Tell me about rattle snakes

[BlueOvalFitter]

When I was growing up we had the swamp in the front yard and the bayou in the back yard. Me and my buddy would hunt and catch Water Moccasins. That snake is more aggressive than ANY other snake I have ever caught, or kept as a pet.
When I lived in FL. I caught a few Diamondbacks to relocate them. The biggest one I ever caught was almost 6' long. That bad boy had some rattles, yeah!
Before I moved back to La. I had 2 Red Rat snakes (4' and 5') and a Red Tail Boa (7.5'). I would alternate bringing them with me in public. If you ever want to get to the front of the line in Walmart, just carry your favorite snake wrapped around your neck and shoulders. People let you up front very quick!

 

[BISCUT]

I disagree , the most posionious snakes are in Washington DC . But , yes , give the rattler a wide berth .


i agree , good / tall boots , walking stick ant keep aware .

Haha! Point well taken.

To OP. You are in PA. Not dissimilar to Catskills in NY. Lots of Timber Rattlers and some Copperheads. While they are there they are not often seen for other than a fleeting moment before they rather quickly take off. I am an hour + south of Catskills but I mt bike and hike often with my 8 12 and 14 year olds there. Can't speak to PA but I doubt different. I've found they like to sun early am on the open rocks at height to warm up. Usually not around during the day and can be found back out after dusk usually hiding in rocks waiting for a shrew or a mouse.

We have certain summits like Mt Tremper in Catskills that are know for sightings. Long long time since a bite. They are skittish of the 2 legged animals. Luckily for us! Full disclosure here. There are few things in this world I am afraid of....snakes of all kids are one of em! I've been shot at from a housing project, close enough to see and hear the rounds bounce form the sidewalk strike. Wasn't the same feeling I get just seeing a fat Timber rattle running away form me. They just look as thick as my forearm and boy do they get me.

I'm rambling but it's a cool story. I work with an Animal Control Officer. He is about 58 years old and from Maine. He is a white guy with some Native American blood in him. I believe it's Abenaki but not 100%. To be a man, you have a spiritual ceremony that involves being bit by a Timber rattler....yes ON PURPOSE! He was bit and almost died. So he had to do it FOR A SECOND TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All I can say is if you've ever been tasered voluntarily that is a tough thing to do. BUT the REAL man (or crazy guy depending how you view it) is the one who says I'm ok for round 2 of that taser. No thanks!

 

[BISCUT]

When I was growing up we had the swamp in the front yard and the bayou in the back yard. Me and my buddy would hunt and catch Water Moccasins. That snake is more aggressive than ANY other snake I have ever caught, or kept as a pet.
When I lived in FL. I caught a few Diamondbacks to relocate them. The biggest one I ever caught was almost 6' long. That bad boy had some rattles, yeah!
Before I moved back to La. I had 2 Red Rat snakes (4' and 5') and a Red Tail Boa (7.5'). I would alternate bringing them with me in public. If you ever want to get to the front of the line in Walmart, just carry your favorite snake wrapped around your neck and shoulders. People let you up front very quick!

I'll teach you all you need to know about reloading and shooting BUT you go first in snake territory! My grandfather was from GA and he says those water moccasins were some nasty snakes! His farm dog (Rotty) got bit by one just snififng around em. Was really sick for a while.

 

[JimPghPA]

Sometimes flys can be the most irritating things you have to deal with, and mosquitos late in the day. If you have mosquito repellent brig it along, although with this dry August they probably will not be any problem. I have a cousin who bough some land in far North of Pittsburgh for there family to camp on and the flys were soooo bad so often that they sold it.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I'll teach you all you need to know about reloading and shooting BUT you go first in snake territory! My grandfather was from GA and he says those water moccasins were some nasty snakes! His farm dog (Rotty) got bit by one just snififng around em. Was really sick for a while.

I would love to clear out the snakes.
I have the shooting figured out. I qualified expert with my M16/A1-A2 and Beretta every time I had to qualify.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Sometimes flys can be the most irritating things you have to deal with, and mosquitos late in the day. If you have mosquito repellent brig it along, although with this dry August they probably will not be any problem. I have a cousin who bough some land in far North of Pittsburgh for there family to camp on and the flys were soooo bad so often that they sold it.

