Mountain Biking - Critters

I was out this weekend and saw a lot of snakes out. I caught 2 black snakes and removed them from gravel roads yesterday. While out today my son rode right up on a good size rattler,really pretty. Dumb butt me with no camera. :mad: I let the rattle snake remove himself. It was a really cool weekend for seeing critters.

I too finally saw the 1st snake of the year. It was a baby Black snake in my own driveway. It was all of 8" long.....

Surprisingly, I've not seen any yet on the trails. This time last year I'd already come across two huge 50"+ rattler's, and numerous Garter and water snakes....

What, are you guys serious or just trying to keep people out of your riding area? ;)

No critter sightings for me today, just some silly family out for a hike in flipflops. They deserved to get snakebit.

:lol:

No, just stating the facts....

I have pics of a 56" Rattler that I actually ran over and brought back to the parking lot. It had 13 rattle's. The next year I ran over & killed (regret it now) a 54" Rattler that had 11 rattle's. They were both bigger than my forearm around.... Both were about 4½ miles from the parking area.... I'd probably been a DeadMan if either had bitten me....

I think it may actually be against the law to kill those, but I'm still putting my life ahead of their's.... Sorry Uncle Sam.

I ran across this guy in the Linville Gorge last summer:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/Jake2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/Jake1.jpg

Up here in WA don't see many snakes but a lot of gophers and prarie dogs though. Also can't go a ride without coming across several deer.

Up here in WA don't see many snakes but a lot of gophers and prarie dogs though. Also can't go a ride without coming across several deer.

I see a lot of little garter snakes under logs and such but other than that, there's not many snake sightings. I do see deer and other wildlife. There are coyotes and wolves in the woods right behind my house where I ride often.

We dont have anything like that! No dogs... bears.. snakes....

Probably a good thing, I hate snakes anyway..

I ran across this guy in the Linville Gorge last summer:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/Jake2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/Jake1.jpg

Awsome pics!!! Don't see many rattlers.This is the first one in a long time.Don't worry about the snakes. :D

Hehe....reminds me of the time I found one and started poking it with a stick. Long story short: it ended up chasing me.

With all due respect, you guys are absolutely insane. I'm not talking about the "wild and crazy guy" good insane, but the "a few bricks short of a solid foundation" insane.

My biggest fear in the world is a snake, no matter the type. Call me a sissy or what you will but I'd rather slam my hand in a car door for 3hrs straight than see a 10" black snake 40yrds away. I've jimped from an airplane over 40 times and done my share of stupid things most would find not too bright, but snakes are my one tabu.

I've seen 7 or 8 so far this year out riding in Umstead Park here in Cary, NC and there wasn't once I though "wow, neat". Sadly I have actually toned down my riding frequency a bit because of it. Anyone got a good "cure" to snake fears? And don't say go play with one either!

With all due respect, you guys are absolutely insane. I'm not talking about the "wild and crazy guy" good insane, but the "a few bricks short of a solid foundation" insane.

My biggest fear in the world is a snake, no matter the type. Call me a sissy or what you will but I'd rather slam my hand in a car door for 3hrs straight than see a 10" black snake 40yrds away. I've jimped from an airplane over 40 times and done my share of stupid things most would find not too bright, but snakes are my one tabu.

I've seen 7 or 8 so far this year out riding in Umstead Park here in Cary, NC and there wasn't once I though "wow, neat". Sadly I have actually toned down my riding frequency a bit because of it. Anyone got a good "cure" to snake fears? And don't say go play with one either!

You absolutely would not want to go play with ONE to get over your phobia, that would be insane. What you need to do is go play with 50 or so; now that'll either kick the crap out of that little fear of yours or give you a heart attack, either way, problem solved. :D

I ran across this guy in the Linville Gorge last summer:


Can you ride out in Linville?

I've been planning a backpacking trip out there for a while now, but if I can ride out there too...well...that just might speed that trip up.

As for snakes, I haven't seen any out riding this year, but a few weeks ago up in Raven Rock State Park while trail running I came across a little black snake, picked up a stick and nudged the little guy out of the trail so nobody would step on him. Nothing cool like a huge rattler though!

