McAlester newspaper carrier surprised by snake

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- McAlester newspaper carrier James Fletcher says he thought he'd seen all there is while delivering newspapers the past four years.<br/><br/>Maybe now he has.<br/><br/>Fletcher

Monday, August 30th 2004, 4:42 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- McAlester newspaper carrier James Fletcher says he thought he'd seen all there is while delivering newspapers the past four years.

Maybe now he has.

Fletcher was delivering newspapers last Thursday when he glanced down and saw a Western Diamondback rattlesnake.

Fletcher says he grabbed a small tire tool and after about 20 minutes of fighting, finally killed the snake.

He says the nearly 6-foot long reptile didn't have large rattles and they may have been broken off, which would explain why he didn't hear the snake.

The Western Diamondback is common in Oklahoma and usually feeds on small mammals, reptiles and birds, but will become aggressive if agitated.