Today I went out into Shawnee State Forest in southernmost Ohio, with a group lead by Doug Wynn. Doug is a high school teacher from Columbus, who is also a longtime rattlesnake researcher and recognized expert. He uses radio telemetry to track timber rattlesnakes. Shawnee is the last Ohio stronghold of this poisonous snake.
I'll tell the entire story about our snake hunt in a post in the near future. For now, I'll share with you a short video of one of the snakes Doug recently caught and marked with an embedded microchip. This female is set to be re-released into the wild soon.
Even though I was a good six feet away from the snake, it still gave me chills to see it rattling in a coiled pose.
I'm less frightened of them than I used to be, but still... an angry one is a different story.
ReplyDeleteNo. Don't want no poisonous snakes. Going away now until the nice birdies come back.
ReplyDelete~Kat, sulking in the corner
I got goosebumps just from watching the video.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a cicada on the ground instead of up a tree.
ReplyDeleteWe have the Massassuga Rattler up here but not in our Park.
Beautiful animal! I've seen Western Rattlesnake and Western Massasauga, but Timber would be a lovely lifer.
ReplyDeleteNice rattle video Bill. I also have a Timber video up on my blog this week. I ran into the biggest Timber of my life while visiting my family in SC.
ReplyDeletevery beautiful snake . I am frightened of them but I like to see them in photo and on TV.
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brianna
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