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A Molino man tried to remove a rattlesnake from his yard, but shot himself instead.

Escambia County Deputies 55-year-old Michael Howle was taken by family to West Florida Hospital around 5 p.m. Wednesday. Howle says he was trying to kill a snake in his yard. He lives in the 3000 block of Crabtree Church Road.

When Howle spotted the snake, he told deputies he went inside to grab a gun to kill it.

But in the yard, Howle says the rattler slithered its way around Howle's right leg, tripping him. Howle says the snake was pinned beneath him, and when he tried to free it, his weapon discharged.

Howle says he shot himself in the back of the ankle.

Hospital officials say he was treated and released.