Endangered Timber Rattlesnake

[BrightKnight]

I think that this is an endangered Timber Rattlesnake.

I took this on the second day of a backpacking trip through the Ozark National Forrest.

I have a habit of tapping and placing my trekking poles over any log I have to step over. I almost tapped this guy. I was feeling endangered too when it sprung up to strike and rattled at me. I moved back fast for an exhausted guy carrying a 50 pound pack.

I had to bushwhack my way around him. Live and let live. Most people get bitten when they they try to interact with a snake in some way.

[Mz Pip]

1. He/she certainly

does not look pleased. I hope you were using a 300mm lens when you took that picture!

How poisonous are those critters? He seems to have a big fat venom filled head.

[BrightKnight]

4. They are docile, shy, nervous and very toxic.

Their first response is usually to hide. They rarely rattle or assume an elevated strike position. When they do, they tend to rattle longer than other rattlesnakes. It rattled, took an elevated strike position and was still very nervous when I took this picture.

I had a 200mm zoom lens on my D80 when I took this. I was closer than you might think but I was well out of strike range.

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Not counting the tiny Coral snake, the Mojave Rattlesnake is the most deadly snake in North America because it's venom has a large concentration of neurotoxin. Neurotoxins can make you stop breating and your heart stop beating. Unlike Mojave venom, I don't think that Timber Rattlesnake venom has a particular high concentration of neurotixins. I have read that Timber Rattlesnakes are among the most deadly in North America. This is probably because the are large and can inject a lot of venom.

A treated bite would cause scarring, muscle damage and the possible loss of a limb. An untreated bite would probably be fatal.

I cary a PLB and I will definitely be purchasing some Turtle Skin snake gators. This is not the first time that I have been rattled at while hiking.

[Maestro]

2. Cool capture.

I couldn't tell you if it is really the endangered Timber Rattlesnake but I will take your word for it. Show this pic to park rangers. If it is the endangered one, they probably need to document this.

[BrightKnight]

8. Good idea, I will email the GPS data and a picture.

I created a GPS waypoint. I will email the picture and information to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the local US Forestry Service contact. The information may have some conservation value.

[livvy]

3. Here's a link to a page with the various snakes found in AR.

http://www.snakesofarkansas.com/Main/Snake

And here is one with lots of info on the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), which is the type it looks like you stumbled upon. Lots of pics at the bottom of the page!

http://www.snakesofarkansas.com/Main/CrotalusHorridus#Gallery

[intheflow]

5. Very cool photo.

Very scary scenario! I'm going on vacation in the Rocky Mountains next week with my dog and encountering rattlesnakes is one of my biggest fears with hiking with him. He's fascinated by garter snakes, thinks they want to play. I yell at him to discourage his interest in snakes, but he's a dog, so has a limited view of the big picture.

I had no idea they had rattlesnakes in the Ozarks. I'm so glad to hear you're proactive with tapping the logs, that's very smart. I'll have to remember that when hiking next week. :hi:

[BrightKnight]

6. You can actually get your dog vaccinated against rattlesnake venom.

I don't have any personal experience with it but I understand that it is very effective. Talk to your vet about it. Like any vaccine it takes a few weeks before it is fully effective.

http://www.redrockbiologics.com/FAQ.html#2

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I have done a lot of hiking in the Ozarks and never actually seen one there before. I think that there are rattlesnakes in every state.

It is very unlikely that someone taking reasonable precautions is going to have a problem. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[Eurobabe]

7. Beautiful snake

but I think I would have passed out, at least at first. Good that you didn't step on him!!

And glad that he probably slithered happily away. :hi:

[jhain]

9. You TOOK A PICTURE!

'Nerves Of Steel Man'!

NICE!!