Babydoll,

I will stand corrected on the fact that Bear has eaten live animals such as small tree frogs and such. However he does kill it with one bite. As for the times I have seen Bear eat fish, he has always bashed its' head in first, once again killing it out right. I the case of this man killing the snake in Bakersfield, he didn't kill it out right but instead took bites out of it. Had he killed the snake with the first bite I would say I was wrong.

Countrygirl,

As I have said before I understand if someone kills a snake if ones life or others lifes are in danager by whatever means. Out of the rattlesnales I killed I have cut the head off of one and shot the others. The  one copperhead I came across in York Town I did nothing  but allowed it its' space as it went off to towards the woods. All I did in that situation way ensure no one got within striking distance.

As for killing a snake humanely in your back yard goes, yeah a shove is quick and humane in my book, on the trail depend on what you have on hand, but on the trail you probably would have much luck either way to be humane. The basic idea is to kill quickly. In truth killing in it self is not a humane act.

You my only problem with the killing of the snake is that I have always been taught to kill the animal quickly  and for a purpose. If for food, safety, education (biology, survival training) or survivial are great reasons.

Babydoll,

I thank you for bringing that up.  I personally have not done a whole lot of research on slaughterhouses.  However, they are not called "humanely-killed cow"-houses.  Unfortunately, the meat industry is forever stained (no pun intended) by their practices, past and present.  I would like to stand beside you in asking people why they don't seem to care about that, yet they get in an uproar about this.  In the age where most pets are treated better than a lot of humans in the world, you would think that people that are concerned about animals would know about that kind of stuff. 

That said, I hope the people that are reacting so strongly to this incident are active in defending HUMAN rights as well.  I'm not saying that animals should be forgotten, but there is something fundementally wrong with you if you're more concerned about animals than people (that was a general "you," not pointed at anybody in particular).

I know this post was a bit off-topic from the post.  I don't wants to open a big can of worms about this, I just wanted to say my piece.  You may continue with your regularly scheduled blog comments : O)

I have study slaughterhouse before can tell you that they don't skin cows alive. If a slaughterhouse is ever got doing that in the US the USDA would shut them down. In fact the laws were created after Upton Sinclair wrote is book "The Jungle" (great book) about the meat packing industry.  That is nothing but PETA propaganda.

But if you do want to support PETA here is a link for you.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-b...

christbdce,

First I do believe you post was on topic but I do agree with what justcurious said about assuming people who care about animal rights don't care about people. Many care about both and some like me only real care that as my grandfather taught me, if you are going to kill an animal you need to make sure it is quick and you don't waste it.

From this point on I feel I have repeated myself to no end and that I will now leave this topic to those that want to continue it. If you have not gotten or understand that I don't feel sorry for the snake, I have killed snakes before using human ways of either shooting it or cutting it head off, that I am not a animal right activies but believe in quick deaths if you kill an animal, then you don't understand me.

Have nice life and enjoy the blog.

Hey I saw this on another blog. It looks like CA state law dosen't think much of Venomous reptiles either. This section is an exemption quoted in all "animal cruelty " codes.

599c. No part of this title shall be construed as interfering with any of the laws of this state known as the "game laws," or any laws for or against the destruction of certain birds, nor must this title be construed as interfering with the right to destroy any venomous reptile, or any animal known as dangerous to life, limb, or property, or to interfere with the right to kill all animals used for food, or with properly conducted scientific experiments or investigations performed under the authority of the faculty of a regularly incorporated medical college or university of this state.

Main Entry: de·stroy

Pronunciation: di-ˈstrȯi, dē- Function: verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French destroy-, destrui-, stem of destrure, from Vulgar Latin *destrugere, alteration of Latin destruere, from de- + struere to build — more at structure Date: 13th century

transitive verb1: to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of ; also : to ruin as if by tearing to shreds 2 a: to put out of existence : b: neutralize

There is also a different term "humanely destroyed" for pets, horses, livestock etc.

Looks like he is on pretty solid ground legally.

I had a neighbor get bit by a rattlesnake a couple of years back and I DESTROY all of them I see. I also import king and gopher snakes to the neighborhood to make up the difference.

This was a rattlesnake wasn't it?

I have fished for trout at Brites lake for many years and I never have been able to get the hook out without pulling out a bunch of guts.  Then I put them on a stringer for a couple of hours (I hope they don't suffer) while I assult their school mates.  I hope they don't pick me up for animal cruelty.  

I don't have to get my fish at the lake...I just like to.

jre72, have you ever fished for trout? It's real ugly to the novice.

This was a rattlesnake wasn't it?

Let's all check in.  We are at the top of the food chain, let's enjoy it.

PS... I just returned my jury selection card,  I hope he doesn't cave in and plead out.  I'd love to be on that "jury of his peers".

Any guesses how it would come out?

yea I do think it was a bit over the edge too.

But I don't have any first hand knowledge of anyone that has been permenantly maimed by accidentaly steping on a kittens tail in the dark.

I do have a neighbor that is still not right five years after being struck by a very small rattler while feeding his dog.

I kill all of them I see.  In the past I used "snake shot" in a 357 revolver but have given that up because while it does kill the snake it really needs to have the head cut off to be rendered harmless.  Many rattlers will continue to move and there are many documented strikes AFTER the snake was killed as a result of the very long term mussle reflexes that will continue to make it slither, rattle and yes even strike after the head is removed.

http://www.turnto23.com/new...

I just saw the above link and as a person who believes in fairness I had to post it. If the comments that the man, Brent Scheibel said are true, then I owe him an apology. I would also have to say that I am very disappointed in the way the Bakersfield Californian posted the news without confirming if the snake was dead or alive.  As I have said from the beganning, killing the snake did not bother me, but skining and biting it alive was the issue.

Brent, If you do see this, please email me through my profile. I would like to get a better understand of how the events took place.

I still think it was a bit gross.

But I guess it would take something different to get the attention of CBS when many thousands want to be on the show.

Well it looks like there's not much to debate on the legality issue.  In addition to the exemption for  "the right to destroy venomous reptiles", the first line of pc599C (the exemptions for animal cruelty) says "No part of this title shall be construed as interfering with any of the laws of this state known as the "game laws,"  What does the CA fish and game code say about rattlesnakes? one mention.

7149.3. Notwithstanding Section 7149, a sport fishing license is not required for any resident to take any rattlesnake (genus Crotalus or Sistrurus).    What does "Take" mean?

86. "Take" means hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill.

That is the same term used for fish...remember the little wiggely things we slice up the belly while it trys to squirm out of our hands.  or should we take them to animal control first to have them humanely euthanized.

599c. No part of this title shall be construed as interfering with any of the laws of this state known as the "game laws," or any laws for or against the destruction of certain birds, nor must this title be construed as interfering with the right to destroy any venomous reptile, or any animal known as dangerous to life, limb, or property, or to interfere with the right to kill all animals used for food, or with properly conducted scientific experiments or investigations performed under the authority of the faculty of a regularly incorporated medical college or university of this state.

I guess I'll have to go find another bandwaggon to jump on.