My grand dad kept Gainie Hens (not sure of spelling). That kept Rattlers away. Also I once saw our cat back a rattler down out by our pool in CA. They were eyeball to eyeball and the snake blinked first. My grandmother told me about a night that relatives came to visit them in Mercer co. MO. The bed springs were the round type. 4 girls in a bed and someone kept squirming. They finally called her dad who threw the mattress back and discovered a big old black snake curled up in one of the springs. When the girls laid on that particular spring, the snake would squirm. They could feel it thru the corn husk mattress. She also found one curled up in the mop bucket once. No wonder she was scared of snakes. When picking blackberries, carry a spray bottle filled with gas or kerosene. Spray along the bottom of vines. Wait a few minutes, then pick. Some old snakes are wily...still be careful....and DON'T smoke! ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.