Fall hunting season is near: Watch out for snakes

The snakes are on the move right now. Oklahoma’s western diamondback rattlesnakes start making moves toward community dens. They generally seek out a cave or rocky recess where they will hibernate for the winter.Just last week, the mom of one of my ball players got bit by one of those poisonous slithering creatures; she never saw it, either, but she sure felt the bite afterward.She spent several hours at the emergency room.Most wildlife species make every attempt to hide in the presence of a human or animal larger than themselves, but this snake is an exception. Instead of scurrying away, the diamondback will stand its ground, rattling fearsomely. It is not rattling to protect itself, but to warn intruders of its presence. The diamondback has all the reasons to stand its ground, too.