Using rattlesnakes to locate lodes, caches, and treasure.

[elgatodelnoche]

@ Carl-NC: Science.
@ Thommy: It is absolutely a North American Coral Snake. Red touch yellow kills a fellow. If red does not touch yellow, then you have a King snake. I am not saying the Spanish left snakes, only that I believe an accumulation of Gold would attract them like asphalt attracts them. I am going to start getting out in the Supers very soon so I hope to see lots of snakes when they wake up in the spring. I love your minnie ball mystery as much as I love to eat beer battered crawdads! Yum!

I used to kill snakes, but now I just move them out of my way or I get out of theirs. I stepped right over a sidewinder once at Date Creek digging for Quartz crystals. He just moved on as did I.

 

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[Thommy]

This is just theoretical for now, however as my health improves I intend to take to the field and try to prove it out. I started to think about this when I was prospecting in the Picketpost Mountain area about 2000. I noticed that some areas held no snakes, some areas held some snakes, and other areas had snakes that would fill the air like a reptile orchestra. When one went off, the whole valley would start vibrating.

So here is my theory. Seeing that rattlesnakes are pit vipers and sense and are attracted to heat and that gold sinks the heat during the day and radiates it at night, then it seems natural to conclude that rattlesnakes would den up on lodes, chaches, veins, and treasure burials.

So I have decided to run toward snakes instead of away from them when I am hunting for gold.

View attachment 850812
Rattlesnake a pit viper.

View attachment 850813
Coral Snake not a pit viper.

That is not a Coral Snake. Doesn't even look close to one. Do a web search for Coral Snakes, you will never see anything like what you posted. I have no idea what it is, but it is NOT a Coral Snake. Here's what a real Coral Snake looks like.

 

[elgatodelnoche]

That is a very beautiful snake. Apparently what I have shown is a long nosed snake and non venomous. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Thommy]

Pretty but MEAN. For little snakes, they have a real attitude. Add in the neurotoxin, and you have one damned dangerous snake!

 

[Rawhide]

This is just theoretical for now, however as my health improves I intend to take to the field and try to prove it out. I started to think about this when I was prospecting in the Picketpost Mountain area about 2000. I noticed that some areas held no snakes, some areas held some snakes, and other areas had snakes that would fill the air like a reptile orchestra. When one went off, the whole valley would start vibrating.

So here is my theory. Seeing that rattlesnakes are pit vipers and sense and are attracted to heat and that gold sinks the heat during the day and radiates it at night, then it seems natural to conclude that rattlesnakes would den up on lodes, chaches, veins, and treasure burials.

So I have decided to run toward snakes instead of away from them when I am hunting for gold.

View attachment 850812
Rattlesnake a pit viper.

View attachment 850813
Long Nosed Snake not a pit viper.

I see a lot of Green Mojave rattle snakes here. You run at one and you will get bit. They will just look at you as long as you dont get too close. But they dont back down, and the ones I have encountered will let you back off. But you get too close and they will strike.

If I dont find bee's and snakes, I usually dont look too hard for caches. Its when I find them I start looking a little harder. I also pay attention to my surroundings a lot more too. Got swarmed earlier this spring. It was too cold for em to sting, and my dogs riled up a bee's nest in the ground. I would never destroy a nest looking for trinkets, but would run a 2 box over it just to be sure.

Its believed the spanish may have carried varmits miles to plant at a location. I know if I got snake bit or swarmed by bees I would not be in the mood to hunt. This was at 4' feet, too close.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Casca, what you've got there is a "Mojave Green", and they aren't
known for being mild tempered.

Nasty bite, too, an the venom is worse than your average sidewinder.
They usually like to curl up in those little shrubby weeds/plants, and
you never know they're there until you step on 'em.

 

[Rawhide]

Casca, what you've got there is a "Mojave Green", and they aren't
known for being mild tempered.

Nasty bite, too, an the venom is worse than your average sidewinder.
They usually like to curl up in those little shrubby weeds/plants, and
you never know they're there until you step on 'em.

Unfortunately thats how I am finding them. I stepped on two this year. You cant see em, and I agree once riled they are mean. I called off all hunts there till cold weather. Oh wait, its cold now lol.

I was thinking omg if the op would run into this guy I posted. Have a cell phone if you do, your miles from the nearest road.

 

[Produce Guy]

There's a book by J.Frank Dobie about rattle snakes guarding a treasure.

 

[elgatodelnoche]

Casca, what you've got there is a "Mojave Green", and they aren't
known for being mild tempered.

Nasty bite, too, an the venom is worse than your average sidewinder.
They usually like to curl up in those little shrubby weeds/plants, and
you never know they're there until you step on 'em.

I saw a beautiful 7 footer one day out dry washing. He was on a parallel course to my location and I thought he would make a great belt/hat band pair. But I could not bring myself to shoot him. I would not have even known he was there if I did not turn my head at the right time.

 

[rainwolf75]

Hello everyone,

I am new to treasure hunting but have had plenty experience with nature and wildlife. Here is what I do know from my time living in the low lands of SC literally right next to a swamp and what I know from living most of my life in NW GA.