Damn snuff, you're not helping my cause here! I go down to Raven Rock occasionally with the wife. Seeing snakes there too? On foot? No sir. No more Raven Rock state park for the misses. :)

With all due respect, you guys are absolutely insane. I'm not talking about the "wild and crazy guy" good insane, but the "a few bricks short of a solid foundation" insane.

My biggest fear in the world is a snake, no matter the type. Call me a sissy or what you will but I'd rather slam my hand in a car door for 3hrs straight than see a 10" black snake 40yrds away. I've jimped from an airplane over 40 times and done my share of stupid things most would find not too bright, but snakes are my one tabu.

I've seen 7 or 8 so far this year out riding in Umstead Park here in Cary, NC and there wasn't once I though "wow, neat". Sadly I have actually toned down my riding frequency a bit because of it. Anyone got a good "cure" to snake fears? And don't say go play with one either!


HEY nice to hear that you are willing to concure your fear I OWN 5 snakes and have cured MANY people of their fears... here is how I do it...

If I have a snake out and they are kinda upset I ask if they want to touch it most say no.. so I tell them its safe she doesnt bite etc. etc. if that doesnt work I hokd the head of the snake under my arm so there is NO WAY of the snake turning and biting.. (this is for the people NONE of the snakes I take into public are aggressive..) and ask them to touch the tail.. whats safer than a tail??? when they get used to that I let them hold the tail... after a few minutes of working closer and closer and letting the person become more and more comfortable with the snake I will let them hold her..... you would be AMAZED what 15min. with a small ball python would do to a person... I have had people that run when they see it and after I have 'worked' with them they are holding her around their neck and are completely at peace with the snakes.....

I cant tell you how greatfull I am to hear that you guys arent killing the animals (especially snakes) on the trails, we need all of the animals even the venomous ones. they all have a part and we should be greatfull that we still have some territory we can share with them....
-Jacob

Damn snuff, you're not helping my cause here! I go down to Raven Rock occasionally with the wife. Seeing snakes there too? On foot? No sir. No more Raven Rock state park for the misses. :)


Pffffbt :)

Raven Rock is harmless as far as wildlife is concerned. The deer are adjusted to people, and aren't too skittish, although nothing like what they've got out in Mt. Morrow SP near Uwharrie, I've walked right up to a doe, literally close enough to reach out and touch it before it spooked.

If it makes it any better, over the last few years I've ran at least 200 miles up in Raven Rock, and I've only seen that one little baby snake - just a blacksnake too, not even a poisonous one. The weirdest encounter I've had up there was down on Campbell Creek Loop with a stray hound dog that was following a couple with a rottweiler puppy around. I asked if it was theirs since it was off-leash, and they didn't claim it, in fact kinda angrily stated that and then mentioned it had the runs - so I did what anyone with a soft spot for dopey looking hound dogs would do. I took the lace out of my right running shoe, and tied it around the dog's collar, to walk it the 4 miles back to the ranger station. After a mile or so, I ran into a much nicer couple who let me use a piece of string to leash the dog, so I could put my shoelace back in - they also gave me some alcohol prep pads to clean up some bloody roadrash I got turning my roadbike around before the run (doing a brick that day). I walked the dog up the rest of the way to the ranger station, and when I dropped the dog off the ranger told me he knew who the dog belonged to, it was an old man who had died. The man's son was supposed to be taking care of the dog. Kinda sad, hopefully the caretaker didn't just dump off his dead dad's dog.

Snakehunter, I admire your approach and patience but don't think it's the trick for me. I tried that years ago with a caged blacksnake, it didn't go well. I've adjusted to being afraid of them but being a hunter (to each their own, if you don't like hunting just be happy not liking it. I'm not in the mood to hear lectures) it makes it tough to go out bow hunting in mid september!

Oh well, I'll eventually learn to live in harmony with em. :)

Nah we cool... I am a hunter aswell... I do not hunter for sport you see.. wat game I kill is eaten... bunnies, deer, turkies, squirrels... they all have a place in my fridge :D

Just remember that they are more scared of you and if you pick up a stick and nudge them along they will mre than likely scoot on their way... for the ones that put up a stand just kinda step off the beaten path and five them their room....
-Jacob

Cool Snakehunter, and my anti speech part wasn't directed at you but everyone :) And I totally agree with you, eat what you kill or leave it be.

