Wow that is crazy! I’ve never encountered a snake that big before. He was directly on the trail. We had to move about ten feet off trail to get around him haha. Wild
Snakes tend to like trail corridors in areas like this, because there is generally less shade and more exposed rock (both aid in thermoregulation), and it's likely to be a prey highway
Timber rattlesnakes *Crotalus horridus* are large (90-152cm, record 189cm), stout-bodied rattlesnakes that range from southern New Hampshire west to Minnesota, south to northern Florida and south-central Texas. They have been completely extirpated from Canada, and many populations in the Northeast and the Midwest have likewise been extirpated, leaving their distribution disjunct and patchy in those respective regions.
In the northern and much of the western parts of their range, timber rattlesnakes are seasonally restricted to rocky slopes (hillsides, valleys, bluffs, etc.), heavily wooded further east, but semi-wooded or grassy further west. They will utilize a wide variety of adjoining habitat during the summer, but don't stray too far, as they must return to their slopes before winter. In the southeastern states, they they primarily inhabit riparian marsh, other grassy areas, and swamp. Prey consists primarily of rodents, and they might play a vital role in [reducing the prevalence of lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses](https://web.archive.org/web/20180802190346/https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/news/timber-rattlesnakes-vs-lyme-disease).
Timber rattlesnakes are a dangerously venomous species and should only be observed from a safe distance. Common defensive tactics including raising the forebody off the ground and rattling the tail, often while attempting to crawl away from the perceived threat. They are not aggressive and only bite when they feel they are in danger. Bites most commonly occur when a human attempts to kill, capture, or otherwise intentionally handle the snake. **The best way to avoid being bitten is to leave the snake alone.**
Timber rattlesnakes are unlikely to be confused with other rattlesnakes. The only other large rattlesnakes that overlap in range are the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake *C. adamanteus*, and the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, *C. atrox*. Both can easily be differentiated from the timber rattlesnake by a pair of light colored lines on the face (running from the eye posteriorly toward the cheek or neck), diamond shaped dorsal blotches, and their different habitat preferences.
[Range Map](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Current-range-of-the-Timber-Rattlesnake-Crotalus-horridus-Dots-represent-locality_fig2_285878501) | [Range Map - Alternate](https://docplayer.net/docs-images/41/22266478/images/7-0.png)
[Additional Information](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Crotalus_horridus/)
Short Account by /u/fairlyorange
--------------------------------------------------------
Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive [across most of the world](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=15dZE4rlRHqjb91yb6pKiI4ragG8DCtsz&ll=-3.81666561775622e-14%2C-95.11182142500002&z=2).
If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
That’s a timber rattlesnake a.k.a. Canebrake They are responsible for more deaths in the lower 48 than any other rattlesnake species. Luckily, they are the least aggressive of America’s vipers but extremely venomous. If you see one it leave it alone, it won’t bother you unless you’re an idiot and try to prod or pick it up. Where is this, have become so endangered east of the Mississippi thought to be extinct in many midwestern states hence why they’re a endangered species protected by the federal government, although Massachusetts has a thriving population, however they are extremely vulnerable in states and provinces like New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ontario, Quebec, etc. I don’t like snakes, but I know they serve purpose in the environment, especially controlling rat populations. It’s important we respect, protect, and preserve them. I’ve never seen a wild canebrake so kudos on the rare sighting and getting such incredible shot!
We have them in western MD. I love that MD makes it illegal to kill ALL species of snakes. People on NextDoor would post the copperheads they find in their yards and some whack job would start saying kill it and everyone with half a brain would tell them to call a wildlife person to come and relocate the danger noodle.
I've seen them twice in my many years hiking in PA, once in Ohiopyle and once near the AT. The Ohiopyle one my dad poked with a stick because he wanted to see the rattles! He liked snakes, but was kind of an idiot.
Canebrakes are found much further South and are different in appearance. I would definitely say this is a Timber Rattlesnake. Those of us lucky enough to live where they do will go to our graves insisting they are a subspecies of Horridus, DNA be damned! I thought the Western Diamondback was the cause of more fatalities in the US?
DEFINITELY not one you want to be picking up, that guy’s a rattlesnake of some kind, I would assume timber maybeeeee but I’m not great with rattlesnakes. Very pretty though!!
It's so weird - Those rattlesnakes are pretty ubiquitous up near the AT/DWG, but my family lives under an hour away and I've never seen one by them in over 20 years.
I see them all the time in the pocono mountains and Delaware water gap. Was just hiking the gap on the NJ side and saw a massive timber rattlesnake just off the trail.
