- Rob Freeman caught the timber rattlesnake after his wife saw it while she played with their son in the backyard of their home in Cheatham County, Tennessee
- He shared a picture of the monster snake on Facebook with the caption ‘leg breaker’
- Timber rattlesnakes usually grow to a maximum of around 4ft8 meaning this one was almost 2ft longer than average for the species
- Rob called the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to make sure he could kill the reptile because the snakes are endangered
- His wife Ashley said it had 14 rattles on its tail
- Timber rattlesnakes are the second largest venomous snakes found in the eastern United States
A Tennessee man caught and killed a 6.5ft timber rattlesnake in the backyard of his home while his wife and son played nearby.
The snake – which is among the most dangerous snakes in North America because not only is it venomous, it also has fangs long enough to penetrate clothing and shoes – had just eaten a squirrel when Rob Freeman and his wife Ashley spotted it.
The couple, who have two children together and live in Cheatham County, about 30 miles from Nashville were concerned for their safety when they saw the reptile, which measures about two foot longer than the average timber rattlesnake.
Rob posted a photograph of the animal held up with a branch and captioned ‘leg breaker’ on his Facebook page on Thursday.
The image has gained close to 2,100 shares and more than 300 reactions.
Whopper! Rob Freeman captured this snake which he said is six and a half foot long – after his wife saw it while playing with their son at their Cheatham County, Tennessee, home
Ashley Freeman, his wife, described the snake’s appearance and shared that it had 14 rattles on its tail
They usually grow to around 36 to 58 inches (3ft to 4ft8) meaning the snake captured by the Freemans was exceptionally large. Previously the largest timber rattlesnake ever recorded measured 74.5 inches (6ft 2) and was caught near New Orleans, Louisiana.
Timber rattlesnakes are the second largest venomous snakes found in the eastern United States, according to the Tennessee Herpetological Society, but although they are common in Tennessee it is illegal to harm them.
The Freemans contacted the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to get the go-ahead before killing the snake, according to WKRN.
‘Checked with all authorities and all said legal if your children and animals are at risk,’ Mrs Freeman wrote on the Facebook post.
‘It was near our house, and we have 2 children I’m worried about protecting. Not to mention, all our farm animals.’
She also described the snake’s appearance – including that it had 14 rattles on its tail.
Rob – an avid hunter – called the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to make sure he could put the snake down as the snakes are endangered
Timber rattlesnakes are said to be the second largest venomous snakes found in the eastern United States
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