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Okay guys, the subject line says it all. There's a rattlesnake wrist-thick around stuck in some chicken wire down in the Back 40. Don't ask me what kind I don't care. Chickens aren't in danger, and it can't hit anything because its facing in from the path that goes right past it, but get within fifty feet and it starts rattling and doesn't stop until you get to the top of the hill. I can shoot it, but considering the rat-rabbit-mouse-squirrel-raccoon hordes marauding across my garden, I consider this guy a comrade-in-arms, especially since I think his body is stuck where something he just ate is digesting.

When the wife gets home, she's going to say shoot it unless I have a better plan, and all I've got right now is an air rifle, so it won't be a quick and painful death.

All help greatly appreciated.

Space Cowboy

I count 12 rattles.

Yeah, that's too bad.
If you would care to release it alive, you have to cut the chicken wires off it's body... But first!
Restrain the head. You may be able to do that by "tubing" the animal. Find a length of tubing the approximate diameter of his body and put it over his head/neck far enough so he can't double back.

I got it reprieved until this morning, and when I went down to feed the chickens, it was gone. Can snakes back up?

Yes, they can back out of tight spots (like burrows). Most snakes who get tangled up in chicken wire or bird netting stay that way though.

that's too bad.