The original picture above posted by elgatodelnoche is not of a coral snake but of a King Snake, which is what you want in your yard to keep other snakes out including Rattle Snakes. Tip - Never kill a king snake they are your properties guardians against rats, mice, and venomous snakes. At times some farmers will pay to have one on their property.

I have learned that most burrowing mammals for some reason has it burrow near rocks or some sand, reason is because of how the stones radiate heat and the sand rich soil helps in filtering out their air supply. Which may be a good place to find some gold or even some old relics if they are made of metal, for metal also kinda works as a natural insulator.

Swamps are a great place to find arrowheads and some old Native American grinding stones. I have found many in the past on my family's land in SC which also has a swamp bordering it. I am planning on going back to visit hopefully in early spring (my freezer is getting low).

Also contrary to popular belief most rattle snakes are not aggressive (with the exception of timber rattlers) as long as you respect their space, but you DO NOT want to come close to a copperhead or a cotton mouth, they are meaner than a junk yard dog. I have had to shoot copperheads to keep them from getting in the boat with us - if that tells you anything.

Hope this helps, though it is not much but the most important thing is to always respect any and all wildlife and to some showing that respect is by staying as far away from it when it is agitated.

Thanks for taking the time to read my hopefully somewhat helpful post.

 

[elgatodelnoche]

Welcome rainwolf75 and thanks for the information!

 

[Rawhide]

I have also found Large birds and Squirrels near possible holes. I was finding old indian corn maze and knew no corn had been grown in the area. They traed in blankets and tools also, more than just gold and silver out there.

 

[elgatodelnoche]

Nice of you to chime in Casca!

 

[Mastiff4me]

That is not a Coral Snake. Doesn't even look close to one. Do a web search for Coral Snakes, you will never see anything like what you posted. I have no idea what it is, but it is NOT a Coral Snake. Here's what a real Coral Snake looks like.<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=885052"/>

I just saw these posts. Thommy, is correct. Eastern coral snakes can be identified by their black red and yellow multi- colored rings which cover their entire body (minus the exception of their nose which is black). EVERY other band is YELLOW (which, in turn 'can kill a fellow'). I have seen many in my yard. I too am in Florida. The head is also the width of the entire body. There are an ave. of 50 bites per yr. here now. We are very low on Antivenin now, as well. Which is a bummer, as the sole producer (Pfizer) is no longer going to produce this. Hopefully, a few,other companies are stepping up to the plate and are even offering up to $1500 per live coral snake, if caught. I don't recommend this, however, as the neurotoxicity is very dangerous. Luckily in places like Tampa and Miami, there are still supplies of Antivenin left in stock. One thing is for sure, they are beautiful, but deadly. Stay safe. I admit, I am a digger by nature. I can't help it! I guess in have something in common with those wild little critters.

 

[Mastiff4me]

This is just theoretical for now, however as my health improves I intend to take to the field and try to prove it out. I started to think about this when I was prospecting in the Picketpost Mountain area about 2000. I noticed that some areas held no snakes, some areas held some snakes, and other areas had snakes that would fill the air like a reptile orchestra. When one went off, the whole valley would start vibrating.

So here is my theory. Seeing that rattlesnakes are pit vipers and sense and are attracted to heat and that gold sinks the heat during the day and radiates it at night, then it seems natural to conclude that rattlesnakes would den up on lodes, chaches, veins, and treasure burials.

So I have decided to run toward snakes instead of away from them when I am hunting for gold.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=850812"/>
Rattlesnake a pit viper.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=850813"/>
Long Nosed Snake not a pit viper.

PS i forgot to add, I like your theory about snakes (and other animals (like gopher tortoise' etc...) sitting on a treasure. I think it is possible. Have a good day!

 

[munkirinch]

Snakes?

no thanx!

 

[TunnelRat]

Snakes like to hide where it is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. If snakes are hugging gold for heat, then they would also be hugging other metal ores as well. Likewise rocks soak up heat and radiate it as well. What I guess I'm trying to say is that snakes might be found where there is gold but they can also be found many other places as well. I like that you are trying to observe nature to help lead you to gold. There must be some other indicators that "zero in" more on the precious metals but I haven't heard of them. Keep questioning and searching that is how we all learn. thanks Jim

 

[elgatodelnoche]

Thanks everyone!

 

[cazisme]

Proof Positive! I live in the Mother Load the creek behind my house was mined lastly by chinese miners who stacked the sides of the creek with rock to get to bedrock at bottom. Many rattlers in fact saw a 4 footer the other day. I once visted the Yuba Goldfields and saw a doodlebug dredge that was anchored in the piles of tailings rock, After a day of exploring the area right at dusk stepping out of the truck i hear the buzz of a rattler step in opposite direction and another and another sounded like a symphony needless to say Gold was found their still is and very heavily Rattlesnake infested. It could be that the rock piles and rocky areas that gold is found in attract rodents and snakes so they are both found in the same places.

 

[elgatodelnoche]

Thanks for letting me know that cazisme.