Rita Ranch is a great, family-oriented neighborhood. Apparently the wildlife agrees because my 10-year old found a young resident in our back yard yesterday that I was not expecting to come for a visit.
It turned out to be a baby Diamondback Rattlesnake. Many people believe that baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adults. I did some research, though, and found out that this is a myth. Adults, being larger, acutually have more venom and can inflict a more dangerous bite. However, sometimes adults strike with a "dry" bite, meaning that they don't release any venom. Baby rattlers always release venom when they bite.
I am so thankful that my children did not get bit as they were the ones to discover the snake. I was certainly surprised to find it on my property. I live in the Desert Crossings section of Rita Ranch and, while we are somewhat near open desert, the wildlife usually avoids our subdivision. I had someone come and remove the snake. It actually turned out to be quite a "neighborhood" event, with the young boys quite interested in the proceedings.
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