Wow, this afternoon I ran over a snake while cycling on the WO&D trail. I saw another one I didn't run over. I've seen cats and dogs, deer, groundhogs, squirrels and chipmunks on the trail, but I never imagined I'd see (much less run over) snakes. Both snakes were short (probably less than a foot long) and skinny (probably less than 3/8" in diameter).

some years ago saw what I thought was a tire tube on the mt vernon trail in alexandria.....when i got close enough, saw that it was, in fact, a snake sunning itself....about 3' long.......was very careful after that!

Seen snakes on the W&OD many times. Turtles and frogs too.
Mostly black snakes and green snakes.
I usually stop and push time off the trail with a stick.

ps Shouldn't this be in the Mid-Atlantic forum

A paved trail, especially darker colored sections in the sun, are magnets for snakes trying to warm up since they are cold blooded and have no other mechanism to gain the body heat required to ramp up their metabolism so that they can become active enough to hunt or digest a meal already consumed.

I once encourntered a snake on the WOD - towards the end of the Reston Century a few years back. Needless to say, *exactly* what you want to have happen after 100 miles on the bike (though no problems, thankfully).

I ran over one on the WO&D trail just 2 weeks ago. I normally ride the C&O, or the GAP trails were I try to watch out for snakes, and I guess I just wasn't expecting a snake on the WO&D. Not because of the pavement, but probably more due to it's location and proximity to metropolitan areas.

this is where your bunny hopping skillz come in handy.