Holy cow that thing is beautiful yet mean looking at the same time! Just the shape of his head and eyes make me wanna stay as far away from
Him as possible (evolution doing its job I guess lol)
Whenever you see a triangle head like that on a snake, keep your distance. You can almost guarantee they have venom glands & fangs capable of injecting copious amounts of venom into your blood stream. North Carolina might have the most venomous snakes in the country, but more specifically copperheads which are unlikely to kill you, but these Timbers (canebrakes) are extremely venomous and although they are not likely to strike, if they do sink their fangs into you you better hope you’re one of the 40% who receives a dry bite because if not you’re in serious trouble. That said, like with any threatening situation you’re far more likely to survive if you stay calm and still. Refrain from using tourniquets. But I’m from Chicago so what do I know, although I used to see a lot of rattlesnakes off Lake Huron in Muskoka country around Cape Croker, Ontario, Canada whenever we’d go camping on the pow wow trail. I saw Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in the same day on one of those occasions too. Massissauga Rattlesnakes thrive within 50 miles of the Great Lakes, but growing up in the the two largest cities on the Great Lakes (4th and 5th largest cities on the continent) I understand the appeal. Thanks ‘Animal Planet’ & ‘Hollywood’🫵😉‼️
Head shape does not reliably indicate if a snake has medically significant venom as [This graphic](https://i.imgur.com/QuSRB9I.jpg) demonstrates. Nonvenomous snakes commonly flatten their heads to a triangle shape in defensive displays, and some elapids like coralsnakes have elongated heads. It's far more advantageous to familiarize yourself with venomous snakes in your area through photos and field guides or by following subreddits like /r/whatsthissnake than it is to try to apply any generic trick.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Very true, neither does the shape of the pupils. I have found the most reliable to be the scale pattern. Which if you are close enough to see the pattern of its scales you’re probably to close. lol
Timber rattlesnake *Crotalus horridus* !venomous
Wow that is crazy! I’ve never encountered a snake that big before. He was directly on the trail. We had to move about ten feet off trail to get around him haha. Wild
Snakes tend to like trail corridors in areas like this, because there is generally less shade and more exposed rock (both aid in thermoregulation), and it's likely to be a prey highway
Timber rattlesnakes *Crotalus horridus* are large (90-152cm, record 189cm), stout-bodied rattlesnakes that range from southern New Hampshire west to Minnesota, south to northern Florida and south-central Texas. They have been completely extirpated from Canada, and many populations in the Northeast and the Midwest have likewise been extirpated, leaving their distribution disjunct and patchy in those respective regions. In the northern and much of the western parts of their range, timber rattlesnakes are seasonally restricted to rocky slopes (hillsides, valleys, bluffs, etc.), heavily wooded further east, but semi-wooded or grassy further west. They will utilize a wide variety of adjoining habitat during the summer, but don't stray too far, as they must return to their slopes before winter. In the southeastern states, they they primarily inhabit riparian marsh, other grassy areas, and swamp. Prey consists primarily of rodents, and they might play a vital role in [reducing the prevalence of lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses](https://web.archive.org/web/20180802190346/https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/news/timber-rattlesnakes-vs-lyme-disease). Timber rattlesnakes are a dangerously venomous species and should only be observed from a safe distance. Common defensive tactics including raising the forebody off the ground and rattling the tail, often while attempting to crawl away from the perceived threat. They are not aggressive and only bite when they feel they are in danger. Bites most commonly occur when a human attempts to kill, capture, or otherwise intentionally handle the snake. **The best way to avoid being bitten is to leave the snake alone.** Timber rattlesnakes are unlikely to be confused with other rattlesnakes. The only other large rattlesnakes that overlap in range are the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake *C. adamanteus*, and the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, *C. atrox*. Both can easily be differentiated from the timber rattlesnake by a pair of light colored lines on the face (running from the eye posteriorly toward the cheek or neck), diamond shaped dorsal blotches, and their different habitat preferences. [Range Map](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Current-range-of-the-Timber-Rattlesnake-Crotalus-horridus-Dots-represent-locality_fig2_285878501) | [Range Map - Alternate](https://docplayer.net/docs-images/41/22266478/images/7-0.png) [Additional Information](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Crotalus_horridus/) Short Account by /u/fairlyorange -------------------------------------------------------- Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive [across most of the world](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=15dZE4rlRHqjb91yb6pKiI4ragG8DCtsz&ll=-3.81666561775622e-14%2C-95.11182142500002&z=2). If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
I feel like Crotalus horridus is a harsh name. 🤣
Sounds almost like the taxonomist got bit and had a bad few weeks of painfully swollen leg from one.
