Another round on Breakneck This time with a Rattlesnake!!

Yes there are Rattlesnakes up there!

Well since I am Moving to Maryland in a few weeks, I wanted to spend a little time hiking with my boys before I left. They wanted to do Breakneck again so thats where we headed. Our friend Moe joined us on his first hike. We started hiking around 8 am with light rain and drizzle, but it soon cleared up into a beautiful day. The hike up Breakneck was as usual, awesome and fun. After reaching the summit we continued on and decided to pass the bypass trail and head over to Sunset Point. It was a pleasant walk with lots of bird life and a few views. When we reached Sunset point a couple was on the overlook platform so we decided to wait for them so we could have it to ourselves. While waiting Moe and Mark walked down the trail a little more to see what was there. Matt and I stayed and studied the map. Thats when Moe yelled "SNAKE". Then Mark yells "OH MY GOD DAD, you gotta see this" So Matt and I ran over to see a 4-5 foot Timber Rattler coiled up next to the trail. It was awesome. Moe had actually stepped about a foot from it when it rattled and he looked down and saw it. The snake was very calm and non aggressive. We video'd and took pics of it before moving on. We warned the couple about it and they checked it out and then we all continued hiking. We went back down the trail and crossed over to Sugarloaf and then out to Rt 9. On the way back we saw a Garter Snake and a Northern Ringneck Snake. A great hike and a great day. Hey be careful up there, those snakes are around. It's the first I've seen in the wild and was a great memory.

Timber Rattlesnake Fact Sheet

Info here is provided by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation from this webpage NYS Rattlers

Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
New York Status: Threatened
Federal Status: Not Listed

Description
Measuring from 3-4.5 feet (91-137 cm) or more in length, the timber rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in New York. The record length is 74 ½ inches (189 cm). Timber rattlers impress one as being very stocky; they are large snakes. Despite their size, cryptic coloration allows them to be easily concealed. Two color patterns are commonly found: a yellow phase, which has black or dark brown crossbands on a lighter background color of yellow, brown or gray, and a black phase, which has dark crossbands on a dark background. Black or dark brown stippling also occurs to varying degrees, to the extent that some individuals appear all black. Scales are ridged, giving this rattlesnake a rough-skinned appearance. The timber rattler has a broadly triangular head with many small scales on the crown of the head bordered by a few large scales, unlike the massasauga rattlesnake which has nine large scales on the top of the head.

Like other members of the pit-viper family, the timber rattlesnake has a temperature- sensitive opening, or pit, on either side of the face between and a little below the eye and nostril. This sensory organ is used to detect prey and potential predators. Another feature distinctive of rattlesnakes is the rattle itself. This structure is made of loosely attached horny segments. A new segment is added each time the snake sheds. When vibrated, the rattle makes a buzzing sound characteristic of a disturbed rattlesnake.

Life History
Timber rattlesnakes are active from late April until mid-October, although in northern New York they may not emerge until mid-May. Upon emerging from the den, they are very lethargic. Little feeding occurs early in the spring. Mating occurs in the spring and fall. Males are especially active at this time, seeking out females by following the pheromone (sex attractant odor) they emit. The gestation period is 4-5 months. Females give birth to 4-14 (average 9) young every three to five years during late August to mid-September. The young are approximately 1 foot (30 cm) in length at birth and emerge singly from the female, encased in a transparent membrane which is shed in a few minutes. Each is equipped with venom, hollow fangs and a tiny rattle segment called a "button." Their skin has a velvety texture and the coloring is essentially the same as the adult's. They remain in the area for 1-2 weeks before shedding their skin and dispersing. The young follow the adult's scent trail back to the den. Males are sexually mature in 5 years, females in 7-11 years. Their average life span is 16-22 years, with a maximum age of about 30 years. During winter, dozens of timber rattlers may congregate together in a den to hibernate below the frost line in association with copperheads (Akgistrodon contortrix), other snakes, and skinks (Eumeces spp.). Dens are generally on open, steep, south facing slopes with rock fissures or talus surrounded by hardwood forests.

Adults shed their skin every one or two years, with the average being every 1.4 years. A new rattle segment is added each time shedding occurs. Snakes with a complete set of rattles are rarely seen, however, since the rattles regularly break off. This rattler feeds primarily on small mammals, but occasionally takes small birds, amphibians and other snakes. The venom, which is used primarily to immobilize prey, can be fatal to humans if the bite is untreated. However, in New York there have been no records of human deaths attributable to rattlesnakes in the wild during the last several decades. Contrary to popular opinion, a rattlesnake will not pursue or attack a person unless threatened or provoked.

Distribution and Habitat
The range of the timber rattler extends from southern New Hampshire south through the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and west to southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Texas. Populations were once found on Long Island and in most mountainous and hilly areas of New York State, except in the higher elevations of the Adirondacks, Catskills and Tug Hill region. They are now found in isolated populations in southeastern New York, the Southern Tier and in the peripheral eastern Adirondacks.

Timber rattlesnakes are generally found in deciduous forests in rugged terrain. In the summer, gravid (pregnant) females seem to prefer open, rocky ledges where temperatures are higher, while the males and non-gravid females seem to prefer cooler, thicker woods where the forest canopy is more closed. Rattlers generally migrate from 1.3 to 2.5 miles (2 to 4 km) from their den each summer, with a maximum movement of 4.5 miles (7.2 km) observed.

Status
Although still fairly common in some local areas, the timber rattlesnake has been extirpated or greatly reduced in numbers in most areas where it was once numerous due to unregulated collection and indiscriminate killing. A contributing factor was the bounty system under which a reward was paid for each timber rattler killed. Bounties were outlawed in New York State in 1971. Even in areas without bounties, the snake was severely persecuted by local residents or overcollected for the pet and curio trade. Timber rattlesnakes reproduce at a low rate, making for slow population growth. Factors such as development, illegal collecting, and the continual disturbance of forests by recreational users will likely prevent or hinder population recovery for many areas.

Management and Research Needs
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation coordinates a program to monitor and map, using a Geographic Information System, the remaining populations in New York State. Surveys are in progress to identify existing den sites and assess each population's size, reproductive success and any threats to existing habitat. Protection of habitat is now a primary concern. Collecting rattlers from the wild is now prohibited, but poachers are still active in supplying the black market pet trade.

Additional References
Brown, W. S. 1987. Hidden Life of the Timber Rattlesnake. National Geographic, July.

Brown, W. S. 1993. Biology, Status, and Management of the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus): A Guide for Conservation. SSAR Herp. Circular No. 22.

Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1998. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Third Edition Expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

Harding, J. H. 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor.

Klauber, L. M. 1972. Rattlesnakes: Their Habitat, Life Histories and Influence on Mankind. Zoological Soc. of San Diego. Univ. of California Press, Berkeley.

Tyning, T. F. 1990. Stokes Nature Guides: A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles. Little, Brown and Co., Boston.

Tyning, T. F., Ed. 1992. Conservation of the Timber Rattlesnake in the Northeast. Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln.

Drawing by Jean Gawalt

Map adapted from Conant and Collins (1998) and Tyning (1992)

Images

View Another round on Breakneck This time with a Rattlesnake!! Image Gallery - 29 Images