Snakes in the Field

So this old rancher is tellin me of the time shortly after he took over the ranch from his Dad.
It was calving season and as he went out he prayed that the season would be good, calves healthy and that he and his ranch hands would all be safe.
Now he usually 1-2 dozen rattlesnakes, cuz calving season is in the Spring, 'bout the same time the snakes getting active again after a long, cold Winter.
Well it didn't dawn on him till the calving was done that he hadn't even seen a rattler, much less had to kill one.
So he's talkin 'cross the fence line with his neighbor rancher, and the first thing his neighbor says, "Say, have you noticed the snakes this year? Seems to be twice as many as usual this year."