Alligator reportedly sighted in Adair County | Tulsa World.

WATTS — Adair County law enforcement officers and the state game wardens believe the reported sighting of an alligator in a muddy stream near Watts may have some teeth and not be an outrageous fish tale.
Believed to be an alligator because of the fresh water surroundings, the gator has been spotted in a muddy oxbow near Ballard Creek, just off the Illinois River, near Watts. The stream is not used for boating or canoeing or any other recreational uses, said Chris Reese, who saw the alligator on March 18.

“I was driving down the road — daydreaming when I noticed a bunch of turtles on a log,” Reese said. “One of the turtles was beaten up pretty bad — then I saw a gator on the bank.”

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=298&articleid=20110326_296_0_WATTSA987473

We answered the call … watch the story.

But on Thursday, Terrance Shinn went out with food and noticed there was no Hoover. Spot, Timmy, Old Yeller and Belle and another unnamed tortoise were also were missing from his backyard collection of 22 tortoises.

Read more: http://newsok.com/yukon-man-reports-theft-of-six-tortoises-some-endangered/article/3475821?custom_click=headlines_widget#ixzz0tawgGqn5

• Improper Identification
• Attempting to kill or otherwise handle the snake without training

We have provided a small video to hopefully assist in the proper means of snake identification and handling. However, we do not condone or encourage the handling of reptile or other wildlife without proper training.

• “City Animal Control”
• “Tax Payer Funded”
• “Animal Rescue”

The Oklahoma Wildlife Control® Limited Liability Company is not a “pro-bono” company. It is a privately owned, and Professionally operated company that specializes in the removal and solutions for nuisance or predatory wildlife problems.

Today we received a call about a “diamond-backed rattlesnake” in a yard, and were asked if we could remove it. Certainly we can remove it, and we’ll turn it loose on our own property instead of destroying it. However, when the caller found out that the Oklahoma Wildlife Control® Limited Liability Company charges a fee of $150.00 for an emergency removal … then it was no longer a matter of family or personal safety. It was a matter of financial safety.

Now, if bitten by a rattlesnake, or any other member of the Viperidae (Viper) Family, one can expect the following:

• Severe, immediate pain with rapid swelling.
• Bruising of the skin.
• Trouble breathing.
• Changes in heart rate or rhythm.
• A metallic, rubbery, or minty taste in the mouth.
• Numbness or tingling around the mouth, tongue, scalp, feet, or the bite area.
• Swelling in lymph nodes near the bite.
• Signs of shock

And here are some other symptoms of a bite itself, or by fear and worry of being bitten:

• Feel very worried or confused.
• Faint or feel like you might faint.
• Sweat and have chills.
• Be sick to your stomach or vomit.
• Feel weak or dizzy.

And here are the concerns after being bitten, with the medical bills:

• For venomous bites, anti-venom called Crofab may be used. One vial of Crofab costs $4,000. Six vials at $24,000.
• Emergency room visit is around $5,000 after everything is completed on their part.
• If you need reconstructive surgery … another $15,000 – $25,000 to start with.
• If you need to be hospitalized for extended treatment and monitoring, another $2,500 – $5,000 per day of stay.
• Best case scenario, $5000 for the ER visit to be monitored, and to find out that the initial bite was a “dry” bite, and that extensive medical procedures will not be necessary.
• Worst case scenario … Death.

So is it worth $150 for the Oklahoma Wildlife Control® Limited Liability Company to come and professionally remove the snake? Absolutely. Here are some pictures of the effects of a snake bite, with treatment.

Click here to see more of Justin’s Rattlesnake Bite.

HowStuffWorks Videos \”I Was Bitten … \”

This Columbia Red Tail Boa was removed from the 6200 block of South Peoria in Tulsa, OK while trying to cross the street. Originally mistaken as a rattle snake.

As spring draws near, or as it happens in Oklahoma and Texas … winter never really comes … we will start to see more and more activity from our cold blooded friends … the reptiles.

Snakes in particular are occasionally misidentified due in part to the “phobias” many people harbor towards them with the “Old Way” thinking that any good snake is a dead snake. This is absolutely not the case.

Proper identification of our slithering friends is an absolute must … if for no other reason than personal safety. Most all species of snake found in North America, venomous or not, will rapidly flip their tails when nervous. When this occurs, it most often happens when the snake is against leaves or a wall, thus creating a “rattling” sound effect … therefore giving the impression to the observer that it is a venomous rattlesnake in most cases we answer.

If you see a snake, leave it alone and call a professional service provider. And remember … even a non-venomous snake can be as fatal as a venomous snake due to the bacteria in their mouths left from their sources of food … if you happen to be allergic to it.

Take a look at our services …. Oklahoma Wildlife Control, LLC