Display ideas

[WhiteShaman]

Hi all,

It's been a while but winter has set in and the carving tools have called my name so here I am.
I would like to pick your brains and your experience, if you all don't mind.
I am carving a lifesize (5') Eastern Diamond Back Rattler (not on a stick).
It is not coiled. It is relatively straight with a few bends.
I have a lot of work to do still but I am looking for ideas on how to display it in my home other than just laying it on the ledge in my basement family room.
I'd like to incorporate some habitat items like grasses and rocks but here again, I am lost for ideas on how to do that and still make it look like a showpiece instead of a rubber snake someone left on the ledge.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts,
James

[Inadv]

James,

A very worthy model you have chosen there! I was born a reared in coastal southeast Ga. where this beautiful creature was once abundant. Those stupid "rattlesnake roundups" have wreaked havoc along with all of the habitat destruction and road kills. I haven't seen one in many years. They like a dry sandy area with a lot of cover like the low growing palmetto palms. They use burrows created by rodents and the also once abundant gopher tortoises. You will rarely catch a diamondback in a wet area although I have seen them swimming in the intercoastal waterways probably looking for prey or breeding season calling them. They used to inhabit many of the small islands off the coast. Palmettos, prickly pear cactus and scrub oaks are the kind of plants you'll find in prime diamondback habitat. Rocks are pretty scarce around there, but leaves and driftwood is very common.

BTW... Inadv means snake in the Cherokee language. My grandfather gave me that name when I was a small boy, and I have always had a special relationship with the herps. Been doing rehabs for years on injured snakes, turtles, etc.

L.P.

[Sharon Dell]

This is a really crude drawing, but maybe you can get an idea from it.

[WhiteShaman]

Originally Posted by Inadv

James,

A very worthy model you have chosen there! I was born a reared in coastal southeast Ga. where this beautiful creature was once abundant. Those stupid "rattlesnake roundups" have wreaked havoc along with all of the habitat destruction and road kills. I haven't seen one in many years. They like a dry sandy area with a lot of cover like the low growing palmetto palms. They use burrows created by rodents and the also once abundant gopher tortoises. You will rarely catch a diamondback in a wet area although I have seen them swimming in the intercoastal waterways probably looking for prey or breeding season calling them. They used to inhabit many of the small islands off the coast. Palmettos, prickly pear cactus and scrub oaks are the kind of plants you'll find in prime diamondback habitat. Rocks are pretty scarce around there, but leaves and driftwood is very common.

BTW... Inadv means snake in the Cherokee language. My grandfather gave me that name when I was a small boy, and I have always had a special relationship with the herps. Been doing rehabs for years on injured snakes, turtles, etc.

L.P.

Thanks Inadv for the info. The cool thing about doing this for me is learning about the animal and growing to appreciate it. It is a beautiful reptile! I hope I can do it justice.
By the way.......I think its cool that your name was given to you with purpose and meaning and that you are helping out with the rehab of such animals. I have done that as well with birds of prey and other wildlife and it was awesome.
They had a coyote and one day it was out and noone knew I was there when it came running up to me. I put out my hand and it seemed to "know" me and simply brushed its nose and teeth up against my hand. The caretaker said he has never seen anything like that. I have this special connection with animals and always have. They are amazing!
Thanks Sharon for the drawing............I may add those stalks to the idea I came up with since I posted.
I decided to mount it on a long thick black marble base that will have a brass nameplate on it. This base will give it a look that says this is a piece of art not a rubber snake.
Then I plan to "make" rocks, not wood, (never did that before) and place them strategically under and around the snake. I think the stalks of grass will add to that around the rocks.
Thank you both! (the attachments will give you an idea of the look the base and the rocks will add to this)
James