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Re: [at-l] Snakes

I know of only two sightings of this guy in Maine some years ago; unable to
document, just advisement when I was a boy scout.

----------
> From: WHHAWKINS@aol.com
> To: at-l@saffron.hack.net
> Subject: [at-l] Snakes
> Date: Monday, June 15, 1998 11:43 AM
> 
> There are two poisonous snakes that can be encountered on the AT. The
Timber
> Rattlesnake and the Copperhead.
> 
> In 1989 there was a thru-hiker biten by a Copperhead. He was sleeping
under a
> bridge, on VA 614, over Jennings Creek. North of Cove Mountain
Shelter.This
> was in prime Copperhead habitat.
> 
> More Info below.
> 
> Wildbill
> 
> 1.  Timber Rattlesnake  35 - 74 1/2"
> 
> Status: "Endangered." Illegal to harass, kill, collect or possess. 
> 
> A robust, poisonous snake, the timber rattler is equipped with a broad
> triangular head, vertical pupils and heat sensitive pits. The body color
may
> be yellow, gray, dark brown or black, with dark, V-shaped crossbands
across
> the back. The pattern may not be obvious if the body is very dark. The
head is
> usually unpatterned and is covered with many small scales. A distinct
rattle
> on the end of a darkly colored tail produces a buzzing sound when
vibrated.
> When young, the rattlesnake has only a 
> small button on the tail. Body scales are strongly keeled and the light
> colored belly is flecked with dark spots. 
> 
> HABITAT: Sea level to 6,600'  Wooded hillsides with rock outcrops. 
> RANGE: On the AT from GA to NH/ME state line.
> ACTIVE: April to October; in the daytime in Spring and Fall. At night
during
> the Summer .
> <A HREF="http://klaatu.oit.umass.edu/umext/snake/timber.html">Timber
> Rattlesnake</A>
> NOTE: The Timber Rattlesnake may overwinter with Rat Snakes and
Copperheads.
>  
> 2.  Copperhead  22 - 36" Up to 53".
> 
> Status: "Endangered." Illegal to harass, kill, collect or possess.
> 
> The copperhead is a poisonous snake with a broad triangular head,
vertically
> elliptical pupils and a heat sensitive pit between each eye and nostril.
The
> body is pinkish to grayish brown with brown or reddish-brown crossbands
that
> are narrow on the back and widest on the sides. Small dark spots commonly
> occur between crossbands on the back. The unpatterned head is dull
orange,
> copper or rusty-red. Body scales are keeled and the belly is pink or
light
> brown with dark blotches along 
> the sides. When young, a copperhead has a yellow-tipped tail. 
> 
> HABITAT: sea level to 5,000'.  Wooded hillsides with rock outcrops above
> streams or ponds.
> RANGE: On the AT GA to MA.
> ACTIVE: Basks during the day in Spring and Fall, becoming nocturnal as
the
> days grow warmer.
> 
>  <A
HREF="http://klaatu.oit.umass.edu/umext/snake/copper.html">Copperhead</A> 
> 
>  <A HREF="http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/995_snakes.html">For Goodness
> Snakes: Treating and Preventing ...</A> 
> 
>  <A HREF="http://www.xmission.com/~gastown/herpmed/snbite.htm">THE
SNAKEBITE
> EMERGENCY WEBPAGE</A> 
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