Huge Texas rattlesnake and badger fight to the death. Aftermath is caught on video
Crossing paths with a rattlesnake is seldom a good thing, but the moment became surreal for one Texas man when the venomous predator was seen dangling from the mouth of a badger.
Heath Welch of Knox City told McClatchy News the scene was so unbelievable that he defied better judgment and followed the badger to record it.
His video, posted on Facebook, has been viewed nearly 290,000 times and generated more than 600 comments, including a reposting on multiple Texas Parks & Wildlife Facebook pages.
“We think of them eating mostly rodents, but ... this badger is going to make a meal of a very large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake!” Texas Parks & Wildlife District 2 posted on Facebook.
The video shows the badger knew Welch was spying on it and was wary, peeking at him through the brush. Meanwhile, the venomous rattlesnake is seen dangling from the badger’s mouth. Its rattler can be heard clacking as the badger drags it across the ground.
It happened April 18 in Knox County, Texas, which is about 180 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Welch says he and the badger “crossed paths” and it took off, then circled back.
“I think I was in its way while he was headed home,” Welch told McClatchy News.
“I heard it coming back by the sounds of the rattles hitting the ground off of the rattlesnake. I was about 10 yards away ... I definitely knew it was a very rare sighting.”
Texas Parks & Wildlife describes badgers as “ferocious fighters that should not be disturbed.”
“They will growl, snarl and emit an unpleasant musk scent if provoked,” the department says. “Badgers are unaffected by the snake’s venom unless they are struck on the nose.”
Reaction to Welch’s video on Facebook has been largely cheers of support for the badger, and surprise at the size of the rattlesnake. Western diamondback rattlesnakes can exceed seven feet in length, according to DesertUSA.com.
“Now everyone is gonna want a pet badger lol,” Stacy Smith posted on the Texas Parks & Wildlife District 2 Facebook page.
“Dude killed a monster,” Richard Medina wrote.
“Was that a walrus with a rattler in its mouth? Let’s import those dudes into south Texas,” David S Krueger commented on Welch’s Facebook page.
This story was originally published April 26, 2020 at 8:36 AM with the headline "Huge Texas rattlesnake and badger fight to the death. Aftermath is caught on video."