Public Service Announcement, re: Crotalus Horridus

[DemoTex]

'Tis the season for this master of camouflage: Crotalus horridus (Timber rattlesnake, Canebrake). We are seeing more and more Timber rattlesnakes in the Carolina mountains. Climate change? Habitat disruption? Both, I think.

But don't be afraid. Be smart. One layer of denim is a lot better than bare skin. Leather boots are better than sandals. Be aware of and around their habitats. Use caution around recently cleared wooded areas. Don't listen to music or talk excessively while hiking; you might miss the only warning you get from this slow-to-strike beauty!

Shoot only with a camera, but don't try any close photo shots! I got this photo with tripod-mounted Sony A-7 R2, using a 70-200mm telephoto lens, at a very safe distance.

[2naSalit]

1. Thank you!

Would you please come to Montana and make some of these PSAs about bears?

Beautiful shot!

[lagomorph777]

2. Beautiful photo. And remember, these guys eat the mice that harbor Lyme ticks.

So (at a safe distance) - these snakes are your friends.

[backtoblue]

3. Had to remove a 5ft Cottonmouth a few days ago...

It's been REALLY wet here and the snakes are crawling.

Add together the ticks and mosquitoes and I'm ready to move....

ETA:. Never seen a rattler around here, but lots of copper heads. Cotton mouths usually stay away from the house, buy that big boy was under the porch. He had to leave.

[dameatball]

5. Yikes. That's big for a Cottonmouth!

[backtoblue]

6. It was the biggest one I've ever seen.

I want to move now...


Ive seen some big ones in creeks around here, but never close to the house.

[Blue_Tires]

4. Why would you not kill them? Aren't they pests?

Or are they useful because they keep the rodent population down or something?

[wryter2000]

7. They are extremely beneficial killing rodents

And rodents carry awful diseases. Do not kill snakes unless they are a true danger to you.

[wryter2000]

8. Gorgeous animal

I'll admire it from a distance.

[Kali]

9. I just wait till they come in the house.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181212041

[genxlib]

10. We had a close call with one of those a few years back

We were casually hiking a fairly remote trail in North Carolina with my daughter who was maybe 6-7 at the time. Being a kid, she was always either zooming out in front or lagging behind. On one of her zooms out front, she came running back to say there was a snake on the trail.

I was thinking of a harmless little garter snake or the equivalent. Turns out is was a pretty big rattlesnake. Probably 6' and as big around as my arm. We were at least an hour from medical help so we were very lucky she didn't just wander into it.

[lunatica]

11. That's a beautifully colored snake

I love your photography!

[albacore]

12. I had a Park Ranger tell me...

...that 90% of rattlesnake bite victims are males between 15 and 30 years of age. And that 90% of the bites were on the hands.

Leave the poor snakes alone!

[DemoTex]

13. Yep. Hold my beer ..

.. and watch THIS!

[Hekate]

14. A neighbor recently attended a dog-training session re: rattlers in our Calif coastal foothills...

Dogs have to learn to smell them and people have to learn to see them -- because the current generation of rattlesnakes are the survivors of snakes who did not rattle and thus did not get killed on sight (or sound) by humans.

Evolution in action, folks.

I once read a century-old memoir by an outdoorsman who called them "the gentlemen of snakes" because they warned you off.

Anyhow, I know they are very useful in rodent control.

[Demovictory9]

15. what if snake hiding on your porch?

https://fox2now.com/2019/05/07/doorbell-cam-video-shows-moment-snake-bites-mans-face/