Yesterday on a Hike in Harriman State Park I saw my first ever Timber Rattlesnake it was literally on top of the Mountain in very sunny spot like 10” from the Hiking Trail. Btw I have seen Northern Water Snakes , Rat Snakes but this Timber Rattlesnake is my first .
Where about in UC? I live in UC and have never come across one (good thing, I am not a snake person). I have had the surprise of being on the Ashokan Reservoir twice when these Black snakes decided to leave from under the boat seat I was standing next to and went right between my legs. One was absolutely without exaggeration a 7'+ and fatter than those rattlers you found. It slowly made it's way up the gunwale and then exited.
Not sure where in NY you are herping but I grew up in the Hudson Valley and Kakiat Park is infested with Timber's. I live in Florida now but for great herping check it out ! They have had someone actually go missing up there and they found him yards away from the parking lot ,dead in the brush . He succumbed to a rattlesnake bite while trying to get back to his vehicle. This was probably atleast 30 years ago when I was living there ,but I'm sure the timber population there is still very healthy
@javistrangepets7882 You're welcome! Be careful up there . I've seen more rattlesnakes there in one day than I'd seen in 30 years hunting and fishing all over NY 👍
I seen one today. i didn't like it. i couldn't figure out what the noise was and i look in the direction with my dogs and it was a rattlesnake...we got out of there fast.
I live in NYC and I frequently travel upstate to go hiking in what is probably considered timber territory. My goal this year is to go herping and find timbers. I understand you don't want to reveal specific den locations, but any tips for finding them? Should I explore Google Earth and go off trail to find rock formations? Any advice is appreciated!
Does one need to keep a bottle of Anti Venom while hiking in known areas of Rattlesnakes? if accidentally bitten how long until the poison takes effect? Don't think one would have time to wait for help to find you on a trail then able to administer proper medicine or transport one to the local hospital in time to rescue and full recovery?
I am pretty sure I saw a rattlesnake on the east coast. It looked like a southern pacific rattlesnake. Can I send you a few pictures and videos? Do you think you could identify it for me?
Along the Rail Trail in Ancram there are signs warning of rattlesnakes and the woods resemble the ones you filmed here. They have been sighted many times in Sharon, Connecticut. There are many turtles in Dutchess and Columbia Counties and in the spring you often see them crossing the roads. Considerate drivers stop to let them pass.
I grew up in Alleghany county NY. My grandfather had thrown old tin roofing into tall weeds outback not far from the creek. As a child, I would go down and flip these pieces of tin over, and catch all sorts of snakes underneath them. This was before the days of the internet to verify anything, and everyone that lived in the area would tell you that rattlesnakes didn't go above Pennsylvania. We lived near the Genesee river (which flows north), and every once in a while, you would hear that a rattle snake from PA was brought up during a flood. Anyways, being told growing up that there were no venomous snakes, and me actively hunting them without fear as a child, could have ended really badly. In all my years growing up in the country of NY state, I have never once seen a rattlesnake, and here you are finding them left and right.
There's many reasons for people being very unaware of venomous snakes in new York, especially timber rattlesnakes, and one of them is because there's maybe only 2 hospitals in the state that carry antivenom antidotes, and they are not for the venomous snakes native to this area they are antidotes for snakes at local zoos.
All around nice work and I admire your restraint with some of these comments. I'm heading out this weekend to see about getting some photos. They may not be terribly exciting, but I have always had a particular liking for a nice docile ringneck or green grass snake.
