Rattlesnakes? Are there any left?
 

We are desperately trying to document the occurence of Timber Rattlesnakes in the New England Area. Many populations have been wiped out and we are searching for any new and unknown populations to protect and keep the area WILD!

They are critically endangered in Mass and Vermont with only single known population left in New Hampshire. As we know they are now extinct from Maine and Rhode Island. The populations in New York and Connecticut have greatly been reduced and face the ever present loss of habitat.

We are hoping that someone has seen snakes in areas that we do no know.

Please visit our site www.timberrattlesnake.net if you think that you may have seen one or many. This page can help rule out imposters and look-a-likes!

We appreciate your help GREATLY!


Kevin

Looking for Timber RATTLESNAKES, working to save remnant populations in New England. We need to know about sightings and need your help!

FYI - there's a typo in the URL it ends in SNAKE not NSAKE in case you clicked on it and it didn't work.

Nope - never seen one!!!:eek:

What a great web site. Thanks for sharing.

Extirpated
 

Where is the remaining population in NH? I was told back in the '70s that the timber rattlesnake had been extirpated from all of New England except Connecticut (which really isn't New England anyway).

Oh, Oh, Connecticut not part of New England?? Those are fighting words. I was brought up in MA and NH and have lived in CT since 1971. We in the Nutmeg state consider ourselves to be true blue New Englanders.

In Connecticut there is a known Timber Rattlesnake population in the hills of Glastonbury, just East of Hartford. Aso there are Timber Rattlesnakes in the Blue Hills just south of Boston in Canton, MA.

I have never seen one in the wild and hope not to ever see one.

Most of Connecticut is in New England, but where Yankee fans outnumber Red Sox fans, that is no longer New England. :laugh:

BTW that also would be a good place to put the rattlesnakes. :eek:

NH rattlers.....
 

There used to be a small population on top of Saddleback Mountain in Deerfield on property still owned by the USNH system. Have not heard if any of that particular group remian up there.

True New Englander
 

When I read Carguys response about Connecticut being a part of New England. I immediately thought the same as JRC- if you live in Connecticut and are a member of Red Sox Nation you are a New Englander. If you follow the pin-stripes than like it or not YOU ARE A NEW YORKA !!! ...:laugh:

Rattlesnakes in Meredith
 

My son was bitten by a timber rattler in the Chemung section of Meredith in the spring of 2002. He was using a hose at a customer's house and did not see the rattler coiled up inside the hose, sunning himself. It struck him 3 times just above the ankle.

The doctor told him that if he was not a robust 200 pounder it might have killed him. He was stiff and nauseous for several days after.

Fish & Game tried to find the snake without success.

yankee fans are worse then snakes
 

ithas always been said that fish and game has a location from rattles that they watch from time to time in cheshire county that they keep sercet to avoid poaching you should contact them if this is an legit outfit.

Grant:

I can't imagine what you would do to a rattle snake after I saw what you did to that poor squirrel......HA HA

Is SteveA Listening?
 

The purpose of this initial post was to help "protect the Rattlesnake". I anticipated a post on" let me tell you what rattlesnakes did to me". Sure enough, it appeared. Personally, I am afraid of snakes. I screamed like a girl, (sorry for the sexist remark) back in "83 when removing some concrete steps from my CT property and mid lift uncovered a whole nest of the nasty devils.

So, getting back to the original post. I have never seen a rattlesnake on our Moultonborough property in 50+ years. Nor is there any reference to RS encounters in the 125 years on the property; and believe me we were bloggers back then.

Kevin,

I have seen a Timber Rattler, or what looks like one coiled up under some big rocks that make up one of my stone walls. I highly suggest that you wander the Scruton Conservation Easement that lies just west of Blue Job Mountain in Farmington. That area has some old growth forest and the lower areas appear to have been never abused by man.

Hate to say it, but...

Tastes just like chicken.

Is it true???
 

Fishy Cover...can you give me any additional details? I have a camp on a densely wooded property in the Chemung area of Meredith and yes, I scream like a "girl" if I so much as see a garter snake. I know that I am sharing my little bit of paradise with all local wildlife but had never considered rattlesnakes.

