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The King of Western Rattlers by M.L. Bushman |
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Prologue and first chapter(pdf) adult fiction Paperback 300 pgs ISBN 9781934340554 $14.95
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A favor for an unidentified friend of his captain sends Blaine Horney, a Texas Ranger with a psychic gift, north to Morrison, Montana, the scene of a vicious double homicide with no apparent motive. Rated R--Sex, Violence, Language Paperback 308 pages ISBN 9781934340240 $15.95
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Published in the Dalhart Daily Texan--Sunday, October 12, 2003
An unsuspecting prairie dog putters about the vegetation. He's a cautious fellow, rearing up on his haunches every few moments to sniff the air. Brown diamond shaped markings outlined in white camouflage the danger. Skin the color of its surroundings shield the pit viper from view. Infrared detectors in depressions, or pits, below the predator's eyes zero in on the body heat of its prey. Retractable fangs, like hypodermic needles, strike with precision. In a split second, the prairie dog is injected with a deadly mix hemotoxin, neurotoxin, and tissue digesting proteases. Ambushed at eight feet per second. The furry mammal never saw it coming. Neither would you. The prairie dog zips to the safety of its burrow. Minutes pass to give the poison time to work. Then a western diamondback rattler slithers out of its cover and flickers its two-part tongue for a "taste" of the air. The sensitive tip carries organic particles to a set of sensory organs, known as Jacob's organs, in the roof of the snake's mouth, allowing it to trail its prey. The infrared detectors used initially to sense body heat now let the snake "see" its quarry in the dark tunnel the prairie dog calls home. The western diamondback unhinges its jaws to swallow its catch whole. It will not feed again for two to three weeks. The victim's blood will give the reptile enough moisture to survive an environment devoid of water. The thick skin of Crotalus atrox also aids in moisture retention. Annual water consumption roughly equals that of the snake's own body weight. There are almost 8,000 cases of snakebite reported each year in the United States and approximately15 fatalities. Texas is home to ten different species and subspecies of rattlesnake. Of these, the western diamondback rattler accounts for nearly all of the more than 1400 serious cases of snakebite reported yearly statewide. This reptile is responsible for more human casualties than any other venomous snake in the country. Herpetologists, the scientists who study both reptiles and amphibians consider the western diamondback one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. Second only in size to its eastern counterpart, the western diamondback ranks number one for medical complications arising from its bite. The toxic venom causes tissue destruction, bleeding, and swelling in humans. Within minutes of a strike, severe pain and edema set in around the wound. Loss of one or more extremities is common. Western diamondbacks stand their ground when threatened. Fifty-five percent of bites reported occur by accident, the snake stepped on or surprised in some manner. The balance result from attempts to kill or pick it up and handle it; over a quarter of these victims were reportedly intoxicated at the time. The rattler's territory extends from southern California across the tip of Nevada, through the southern half of Arizona to Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and south to the interior of Mexico. Isolated populations have been discovered in southern Mexico as well. They thrive in a wide range of habitats--coastal sand dunes and inland plains, deserts, forests, and altitudes in excess of 7,000 feet. A western diamondback may surpass seven feet in length. A heavy bodied reptile, it can weigh up to sixteen pounds. The estimated life span is fifteen years, although one specimen in captivity lived to the ripe old age of twenty-six. Western diamondbacks are sometimes referred to as "coontail" rattlers because of a section of alternating black and white bands on its tail. The most distinctive feature of any rattlesnake is the rattle itself, a series of hollow segments made of keratin, a material similar to the human fingernail. As the reptile vibrates its tail, each segment bounces against the adjacent ones at anywhere from forty to sixty cycles per second. This creates the loud buzz the snake uses as a warning. Each segment of the rattle is a remnant of the skin shed during molting, a process that occurs one to four times a year. If you are bitten by a western diamondback rattler, do not panic. It may be the last thing you want to do when your heart's beating ninety miles an hour from the adrenaline coursing through your system. Still, try to remain calm. Do get away from the snake. They will bite repeatedly if you continue to pose a threat. A western diamondback can strike half its body length in any direction, coiled or not. Make sure you are safely out of harms way, then proceed as quickly as you can to the nearest medical facility. Do not try to capture or kill the snake to take with you for identification. A simple blood test is all doctors need to determine the type of venom and begin treatment. Do not make incisions in the wound or try to suck the poison out. Do not apply a tourniquet. These treatments are ineffective, waste precious time, and actually cause more harm than good. Remember, if you do nothing other than seek medical attention, you've done nothing wrong. A constriction band placed between the affected body part and the heart is enough to slow the progression of toxins through your body. It should be loose enough that you can slip one or two fingers under the band. If it's feasible, keep the injured extremity elevated level with or slightly below your heart. Move the affected area as little as possible. However, if it's your leg and you need to walk to reach care, then don't hesitate. If you have a cell phone, use it. Be sure you know your exact location. Above all, remain calm. The numbers are in your favor. Your odds of surviving a bite from the second largest rattlesnake in the world are approximately 533 to 1. Eight feet per second. The prairie dog never saw the strike. Without benefit of a slow motion replay, neither would you. |
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