20:14:54Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > He should’ve called Guinness before killing it. 😮 I looked up the record - it’s 8 ft for an Eastern Diamondback :eek: I think this would’ve been close ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/29 "2013-02-15T20:23:35Z")
You can say all you want about the guy not being that tall, and holding the snake towards the camera. Still, unless that dude is a fucking hobbit, holy shit that’s a big snake. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/30 "2013-02-15T20:32:08Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > He should’ve called Guinness before killing it. 😮 I would have needed Guinness if I’d seen a live snake like that! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/31 "2013-02-15T20:37:21Z")
I was hoping there’d be an [old man on the back porch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmYMTOyG3bw). ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/32 "2013-02-15T21:46:02Z")
I cannot believe how big that thing is! My son is very interested in snakes; I can’t wait to show him this picture. And tell him they don’t get NEARLY that big in Kentucky. Big snake! Big snake! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/33 "2013-02-15T22:38:39Z")
Holy crap! That’s the biggest rattler I’ve ever seen. I’m not normally scared of snakes, but if I’d seen that on my back porch I’d have been well, rattled. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/34 "2013-02-15T23:30:40Z")
Boots and a belt are a good end for such a beast. Hope he used a shotgun. I hate snakes. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/35 "2013-02-15T23:38:05Z")
I love snakes, and generally let them be, but I’m afraid it might be lead poisoning for him if he were on my deck. I did meet one that size tearing down a barn, once. I stepped back slowly, and stepped on a nail through a board that came out the top of my boot. I kept stepping back slowly! Beautiful critter either way! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/36 "2013-02-16T00:45:08Z")
Are there any actual measurements, **Labtrash**? Look at how easily the guy is holding the board in his hands without bottom support like under the shoulder. The snake can’t weigh much, especially at the end of a stick like that. I’m guessing 6-7 feet in length. Big snake for sure but not the huge monster it appears to be. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/37 "2013-02-16T01:11:52Z")
I wonder how many rats, etc. that snake was eating? Seems like a shame to kill it. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/38 "2013-02-16T01:14:42Z")
This site claims it was killed in Georgia the 1st week of January. [http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19871958](http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19871958) This one from Jan 6th says Mississippi. [http://68.71.98.105/Board/30/this-thing-is-a-hoss-15564625/1](http://68.71.98.105/Board/30/this-thing-is-a-hoss-15564625/1) ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/39 "2013-02-16T01:38:22Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > This site claims it was killed in Georgia the 1st week of January. > [http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19871958](http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19871958) > > This one from Jan 6th says Mississippi. > [http://68.71.98.105/Board/30/this-thing-is-a-hoss-15564625/1](http://68.71.98.105/Board/30/this-thing-is-a-hoss-15564625/1) Hmmmm. Seems the minion has some ‘splainin’ to do!:dubious::dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387/40 "2013-02-16T01:49:31Z")
I found the pic online [here](http://www.livingalongsidewildlife.com/2013/01/an-85-foot-eastern-diamondback-from.html) as well. Looks like I was duped. My apologies to all. Gonna go kill a minion now… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-guess-whats-on-the-back-porch/650387.md?page=3)