Mating Season: Primarily July & August. The state long encouraged the killing of venomous snakes, even awarding bounties until they were outlawed in 1971. “Timber rattlesnakes are generally found in deciduous forests in rugged terrain. It is illegal to take, import, transport, possess, or sell an animal listed as Threatened. More recently, she worked as an environmental consultant for Gannett Fleming Engineers in Harrisburg, and as the County Inventory Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy, PA Science Office in Middletown, PA. She is currently employed (since 2002) as a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry where she works mostly with non-game species management on state forest lands. #snowman, #railtrail #marsh #evening #eveninglight #hudsonva, Iced over: Crossing the Hudson in winter before th, Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center taps Peter Cr, Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. The dorsal scales are strongly keeled, giving it a “rough” appearance. The other is black and will be darker overall with black or dark background and black head. But rattlers are generally shy of human activity, snuggling up in dens and crevices when they’re not basking or hunting. Both color phases show dark chevron shaped bands along the length of the body and a velvet black tail ending in the familiar rattle. Many species of snakes can overwinter at the same den. Measuring from 3-4.5 feet (91-137 cm) or more in length, the timber rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in New York. Natural resource professionals and forest visitors are urged to review these documents. Dark phase timber rattlesnakes are almost completely black, revealing their skin patterns only from a close distance. Rattlesnakes in this region can be identified as yellow phase (yellow or tan with black or brown cross-bands) or black phase (almost solid black with darker patterns). The timber rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake or banded rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), is a species of venomous pit viper endemic to eastern North America. Recovery of rattlesnake populations in the state has been slow, due to unregulated collection and indiscriminate killing. For example, they can have many different color variations, called color morphs, including: Black morph -- background of gray with a rich black pattern. The pupils are elliptical. She has worked with the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands and Waterways in Washington, DC as a consultant, and for the Audubon Society at the Audubon Camp in Maine as a marine biology instructor. Like others of their kind, their heads are triangular to leave room inside the skull for the poison glands. Wear boots that at least cover the ankles and look for rattlesnakes before you sit down or reach under logs and brush. Scenic forest vistas can have spectacular views, but they are particularly attractive to basking reptiles. This name was not recognized, however, for over a cent… Fill out this form and tell us a little about yourself so we can provide you with upcoming events and news that are hand-picked for your interests! But it’s still easy to tell apart from the two black-bodied snakes that are common to the region: the small, slender black racer, whose back is a solid black color, and the larger, thicker black rat snake, whose black back may be slightly mottled with white or grey. Our Journeys are the many roads & byways & trails & waterways that connect our landscapes and inspire your exploration. Subscribe now. Additionally, 28 state forest natural areas are off-limits for collection (click here for the list). To learn more about them, visit www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/snakes.pdf. The much-maligned rattlesnake generally exhibits a docile nature but still must be respected. Photos by @dionogust. Birthing: 8-12 in late August through mid-September. One of three venomous snakes that occur in PA, the timber rattler embodies the wild appeal of Penn’s Woods. Males and non-pregnant females will leave sunny habitat after shedding in June to forage in the woods for prey within an established home range. While rattlesnakes can be taken in PA from June 9 through July 31, 2019 with a venomous snake permit (issued by the PFBC), some populations are protected. Taxonomy. The PA Wilds team is grateful to share the many stories of this region through the words and images of our talented guest contributors. What it mostly comes down to is this: If you leave rattlers alone, they’ll leave you alone. A battle by environmentalists to save a timber rattlesnake den in the Hudson Highlands from being dynamited to expand a quarry by a mining company called Sour Mountain Realty led to some precedent-setting court decisions in 1999, which established New York’s right to enforce the state’s Endangered Species Act on private property. If the head is a striking yellow-orangey color, that’s a copperhead: also wisely left alone. Although they spent a couple of weeks combing the talus slopes that would seem to be prime habitat, with Scheuer as their knowledgeable guide, the scientists went away empty-handed. Education is essential for the survival of timber rattlesnake populations throughout the commonwealth. Venomous. The timber rattlesnake’s color pattern varies somewhat, but typically features black or brown crossbands against a yellowish, brown or grey background. In northern latitudes and at higher elevations, females give birth only every second or third year. Pine Creek Valley and The PA Grand Canyon. Rattlesnake populations are rebounding statewide, particularly in the northcentral region. Rattlesnakes emerge from their winter dens in early spring and typically seek out sunny, open, south-facing rock habitat. Nowadays the timber rattlesnake is protected by law. The timber rattlesnake is the only rattlesnake species inhabiting West Virginia. New York, Ohio). This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States and is second only to its cousins to the west, the prairie rattlesnake, as the most northerly distributed venomous snake in North … We’re all in this together. Systematics: Originally described as Crotalus horridus by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758, based on a specimen from \"America.