16 thoughts on “Hump day boots”

    1. I had only gotten as far as “diamondback”.

      The only way these boots could be better, is if there were little rattles attached to them. One could do a hoe-down or a line dance, and the visuals and audio would be complete.

  3. Pity the cat calendar in the background has only one picture for the whole year. It would add a nice touch to these boot related posts to see the seasons change.

  4. Bungarus candidus boots will make you a true spring satorialist. If nothing else, you can advise other faculty members not to step on your Blue Krait shoes.

  5. I’m a carnivore and wear some clothing made from animal skins (leather), nor do I object to humans using products from reptiles as a generalization–but, very large BUT, the skin used to make those boots you exhibited earlier this week came from Reticulated Pythons, and the method of harvesting is to string the snakes up still writhing, inflate them with water, and then skin them. The Western Diamond-back Rattlesnake skins likely came from one of the TX rattlesnake roundups, truly barbaric spectacles held in front of children. Neither species is endangered, so once again, I’m objecting on grounds of humane (not “rights”) treatment of animals and the examples we set by what we do…

    1. I didn’t know that when I bought these boots, and I’m horrified by that. I’ve learned about rattlesnake roundups, which I deplore, and I’m distressed to hear about the pythons. So yes, you have a good point, and had I known that (though I’m not sure about the source of these particular skins), I would have thought twice about buying them. I thought that, like the leather boots I wear, they came from “farmed” snakes that were killed humanely.

      Thanks for your comment.

      1. And thanks for not responding defensively, thereby setting a great example of how we can all move forward in such matters!

      2. I suspect commercial farming of rattlesnakes could be done – rattlesnakes are easily raised and grow fast in captivity. It would never be cost-effective unless all the species were protected from commercial wild harvest in the US and Mexico, though. Also, given the number of animals that would be required, I imagine there might be problems with employee safety, as well as keeping track of creatures that can squeeze through small holes.

    2. Dr. C did express contriteness to Ceiling Cat in that earlier post, and I appreciate his new comments on the matter.

      I’d like to add to what you said… we have to be so careful what we buy. The links below pertain to Raccoon Dogs horribly being skinned alive in China, and some of the fur goes into making fake Ugg boots. The video is from 2011 and I don’t know if the practice still exists. I would not be surprised.
      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045016/Raccoon-dogs-skinned-alive-make-cheap-copies-Ugg-boots.html
      http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/raccoon_dogs/

  6. I would respectfully suggest you not purchase items made from rattlesnake. They are slow-growing, long-lived animals with a low reproductive rate that probably can’t withstand even a regulated harvest. Eastern Diamondback populations are down to as little as 3% of their former numbers, yet are subjected to unlimited commercial harvest in most states. The species is currently under review as a federal endangered species candidate. See here: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2013/eastern-diamondback-rattlesnake-01-28-2013.html

  7. I’m beginning to think you (Jerry) must have a boot closet that would make Imelda Marcos proud.

  8. Crotalus viridis

    In the words of Bo Diddley

    “I walk 47 miles of barbed wire,
    I use a cobra-snake for a necktie,
    I got a brand new house on the roadside,
    Made from rattlesnake hide…”

    1. Not viridis.
      Definitely a diamondback; probably from Texas and therefore a Western (C. atrox).

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