ad6mj

What's the longest you've been held up by a poisonous snake on the trail? Usually when I come across a rattler they slither off after only a minute or two and I'm on my way. This morning while I was ironically riding on a new to me trail named "Snakeskin", there's a rattler who immediately coils up and starts rattling. I stopped in plenty of time, so I'm about 10 feet away waiting for it to move and it just stayed there rattling. After about 5 minutes we're both waiting for the other to yield so I start tossing pine cones his way. He, or maybe it was a she, just stays coiled up rattling in the middle of the trail. After about a half dozen "warning shots" a pine cone finally lands right on it. Then it got really pissed. I decided to take a break, ate a few fig newtons drank a half liter bottle of gatorade I had stashed in my camelbak. Then I cleaned my sunglasses, twirled my sweat beanie around to sling out some of the sweat and provide a little evaporative cooling. Next I took a look at my topo map to try and figure out where I was. Finally, after I've checked my stem bolts and QR for tightness, the snake goes off the trail. I must have been there about 15 minutes, but it seemed like forever.

big john

They usually split right away, never had to wait that long. Vertical Bob ran over one last week on the road. It seemed o.k. and slithered away.

Siu Blue Wind

Wow. I wonder if there was a nest nearby.

If you EVER get close enough to a snake for him to getcha, remember that in order to bite, the snake has to be somewhat "cocked" back. And if perchance you have to confront one, remember to get him as close to the head as possible. That way they can't turn back on you to bite.

Here I am holding my non poisonous (of course) friends. The brown one I had just found a few minutes before. Notice how I am holding him so he can't get me. The orange one knows me and won't go after me but you can see how she can turn back if she wants to.

maddmaxx 

Now your scaring me..........or at least your friends are!

ad6mj

Well thanks for the handling tips, but I ain't about to grab a rattlesnake! I've handled snakes I was sure were non-poisonous, but I'm keeping some distance from the poisonous ones. The one this morning was "cocked" it looked like this one.

The Weak Link

I hear they taste like chicken.

Boudicca

That picture gives me the creeps.

sknhgy 

When I see a snake I lift my legs up and zoom right by.

Siu Blue Wind

You can usually tell a poisonous one by the heart shaped head:



Vs. a non poisonous almond shaped head:

NoRacer

Corn snake? And, Gopher snake?

I had a younger corn snake (in my teens) that was more melanistic in many of the areas on it's back where yours is white.

Siu Blue Wind

YES!! Orange corn and Gopher. I used to have a red corn but she just passed away last year. I got her in 1985 and she was around 2 years old then. So I figure she was probably 22 years old when she passed. Perhaps yours was a red corn? (oh no, it's going after my avatar!!)

DnvrFox

Anyone besides me actually eaten rattlesnake - and not from a can or jar, but one from the wilds?

Siu Blue Wind

Yikes!! Did you catch it?

I know they sell them at the outdoor markets in China, as my friends told me about their travels.

NoRacer

Yes, it was a red.

BluesDawg

I've never had to wait for one. I usually only see them as I pass by or occasionally run over them.

Nice hat, Siu. Peter built the wheels I have on Uncle Duke. Great wheels.

ad6mj

Had fried rattlesnake at a roundup once. It was fresh from the wild but I didn't catch it. Tasted kinda like gator.

Louis

Some years ago while walking on a nature trail, I came across an old man killing a small snake. I almost went bananas - started yelling "you stupid *******, this is where he lives...this is his home...what is wrong with you!" The guy was practically pissing down his leg from fear that I was going to give him the same treatment. His response: "it scared me".

Retro Grouch 

I see snakes on the KATY trail all the time but very few are poisonous. Often I can't recognize it as a snake until I'm right on it. I've had to swerve to miss several and accidentally run over a few.

Beverly

There are very few poisonous snakes in my area but it takes me about 1 second to turn around when I see any snake on the trail. They can have it - there are plenty of other trails in the area to ride

Retro Grouch 

Years ago I lived next to a fellow who was a real lawn beautiful fanatic. I mean he lived for his yard and his yard was perfect. We lived in houses that backed up to a never developed wooded area and a creek. As you might imagine, there were snakes. I'd find a couple every time that I mowed.

My neighbor and another fellow from across the street went on a crusade to rid the neighborhood of snakes. They were successful. The next year our lawns were cris crossed by dozens of mole tunnels. We'd never had moles previously. Sometimes justice is done.

Siu Blue Wind

Yes, Peter is a great wheel builder as well as Sean. I got my bike from Vecchio's. Went all the way from California to Colorado to get fitted and to visit with them.

waldowales

All I've seen on the trails around here are harmless little garter snakes, or water snakes, and an occasional blow snake. When I was boy, I made the mistake of deliberately running over a rattler that was crossing the road, as I was coasting down a hill at a high rate of speed. I hit it with the front wheel, and it flipped up and got caught in the rear spokes and ran through the seat stays, fender braces, and chain stays a couple of times. Blood and body parts flying, and me trying to get my feet up on the handlebars while coasting down hill at 30+ MPH! I have never done that again, nor will I!

mandopickr

We were riding a cross state tour in SC and were being escorted down a rural two lane highway. We pulled over to allow traffic to pass. As I ride over to the edge of the road, I pass a small black snake in the grass, and it looked like it was trying to wiggle away.

The guy behind me, 6'5" and about 260 lbs, starts to put his foot down, sees the snake. He tries to get clipped back in and pedal, but its too late. He falls hard right beside the snake. He jumps up, and the snake doesn't move. ITS DEAD AS A DOORNAIL, as we say in the south.

n4zou

They only hold me up long enough to catch them for a tasty meal.

I accidentally ran over a rabbit once and killed it. No need to waste it so it became a meal as well.

A country boy can survive.

DnvrFox

Yep!

In those days it was considered the correct thing to kill rattlers. We don't do that any more. Times change!