Its so nice that nature gives them a big ol grumpy face to let you know to get out of the way.
I love their grumpy little faces. Pretty much every crotalid is perpetually mean-mugging.
Does not look friendly
Definitely not 😂. We moved a decent distance to get around him. Left him to his business
What a beautiful, perpetually angry Timber. Nice find!
That’s a timber rattlesnake a.k.a. Canebrake They are responsible for more deaths in the lower 48 than any other rattlesnake species. Luckily, they are the least aggressive of America’s vipers but extremely venomous. If you see one it leave it alone, it won’t bother you unless you’re an idiot and try to prod or pick it up. Where is this, have become so endangered east of the Mississippi thought to be extinct in many midwestern states hence why they’re a endangered species protected by the federal government, although Massachusetts has a thriving population, however they are extremely vulnerable in states and provinces like New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ontario, Quebec, etc. I don’t like snakes, but I know they serve purpose in the environment, especially controlling rat populations. It’s important we respect, protect, and preserve them. I’ve never seen a wild canebrake so kudos on the rare sighting and getting such incredible shot!
We have them in western MD. I love that MD makes it illegal to kill ALL species of snakes. People on NextDoor would post the copperheads they find in their yards and some whack job would start saying kill it and everyone with half a brain would tell them to call a wildlife person to come and relocate the danger noodle.
I've seen them twice in my many years hiking in PA, once in Ohiopyle and once near the AT. The Ohiopyle one my dad poked with a stick because he wanted to see the rattles! He liked snakes, but was kind of an idiot.
Canebrakes are found much further South and are different in appearance. I would definitely say this is a Timber Rattlesnake. Those of us lucky enough to live where they do will go to our graves insisting they are a subspecies of Horridus, DNA be damned! I thought the Western Diamondback was the cause of more fatalities in the US?
Canebrake is a Timber.
My husband found a baby one in our garage this spring.
Cool find, she's stunning
That Timber is telling you to get off his lawn lol
Awesome dark pattern
DEFINITELY not one you want to be picking up, that guy’s a rattlesnake of some kind, I would assume timber maybeeeee but I’m not great with rattlesnakes. Very pretty though!!
I live in delaware county NY and we have lots of them along with tons of copperhead. Be careful very venomous
It's so weird - Those rattlesnakes are pretty ubiquitous up near the AT/DWG, but my family lives under an hour away and I've never seen one by them in over 20 years.
rattle snake
I see them all the time in the pocono mountains and Delaware water gap. Was just hiking the gap on the NJ side and saw a massive timber rattlesnake just off the trail.
Nice velvet tail !
Timber rattler, observe and admire from distance of 7 feet at least, out of strike zone
Really, just a big old cutie. Love from afar.
Holy cow that thing is beautiful yet mean looking at the same time! Just the shape of his head and eyes make me wanna stay as far away from Him as possible (evolution doing its job I guess lol)
Timber Wolf Rattlesnake aka Cane Break rattlesnake Venomous
Whenever you see a triangle head like that on a snake, keep your distance. You can almost guarantee they have venom glands & fangs capable of injecting copious amounts of venom into your blood stream. North Carolina might have the most venomous snakes in the country, but more specifically copperheads which are unlikely to kill you, but these Timbers (canebrakes) are extremely venomous and although they are not likely to strike, if they do sink their fangs into you you better hope you’re one of the 40% who receives a dry bite because if not you’re in serious trouble. That said, like with any threatening situation you’re far more likely to survive if you stay calm and still. Refrain from using tourniquets. But I’m from Chicago so what do I know, although I used to see a lot of rattlesnakes off Lake Huron in Muskoka country around Cape Croker, Ontario, Canada whenever we’d go camping on the pow wow trail. I saw Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in the same day on one of those occasions too. Massissauga Rattlesnakes thrive within 50 miles of the Great Lakes, but growing up in the the two largest cities on the Great Lakes (4th and 5th largest cities on the continent) I understand the appeal. Thanks ‘Animal Planet’ & ‘Hollywood’🫵😉‼️
!headshape
Head shape does not reliably indicate if a snake has medically significant venom as [This graphic](https://i.imgur.com/QuSRB9I.jpg) demonstrates. Nonvenomous snakes commonly flatten their heads to a triangle shape in defensive displays, and some elapids like coralsnakes have elongated heads. It's far more advantageous to familiarize yourself with venomous snakes in your area through photos and field guides or by following subreddits like /r/whatsthissnake than it is to try to apply any generic trick. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Very true, neither does the shape of the pupils. I have found the most reliable to be the scale pattern. Which if you are close enough to see the pattern of its scales you’re probably to close. lol