I have hiked in the blue hills area of MA and was aware of their existence in the area...never saw one. Should I be worried when crawling under my camp in Meredith?

Finally, is your son OK?

Maybe it's just ol' intolerant me.....but why would anyone want to protect rattlesnakes? Last I knew,people died after being bitten.

I have been a die-hard Red Sox fan all my life.I would say that in Eastern Connecticut Red Sox fans outnumber Yankee Fans by about 65%-35%, as you go west in our state, and cross the Connecticut River, the numbers reverse themselves.

It wouldn't bother me to see the Timber Rattlesnakes go extinct. What good do they serve? and if you get bitten by one, you could possible die from the bite, whether it be from the venom or heart failure.

For the same reasons you don't want to see black bear or moose or white tail deer or bald eagles or osprey or fisher cats or lynx or beaver or mink or red fox or striped chipmunk or porcupines or red-backed salamanders or anything else in the area go extinct -- 'cause they matter and belong here just as much as we do. That's why.

RE Is SteveA Listening?
 

:laugh: :laugh:

No way... I learned my lesson... I'm staying out of any "wild animal" posts..

PS
snip "I am afraid of snakes." Pineedles

so am I!!

SteveA

Great web site
 

Looking at the pictures of the Timber Rattlesnakes favorite places... I can see why they loved Rattlesnake Island... Most of the upper part of the island looks like that....

IG

Chicken? I'll have to keep that in mind. I would shoot any rattlers I see on my property, otherwise wouldn't I be a neglectful father and a tad bit crazy?

Rattlesnake bites
 

My son who was bitten by the rattlesnake recovered completely in 3 days and remembers that it was off Chemung road but not the exact address.

BTW, northern water snakes and rattlers have the same color and diamond pattern. Some people who rented next to us a few years ago killed a northern water snake thinking it was a rattler but after their hysteria abated we showed them that it did not have rattles.

Extremely informative website on snakes, Kevin. I do know the difference with the hognose. We've had them in our horse corral several times along with the black Racer. These sighting are in MA though adjacent to river field/river habitat. The hognose is such a pretender.

There used to be a large group of various rattlers living near my family camp in Gilmanton on Valley Shores Rd. Maybe some of them still are there?

Also, if your from CT and root for the Jets your out of New England. Only Pats and Sox fans allowed. I move for a vote!! :D

I hope they're not anymore on Valley Shores Rd...my friend has a house there and we visit her often. Is your family still there Weirs Guy?

No rattlers seen in NH
 

Interestingly enough, although I have travelled throughout the country, the only rattlers I have ever seen have been in Massachusetts. One on the Appalachian Trail in Berkshire County, and the other on Mt. Tom, in the Connectucut River Valley. Never, sorry to say in NH.

Hummm
 

Well I am glad to see I am not the only one that doesn't understand why someone would want to protect rattlers.... After growing up in the south east part of Washington St. where Rattlers are all around, they don't worry me at all, I know the warning signs. But what does bug me is that someone would say or indicate, like the website does, that they are not aggressive.... Sure enough they will slither away if they can but usually by the time you hear that rattle they are feeling trapped and threatened and you have to watch out because they will strike. I have also known rattlers to get into interesting spots....Like under the drivers seat of a nieghbors car. Not sure how the snake got there.... but getting the bugger out after the fact was interesting......

Now as for eating as Grant suggested.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Ok, lots of responses.

As far as "why would anyone want to protect a rattlesnake"?

Obviously, many people have no real idea of what snakes are really like and believe hype. I know far more than anyone does on the subject and they are actually quite shy and intend you no harm. If you think otherwise then you believe in such non-sense as the tooth fairy and movies like Anaconda(which I keep and breed and they are NOTHING like that and can be quite tame!).

IF a snake finds itself in a bad situation it can bite but it is just trying to live its life with man's intrusion. We are running out of places that are left untouched. If you think the world would be better paved and filled with plastic and video games then my points are missed.

Ignorance creates fear and to be afraid of things because you like to believe in stories puts you right back believing in the Tooth Fairy!