\" Schmidt (1953) restricted the type locality to New York City. specifically for this purpose. Just like its desert cousin, the Timber Rattlesnake has a distinctive rattle at the end of its tail. She also volunteers with Project Owlnet where she bands saw-whet owls at the Kings Gap State Park banding station. The young are born live, not from eggs, from late August to mid-September. In June of 2018, a contractor at a construction site in the Town of Woodstock was issued a summons for possession of threatened species parts, after killing a timber rattler at a job site and cutting off the head and rattle for souvenirs. If you are hiking in the woods, be aware of your surroundings. Local. Who can I contact there is a snake living in my cabin in Shandaken Specimens Author: Guest ContributorThe Pennsylvania Wilds is home to more than 2 million acres of public land, 50 state game lands, 29 state parks, 8 state forests, 2 National Wild & Scenic Rivers, abundant wildlife, hundreds of miles of land and water trails, some of the darkest skies in the country, and the largest elk herd in the northeast. Their main body color may be yellow, tan, brown or gray. Yes, timber rattlers are occasionally to be found there – but not with ease. Become part of our local support family. The Presidential Award for Timber Rattlesnakes was awarded to Wade Graham; … Previous Next. the black phase, with a black head and black chevrons or blotches on a field of dark brown or black. impressive snake occurs in two distinct color phases. There’s also a rarer black color phase, in which the bands are harder to distinguish against a dark brown or even nearly black background. Timber Rattlesnake -. Like to hike, but worried about blundering into a nest of snakes? They will travel a similar route every year before returning to the same den in the fall. Known for its distinctive yellow phase or black phase coloring, fear-inspiring rattle and hollow folding fangs, the timber rattlesnake is enjoying a resurgence in Pennsylvania. Additionally, 28 state forest natural areas are off-limits for collection (, Education is essential for the survival of timber rattlesnake populations throughout the commonwealth. In fact, send us $50 and we’ll give you free access to our premium online content for a year. In dark individuals, this is often broken up by the chevrons. Maturity: ... v People who hunt, capture, possess or kill timber rattlesnakes must have and individual Timber Rattlesnake Hunter & Rattlesnake Possession Permit. There have been no recent recorded cases in New York State of human fatalities from a bite from a timber rattler, but symptoms may be severe, including nausea, vomiting, paralysis and tissue damage, and an allergic reaction can certainly be life-threatening. Sounds awfully reminiscent of the Shawangunks, doesn’t it? Watch Wallace’s video of his encounter below! The snake continued to rattle as it slowly crawled away with its head high; the forward third of its body held in a S curve ready to strike if necessary. Timber Rattlesnake (Yellow Phase) Jesse W. Jaycox. Habitat: Upland forest with rocky outcroppings, talus slops, rock crevices, rock ledges with vegetation, mature forest with numerous fallen logs, young forest with predominant leaf litter cover. Mother rattlesnakes guard their young for a week or two, until they shed their skin for the first time. Hiking a state forest trail this time of year brings a higher probability of a snake encounter, and the timber rattlesnake is the species that people generally fear the most. In timber rattlesnakes, the head is colored yellow, tan, or gray, and usually has a dark line running from each eye to the jaw. Intermediate phase snakes have shades of grays, blacks, and white. Dark markings appear in bands around the body; they're rounded toward the head and become more v-s… Has this information been valuable to you? While rattlesnakes can be taken in PA from June 9 through July 31, 2019 with a venomous snake permit (issued by the PFBC), some populations are protected. Severe, human-caused impacts to South Mountain rattlers have necessitated additional protection. So, theoretically, you should be able to estimate the age of a rattler by counting the segments, like rings in a tree. Thus, rattlesnakes in Michaux State Forest are protected and cannot be taken, even with a venomous snake permit. Decades ago, the late Thom Scheuer, former head ranger at the Mohonk Preserve, told of a team of herpetologists who came to the Gunks with the specific intention of finding and studying wild rattlesnakes. AMY MCGINNIS/NEW YORK STATE PARKSA New York timber rattlesnake in its black phase. Scale are keeled. 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