Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Seems like there's never enough time to get out for snakes, so I took a vacation day today, because of a nice weather forecast. Of course, I woke up to the sound of rain on the roof (How can the weather people be wrong half the time and still keep their jobs?). The radar looked like it might clear, though, and I decided to head North to one of my timber rattlesnake hot spots. By the time I got there, the weather was perfect (for snakes): Upper 70's, very humid, clouds with a few peeks of sun, no wind. After an hour's walk, I reached the hollow, a beautiful spot with a mountain stream along the bottom, and steep open rock on both sides. As I made my climb, snakes started appearing everywhere. Big ones, little ones, black ones, yellow ones, some coiled up 2 and 3 together out in the open, soaking up the meager rays. I even found a litter of newborns with mom nearby. Of course, my camera battery died after a few pictures, but I did get a shot of this black beauty. (Needless to say, all snakes were left where they were with minimal disturbance, I only go to this spot once a year so I don't unduly disturb the snakes.)
All in all a great day: 27 timbers, several nice whitetail deer, one red eft, and zero humans!

you are very lucky to have such luck! i dont know where youre located in PA but i go up to my family's cabin in Somerset a couple times every summer and im dying to find a few of these beauties. ive been unsuccessful so far and last weekend my dad and i hiked about 3-5 miles into the middle of nowhere and found a ton of great areas for timbers but of course, had no luck whatsoever. i was even told there was a den in that area but had no luck in finding it.

is there any chance youre near Somerset or know any timber hot spots in that area? thanks a ton for any info you can give me
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Dylan Lutz

1.1 BCI, 1.0 Bearded Dragon

Actually, I'm in Eastern PA, not really near Somerst. I haven't hunted that area, so I'm not familiar with it. All I can tell you is, if it looks like good habitat (open rock slides and boulders facing south or southwest), keep checking them. I've been in areas where I know there's good populations and haven't seen a single snake because the onditions weren't right. And some areas that look great just don't have any snakes. Kee on trying, it took me 30 years of stomping around these hills to find good spots, and there's more undiscovered ones out there (at least by me!). Good luck.

lol it figures youre nowhere near me. i must be finding a lot of those areas that "look great but just dont have any snakes". however, the one thing i am unsure of is which direction the slopes i am looking on are facing. i really need to get a compass, as everyone keeps telling me the slopes need to be facing south. its just getting very frustrating because i keep hearing stories of people finding timbers in areas around where our cabin is. well thanks for the tips and ill just have to try again next year (or maybe later this year if i get lucky and we go up to our cabin again).
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Dylan Lutz

1.1 BCI, 1.0 Bearded Dragon

..and I'll say it again - THEE nicest black phase timbers come from PA!! The nicest I've ever seen was a monster from Lycoming Co. just 3 weeks ago, though I wasn't able to get a pic.

I agree. I don't know which ones I like more, the almost jet-black ones, or the black ones with the rich chestnut chevrons. Guess I like them all!
I know Lycoming County well, lots of good timber rattler country up there (and a few good bars)!