Fun with timber rattlesnakes

UrbanJungles

Arachnoprince
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This week I spent two days out in the field observing an amazing and very healthy rattlesnake den. At one point we realized we were completely surrounded, it was a truly amazing experience because the snakes were very placid (not many people go where this den is located) and at one point we had a picnic lunch just about 4 feet from several curled up snakes.

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Philth

N.Y.H.C.
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Pretty cool Danny, I was upstate NY a couple of weeks ago hoping to photograph C. horridus in the wild. I guess I dont know the hot spots as I have nothing but gater snake and frog pics haha. I love how the colors vary so much. Nice video.

Later, Tom
 

davidbarber1

Arachnoangel
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Nice video Danny. I love the different color phases on the snakes. They are quite variable. Cool stuff.

David
 

syndicate

Arachnoemperor
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Beautiful snakes!I'd love to photograph some.Really would like to find a copperhead round here to take some pics of.I haven no clue where to look tho.
 

olablane

Arachnobaron
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Mar 16, 2008
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Nice video!! I love all species of rattler. There is a huge den on my ranch. The ranch is big enough that the den is hard to find so not many people bother them. I can sit by them and watch them for hours!!
 

UrbanJungles

Arachnoprince
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Thanks everyone!
Hey Chris, maybe sometime you can come down to Jersey and I'll show you some cool stuff.

Blane you are very lucky! I would love to have them close enough spend more time with. I could observe them for hours...they are fascinating in this type of setting.

One of the yellow phases we encountered was one of the brightest yellow rattlers I've seen...almost as bright as the C. molosus out in the sky islands of Arizona.
 

Philth

N.Y.H.C.
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Hey Chris, maybe sometime you can come down to Jersey and I'll show you some cool stuff.
Is that a open invite, or do you have to breed Borneo Blacks to get in? haha :)

Later, Tom
 

syndicate

Arachnoemperor
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LOL!Yeah I'm def down!We should plan a weekend and maybe we can all get together do some hiking/herping.
 

UrbanJungles

Arachnoprince
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Jul 12, 2007
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Absolutely, I live near a national park that's good fun. I found 2 milks today flipping around in my yard. :D <-- Filmed this.

If you guys wanna set something up it should be soon. Alot of herping is getting the right temps/conditions which are optimal now but won't be for long!

Hey Tom (Philth)-I don't know you but you seem cool from what I've seen around here over time so I'd be glad to meet you and go out. I've met Chris a couple of times so that's why I offered.

El Mooso-I need raisins, got a few cool slings for you.

Hit up the PM button Yo.
 

UrbanJungles

Arachnoprince
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PS Cody- Pygmies are one of my favorite rattlers for sure and unfortunately I have yet to see one in the wild (as a keeper cared for a few) - they are on my hitlist!
 

codykrr

Arachnoking
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Sep 22, 2008
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yeah well we found a good spot for them here in missouri.
 

Satellite Rob

Arachnoangel
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Jun 2, 2008
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When I was young I found den of them on Bear Mountain in New York.In early
summer.With the first warm weather thay would start coming out.Thay would
stay close for 2 or 3 weeks.The den was a old boarded up well and when
thay started coming out.You would have to watch were you stepped.Thay
were everywhere.It was very exciting when I was 15.
 

UrbanJungles

Arachnoprince
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Jul 12, 2007
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So this population I've been following has come around full circle and I can't tell you what an amazing feeling. It's one thing to find a snake in the wilderness which is pretty magical in itself....but when you have been tracking the same snakes for a while and FINALLY get to meet their offspring...it's like meeting new family members...enjoy.










For those of you who wanted to see the video, I've uploaded a full version to my website: http://web.me.com/urbanjungles/Site/Timber_rattlesnake_den.html
 
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