We had a BAD fly pandemic here last month. Them suckers would come indoors and multiply very quickly if you didn't swat them first. That and a roach are some of the nastiest bugs in this world.
The apts. where I live get sprayed every first Thursday of the month. I have never seen a roach here in the 8 years I have lived here. Crickets visit sometimes, and Silverfish.

 

[wpod]

I would love to clear out the snakes.
I have the shooting figured out. I qualified expert with my M16/A1-A2 and Beretta every time I had to qualify.

Be a man use a shovel. They do bite for quite a while after the heads are chopped off.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Be a man use a shovel. They do bite for quite a while after the heads are chopped off.

Catch and relocate the poisonous ones. Keep the others as pets, or relocate them as well.

 

[4wd]

When I was growing up we had the swamp in the front yard and the bayou in the back yard. Me and my buddy would hunt and catch Water Moccasins. That snake is more aggressive than ANY other snake I have ever caught, or kept as a pet.

Raised around them too … the cottonmouth puts on a big show as part of their defense and the only time(s) they got in our boat we were running trot lines and they detected the bait bucket smell …
speaking of smell … have shot wild hogs that smell better than that snake …

 

[BISCUT]

I would love to clear out the snakes.
I have the shooting figured out. I qualified expert with my M16/A1-A2 and Beretta every time I had to qualify.

Even easier for me....YOU ARE STILL going first in snake world!

 

[sloinker]

You have a better chance of being hit by lighting while on Mars and winning the Venusian lottery. Don't worry about it and if in the statistically zero chance you have of encountering a rattlesnake on your path in Pennsylvania, stop. The snake will move away and doesn't want any part of humans.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Even easier for me....YOU ARE STILL going first in snake world!

I would if I could.
Man, I miss messing around with snakes. I want another Red Tail Boa so bad, but the rules here where I live state NO REPTILES! I tried reasoning with them, stating it's a family member. They didn't buy it.
I even have a Cobra tattoo. It's going on 40 years old.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Raised around them too … the cottonmouth puts on a big show as part of their defense and the only time(s) they got in our boat we were running trot lines and they detected the bait bucket smell …
speaking of smell … have shot wild hogs that smell better than that snake …

When we were running our crawfish nets they would drop down in the Pirogues. You have never seen a paddle move so quickly chucking them out!

 

[biggusblockus]

We encountered rattlesnakes on our hikes in the CA desert several times. They are fascinating, beneficial creatures. I looked forward to seeing them and was disappointed if we didn't. I have respect for them but are not afraid of them as they are very predictable. They will detect you long before you ever see them and get out of your way. If you do hear a rattle but don't see a snake, STOP and FREEZE. This means the snake sees you and is defensive and feels like it cannot escape. Locate the snake and move slowly away in the opposite direction. They can strike about half of their body length. It will not come after you. Then enjoy seeing this incredible snake. It will eventually move on and out of your path.

 

[Chris142]

The snake will move away and doesn't want any part of humans.

Smart snake!

 

[Wylie6G72]

I'd bet most of the bites are from stepping near / on a snake without realizing it's there. If you come up on one too quickly for it to warn you, it'll just strike. Rattlers aren't going to chase after you, but they're very defensive. Watch where you'e stepping, wear tall boots and long pants, and take something along that can act as a tourniquet.

 

[wag123]

Then there are the Rattlesnakes that are evolving to not having rattles. Yes, this is a fact. It is a problem in Texas and it is said that it is because of the feral hogs (an even bigger problem here) which like to dine on Rattlesnakes.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Helped remove more than one from the paved trails at Carlsbad Caverns during my two summers working there as a seasonal park guide.One of the rangers would transport them to areas away from the visitors center. Wish I could have got on with the NPS full time, but they were only hiring people with degrees in the natural sciences in the sixties.

 

[wbwanzer]

I'm the OP. Thanks to everyone who posted. I feel more informed and less worried about our hike now.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

Helped remove more than one from the paved trails at Carlsbad Caverns during my two summers working there as a seasonal park guide.One of the rangers would transport them to areas away from the visitors center. Wish I could have got on with the NPS full time, but they were only hiring people with degrees in the natural sciences in the sixties.

Little Bighorn in Montana has signs all over warning visitors to stay on the trails because of rattlesnakes. I've always wondered if that was to prevent people from trampling all over the place or to keep them from getting snakebit.