Eastern Railroad Discussion > Don't Tread on Me - Help ID

I have seen a few threads like brown snake etc so I though of this

Riding the Great Allegheny Passage RAIL to trail last May:
1 right out of Connelsville almost ran over on the very edge of the trail on a cool morning, obviously looking for some sun
ID????

2) another day just west of Frostburg, just before leaving the trail mother? stood up for a better view or to give me the look but of course I missed it. Semper Paratus, oh well

Hope this flies as railroad related.

Bob Jordan

P.S.
This would be a good test of the I love my wide angle types? Smile

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I would say it's related. You've got to pay attention to your surroundings while railfanning.

Chris Tokarcik
Morgantown, WV

Photo#1 looks like an Eastern Timber Rattlesnake. http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1038
John

I think in photo # 1 it might be PO at you.

Very definitely a Timber Rattler. As this is near Connellsville that's the only rattler it can be- Timber Rattlers are the only species in that area. Not feeling especially threatened as it's not coiled up- just wants to be left alone so it can warm up in the sun. He'll be denned up in an underground location with some of his buddies by now.

dharris

By sunning themselves, snakes, and other reptiles, digest their food.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> By sunning themselves, snakes, and other reptiles,
> digest their food.

Didn't know that, what do black racers eat ?,I have one around the house,

robj Wrote:

snip>>>
Semper Paratus, oh well
>

>
> Bob Jordan
>


Are / were you a "Coastie?"

So few folks know about the Coast Guard and even
fewer seemingly know their motto.

Although I was a "Zoomie" (Air Force) our bizzarre
little unit had contact with the Coast Guard
as they would pluck one of our pilots out of
the gulf about 3 or 4 times a year when they
had to eject.

Be Well,

Tim Colbert K3HX

Those are bears in the second photo. Do not try to pet them.

Wabash2800 (good looking engines),
Black racers will eat just about any small critter -- mice, birds, other snakes, grasshoppers. They're amazingly fast, especially when escaping in thick brush. They can also be a little feisty if you corner one or try and pick one up -- but perfectly harmless unless you're a small critter.

K3HX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> robj Wrote:
>
> snip>>>
> Semper Paratus, oh well
> >
>
> >
> > Bob Jordan
> >
>
>
> Are / were you a "Coastie?"
>
> So few folks know about the Coast Guard and even
> fewer seemingly know their motto.
>
> Although I was a "Zoomie" (Air Force) our
> bizzarre
> little unit had contact with the Coast Guard
> as they would pluck one of our pilots out of
> the gulf about 3 or 4 times a year when they
> had to eject.
>
> Be Well,
>
> Tim Colbert K3HX

No but have a certain fondness, in the Great Lakes one of out fav boats was the original Mackinaw
lot of Midwest railfans are boat fans also.

On a trivial note in grade school we we had a music nun, one we actually liked a lot.
She would play the piano and we would learn new songs, many very schmaltzie by today's standards
and even tho the "kids" were into 45's we still liked singing all the old songs which we easy
to sing along with and one was

Semper Peratus is our guide our.....

Anyway another time and seemingly another.....


Bob

dharris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Very definitely a Timber Rattler. As this is near
> Connellsville that's the only rattler it can be-
> Timber Rattlers are the only species in that area.
> Not feeling especially threatened as it's not
> coiled up- just wants to be left alone so it can
> warm up in the sun. He'll be denned up in an
> underground location with some of his buddies by
> now.
>
> dharris

Yep, he was quiet, quickly took my photo and moved on.

Bob

Up here in PA. I have seen both timber rattlers and eastern dimondbacks. And yes they like to soak up the sun on the hot rocks,...And of course rairoad ballast is a good source of hot rocks. So I try and keep my eyes peeled on hot summer days out in the woods near the tracks.
Be careful out there you don't wanna' step on one of those things.

robj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Riding the Great Allegheny Passage RAIL to trail last May:
> 1 right out of Connelsville almost ran over on the very edge of the trail on a cool morning,
> obviously looking for some sun ID????


Bob, the next one you see out there, could you ..... like .... lay a yardstick beside it ..... or a tape measure? You know for us that have never encountered anything like that to get an idea of just how big they are?

Ron

Ron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> robj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Riding the Great Allegheny Passage RAIL to
> trail last May:
> > 1 right out of Connelsville almost ran over on
> the very edge of the trail on a cool morning,
> > obviously looking for some sun ID????
>
>
> Bob, the next one you see out there, could you
> ..... like .... lay a yardstick beside it ..... or
> a tape measure? You know for us that have never
> encountered anything like that to get an idea of
> just how big they are?
>
> Ron


Uh, I don't think that would be a good idea when you are a distance from civilization.
According to Wiki adult Timber Rattlesnakes range in size between 3 and 5 feet.

After going to mance several times a year for over 30 years and As a Snake lover ive never seen a Rattlesnake up there on mance,Ive seen lots of kings,and blacks which is good cause rattlesnakes hate them,In fact kings eat rattles all the time,Now when you get off the mountain thats another thing on the long stretch down near hydeman ive seen lots of them and have even step on a few timbers and they did not bite, all they said was get off me !!,I have all the tools for playing with snakes the right boots,the right chaps the right gloves and most of all Comonsence .....