To the people that actually like animals and realize that they have some right to barely exist...

The state of NH knows of only a single population in NH, they know of no others. I have viewed these snakes many times. The population is small, we only hope that there are more. So far, with great effort we have been unable to find any other snakes outside this single group. I spend a great deal of time chasing ghost and following stories, so far this has been nothing more than dead ends and great exercise!

Someone claims her child was bit by a Timber???? THis is shocking to hear. Why do they think it was a Timber? ANy and all information is greatly appreciated..... what happened to his leg?

Generally, a TImber bite can occur with little or no venom = Dry Bite. Most Rattlesnake bites are not fatal and may result in tissue damage at most. We are NOT talking Cobras here, incorrect information to believe that a bite is deadly!!!!! The state of NH has not seen a single Timber bite in well over 100 years..... So any bite is huge info!!

Black Racers and hognose in Mass is of interest....where is the area? In NH Black Racers and Hognose are now becoming rare.....


Any information with detail emailed to me would be great!

Thanks!!!! Kevin

RH - We have big black snakes that hang out in/near our pond in Mass. I know nothing about snake identification but someone told me they might be black racers. Sorry - I am NOT a snake person. I am scared to death of them; I'm sure they're (mostly) harmless but I'm still scared of them. This doesn't mean I don't think they have a right to exist and to live on the same property with me. I just really, really don't want to see them. I'm cool knowing there are snakes that live in certain places around my yard; I just avoid those places.

The snakes we have are uniformly black, no other markings that I've noticed as I've been running away from them. :laugh:

Well said Grant!

I find it both ironic and perplexing that the so many people that spend so much of their time and money to come to New Hampshire are so often the uneducated one's who fear the natural habitat where they so long to spend their leisure time.

Right to life!
 

Sorry, The Bill of Rights conveys no rights to rattlesnakes, or any other life form other than human life. But we ignore this right, as abortion is legal in the United States.

If you want to see eradication of all snakes because they scare you, then say so! It may not be the right decision, but at least you will have voiced your opinion. I guess I am using this thread as a more broad message than just "wipe out Snakes", or "Save the Polar Bear". It is so evident that most people LOVE animals, but when faced with their direct interaction with them they revert to--- Wipe em out if they interfere with our daily course of life.

I'm not criticizing this position. I merely am suggesting that this is the way we answer polls.

Question #1. Do you support the extinction of Polar Bears?
Question #2. Do you support higher electric bills for heating your home?

I am not saying that one is exclusive or connected to the other, but when it hits home, you know you're going to think about it more.

Confused? Well then sit down an answer the questions that you hear are the controversial issues of the day and then stick to your answers. :)

D-oh,:rolleye2: I see this thread turning into a Global Warming debate, I hope it doesn't go there. Suffice it to say that a Polar Bear would not think twice about eating you and your family, this snake on the other hand sounds basically harmless. Generally animals like these are good for the environment and SHOULD be protected. There is no way I would kill one if I found it in my yard.

Thanks for the information Rattlesnake Hunter.

Hope this wasn't a distortion of MY comment. :( Yes, I'm scared :eek: :eek: :eek: of them. No, I would never kill them. I love having wildlife on my property: deer, coyotes, turkeys, hawks, foxes and even the occasional bear. And . . . gulp . . . even the snakes, I guess. I love seeing animals and, like Steve A, I too thought the squirrel video was disgusting (sorry Steve, I should have shown my support earlier).

I do appreciate the beautiful markings of many snakes after someone else has found them and pointed them out to me (and I approach cautiously, holding my breath). :D :D

Perspective is everything...
 

Fishy Cover, I am glad that your son had no lasting effects from his bites.

If I come accross one on my property, people will hear my scream as far away as Alton Bay. After I am done screaming, if the snake and I have not died of heart failure, I will run for my camera and hopefully get a picture.

RATTLESNAKES!!!!!!!!!!! I thought it was too cold up here for poisonous snakes! Son of a gun! I hate snakes, especially POISONOUS snakes. (not that I would ever harm one...GRANT) OH Man, I'm glad I live on an island, boy I'm glad snakes can't swim. Whelp... back to the therapist for a few more sessions.

