Eastern Railroad Discussion > Unwelcome Visitor At Shenandoah Junction, WV.

A much needed time to get away after a very busy week with a family illness. So on Saturday I spent the day out and about along the tracks at the junction and a few hours at Cedarville, Va. To see the photos from yesterday's outing and my encounter with an unwelcome visitor (at least to me), please click on the link below.
http://members.trainorders.com/bucky1986/ William Todd Paoni 

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A Black Snake. Totally harmless.

Posted from Android

I wouldn't say totally harmless. Non-venomous, yes. Try to pick one up, especially if you grab it wrong, and its bite will cause you a fair amount of pain. Wouldn't be afraid of it - it's not gonna kill you. But, one of that size, I would definitely show it some respect. 

reel_smooth Wrote:
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> I wouldn't say totally harmless. Non-venomous,
> yes. Try to pick one up, especially if you grab it
> wrong, and its bite will cause you a fair amount
> of pain. Wouldn't be afraid of it - it's not gonna
> kill you. But, one of that size, I would
> definitely show it some respect. 
I agree and be very careful out there taking photos this time of year because there are Copper Heads out there too and they are poisonous for sure.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Why would anyone want to pick up a snake?  Of course it will bite you, it is protecting its survival.

If you picked up a lizard, mouse, skunk or any other wild animal they also will bite you.

reel_smooth Wrote:
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> I wouldn't say totally harmless. Non-venomous,
> yes. Try to pick one up, especially if you grab it
> wrong, and its bite will cause you a fair amount
> of pain. Wouldn't be afraid of it - it's not gonna
> kill you. But, one of that size, I would
> definitely show it some respect. 

I picked up one about 4 feet afew weeks ago to get him out of the middle of the road. He didn't even attempt to strike.

Posted from Android

I'd see that, run to the car, lock the doors and get "out of Dodge". Especially if I didn't see it before it saw me.

reel_smooth Wrote:
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> I wouldn't say totally harmless. Non-venomous,
> yes. Try to pick one up, especially if you grab it
> wrong, and its bite will cause you a fair amount
> of pain. Wouldn't be afraid of it - it's not gonna
> kill you. But, one of that size, I would
> definitely show it some respect. 
A fellow that size is finding plenty to eat, and both black rat snakes and black racers prefer all kinds of rodents.
Here's a real big guy I shot at North Branch, MD, underneath where the old WM bridge crossed over the B&O.
I didn't ask if it was a railfan.

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warren1977 Wrote:
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> reel_smooth Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wouldn't say totally harmless. Non-venomous,
> > yes. Try to pick one up, especially if you grab
> it
> > wrong, and its bite will cause you a fair
> amount
> > of pain. Wouldn't be afraid of it - it's not
> gonna
> > kill you. But, one of that size, I would
> > definitely show it some respect. 
> A fellow that size is finding plenty to eat, and
> both black rat snakes and black racers prefer all
> kinds of rodents.
> Here's a real big guy I shot at North Branch, MD,
> underneath where the old WM bridge crossed over
> the B&O.
> I didn't ask if it was a railfan.

Did you Kill that Snake??

railcity Wrote:
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>
> Did you Kill that Snake??

Why would he kill it?  It isn't hurting anyone and they take care of lots of rodents

If you see one of these on your travels do NOT try to pick it up!  It is a rattlesnake, and will cause GREAT harm if it bites you. I chased this guy to get a better shot, when he couldn't get away from me he coiled up, and then struck at me several times.  Luckily he missed.

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Scooby loves Snakes,I have Found that the Bigger they are the less chance they will bite you if you pick them up gently,That is Non-Poisonus types.If you can get in front of them let them crawl over your arm before you pick them up.I Cant STRESS this Enough.Only NON-POISONUS Snakes.If you dont know the Difference leave them Alone and Please dont Kill them

That is NOT a rattlesnake but a nonvenomous garter snake. Many species have the same defensive tactics as rattlesnakes (coil up/puff out, shaking tail)

seaboardc30-7 Wrote:
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> If you see one of these on your travels do NOT try
> to pick it up!  It is a rattlesnake, and will
> cause GREAT harm if it bites you. I chased this
> guy to get a better shot, when he couldn't get
> away from me he coiled up, and then struck at me
> several times.  Luckily he missed.

Lehigh Gorge at old Penn Haven, PA where NS Upper Lehigh Line diverges from Reading Northern mainline.  Snake is sitting on a bridge that was part of the CNJ.

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Did you pick him up?

Now that’s a rattler !!!

Gary

Posted from iPhone

Good job. I've been trying to get that picture for years.

Posted from Android

Jeffm238 - great shot.  I hear the Lehigh Gorge has plenty of rattlers (although I've never seen one in my visits).  There are also rattlers and copperheads along the former B&O east of Cumberland, particularly along the Magnolia Cutoff.  Large black snakes are very common in Maryland and PA.  I've seen plenty of them in my travels, even in developed areas.  I once came upon two large black snakes about 20 feet from the main tracks on the former B&O near Jessup, MD.  I think they were more scared of me than I of them, they quickly slithered off into the foilage.  

Nasty, Nasty, Nasty.

Jim
Hatboro, PA

Had a photo shoot with this guy while waiting for a empty hopper train to come past the house last week....

 

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