As far as nudging them out of the way, well, I just go the OTHER way! Literally, I've turned around on my bike after seeing one laying across the trail. Fairs fair, he was there first. :)

I won't lie, when I'm out scouting, clearing land, ect I carry a 9mm with snake shot in it incase I come eye to eye with one by accident, but it's more for my peace of mind than anything else. Anyway, it's cool talking to people like you (and everyone else in this thread) because I just see my "snakes are bad" perspective and it's interesting to hear people that think differently..

I saw a skunk the other day and friggin pinned it. I also saw some jackrabbits today. I havent really seen any snakes out here but there are supposed to be.

Still no snake sightings for me, loads of rabbits though.

I saw an Adder (pissy little British snake that would struggle to kill an ant with its venom) in the forest near my house, I was surpried they'd not all died out.

Always see loads of Red Squirrels and even the odd eagle.

As for snakes, I haven't seen any out riding this year, ......


What kind of bikes do snakes ride?

Wasn't a snake sighting while riding - but when my family had a lake home in East Texas we shot what ended up being a Six FOOT Cottonmouth that was curled up in the rafters of the boat house. It was paitently waiting for a goose (who was nesting above the cabinets we had out there) to move so the snake could have a nice egg feast. The head of this thing nearly hit the deck before the tail completely unravelled from the rafter.

We later looked up the standing Texas size record for a Cottonmouth, it was somewhere around 5' 9" Unfortunately the snake was carried off by a vulture before we were able to call anyone to record it.

/my little snake story of the day.

P.S. - I've seen a copperhead on the trail each trip out mountain biking this summer. Seems to be a Saturday ritual of sorts to chase it off.

What kind of bikes do snakes ride?
Mostly DiamondBack :D

I live in west texas and on the side of the mountain I usually ride you see snakes and lizards all the time. A few rabbits here and there but mostly snakes and lizards. I too have a great fear of snakes. I rode about 6 inches next to a long rattler that was just laying on the trail the other day. I didnt notice it till I right next to it. I hate riding by myself. I feel uneasy and jumpy especially when Im trying to keep and ear out for a rattle rattling and a stupid locust makes the noise they make with its wings and freaks me out.

Last Friday I was about to run over what I thought was a small dark twig. Until I got much closer and saw that it was a sidewinding garter snake. It felt like riding over a clincher tire still wound in rubber bands from the box. I hope I didn't break its spine. I was traveling reasonably fast (23 mph). :-(

Wasn't a snake sighting while riding - but when my family had a lake home in East Texas we shot what ended up being a Six FOOT Cottonmouth that was curled up in the rafters of the boat house. It was paitently waiting for a goose (who was nesting above the cabinets we had out there) to move so the snake could have a nice egg feast. The head of this thing nearly hit the deck before the tail completely unravelled from the rafter.

We later looked up the standing Texas size record for a Cottonmouth, it was somewhere around 5' 9" Unfortunately the snake was carried off by a vulture before we were able to call anyone to record it.

/my little snake story of the day.

P.S. - I've seen a copperhead on the trail each trip out mountain biking this summer. Seems to be a Saturday ritual of sorts to chase it off.

One time my friend and I where out on a trail and there was a dog that would not leave us alone so as we hit this DH part of the run the pup stayed at the top...so I whipped around and brandished the colt 45 from my camelback (we have man eating bears that will break down your door and steal your family) and layed one right in his head... I pulled the body off the course so no one would hit it or the animals chowin down on the mut... after a bit of time on the web I found that the state record for golden retreivers was 35lbs... Too bad the one I layed out would have eaten that one..... my I heart cats story of the day
-Jacob

Last Friday I was about to run over what I thought was a small dark twig. Until I got much closer and saw that it was a sidewinding garter snake. It felt like riding over a clincher tire still wound in rubber bands from the box. I hope I didn't break its spine. I was traveling reasonably fast (23 mph). :-(

Yeah you probly whacked the poor guy... there is a difference between accidental and purposeful killing of animals with no intent to consume... and I do not hold you in contempt (hint hint last post)

I recently was riding along, and looked down just in time to run over a garter snake.
They are very small, and it just "showed up" if you will. I removed it from the trail though.