Increase the therapy as I believe
 

most snakes swim quite well.

I want to set my record straight here after looking at my post I may have given the impression that I don't care about the Timber rattlesnake. However I do understand they have there place in the echo system, and have every right not to be killed off.

On the flip side, I do have a problem with people that think they are harmless. I have first hand experience with rattlers, so there is no chance of me believing the hype, I have lived with them. Now given that my experience is with Western Diamond back and not Timbers I suppose there tempermants could be different.
I will agree that by nature snakes are shy and don't go looking for trouble. However Rattlers in my experience can be very aggressive once they are threatened. And I have seen them feel threatend in wide open fields(not just when they are cornered). By the time you here that rattle, the situation is generally not good. The snake feels threatend, and intends to strike. In fact in my experience I have never heard the rattle and not seen the snake strike. I have even seen them strike at cars, school buses, and once or twice me on my bike let alone just striking at a hiker. In short they are not innocent little creatures.

Now as far a how poisonous the venom can or can't be. While I do agree with RH that the venom doesn't always get release, I won't agree that they can't be deadly. I know with the Diamond backs I grew up around an Adult although they needed to be treated was not at risk of imediate death and could generally seek help in more then adiquit time. It was another story if it was you young kid. In short size does matter. Now an interesting question for RH here is how does the venom from a Timber compare to that of a Western Diamond Back?

Now the last thing I take note of here...(sorry to pick on you RH) you mention Anacondas, and that you breed them. Which means some sort of domestication, so of course they are going to be fairly tame. Do you have any experience with Anacondas in the wild? If any animal is feed and cared for they tend to be quite tame. However take that food and caring away and the animal reverts back to its wild self and what do you get. Hummm I seem to remember a 30 some odd foot python running around a Florida community a few years back eating cats and dogs..Once again although maybe not a threat to an adult person it is a threat.. in short once again... yes snakes are fine, you leave them alone generally they leave you alone. And yes there are plenty of movies out there that exagerate the dangers, and have put unnessacary fright into people. However in the wild, they are just that wild and unpredictable. And it is this unpredictability that makes it wrong to say that they are innocent, shy, and "intend you no harm". Harm can be both direct and indirict. I would hate to see my dog bit by a rattler and have complications. Sure I would be physically fine but emotionally it would hurt if something happened to my dog.

Last RH, if you indeed care for the slythering creatures of the woods educate people about them. But be real about it. Let them know the reality of the situation. Sure it easy to say that some species are harmless. And that they are by nature shy creatures. But back that up with facts. What are the more poisonous species? How does the venom of one compare to the venom of another? As I have said I lived with rattlers all around out west, but I was educated, I learned how serious the threat was or wasn't. And I learn how to respond if attacked.

Actually,

In historic times there were many even in Maine into Canada... the weather was colder back then and this climate plenty warm enough for them to live.

Yes, GLobal warming would have been good for them if any had survived...not good for the Polar Bears....

THings are not getting better.....

When is the world's population too much? What is critical mass?

Kevin

thanks!
 

Thanks RH...
Although I am not a huge fan of reptiles, that was a fascinating website!
We had a garter snake live in our basement one winter I would go down to hang laundry or get something out of the freezer, I would see it along the sill. Cool! We didn't have a mouse in the house!:eek: But we had one big fat snake to let out through the bulkhead in the spring!!:laugh:

I, for one, would welcome the opportunity to add a timber rattler to my list of species encountered in NH.

Years ago, hiking in the Pemi Wilderness in the Whites, I happened upon a lynx that was stalking some spruce partridges on a remote section of trail. I don't know who was more surprised. But that has stuck with me, just like my first moose, first bear, etc. Now I'm trying to afford those same opportunities for my kids, as it can only enhance their appreciation for the region's diversity.

I remember seeing black racers a number of times as a kid. One on our property, too. It was quite long, and moved really quickly.

Another thing I'd love to see: one of those elusive fisher cats.