First rattlesnake of the year

[Curtis C]

ONLY DO THIS FROM A SAFE DISTANCE If you carry a water bottle, squirt some water at them and they will usually leave the trail to take cover in the grass. ONLY DO THIS FROM A SAFE DISTANCE

 

[Yukondog]

All rattlesnakes must die. I was bit in the boot years ago as I didn't see him and ended up stepping on it. My dog got bit couple years back in my yard. I have killed a couple in the yard as well. Scary letting the kids out to play. Every year multiple rattlesnakes are seen in the hood. Too scart witg all the kiddos around.

 

[Kevin Root]

Mid April was the first one this year for us. My wife and I were about 5 miles into the middle of our hike and we took this picture of us sitting down looking out on the horizon. After getting up my wife almost stepped on this snake while it was crossing trail just several feet away from where we were sitting. The good news is we have been up on the same hike several times since without seeing anymore snakes. I do see them more often in the summer months though in the hills above us. They are one critter I'd just prefer not getting very close to.

 

[velvetfvr]

My experience...the little ones are the ones to watch out for. They don't show fear. I had a little 2 footer rattle at my work truck when I was in college, and I was sitting there idling. I've also heard the young ones don't "know" to hold back some of their venom so they deliver everything they have with one strike. In my experience, the grown ones high tail it out of there if they know you're coming. I stepped on one as I stepped up onto a culvert one day, and I'm not sure who was more rattled, I didn't know until I felt something squishy in the grass under foot, and it hightailed it into the culvert. Anytime we ever tried to kill one, we would have to run after them and tap them with the shovel before they would coil up and rattle to where we could chop off the head with the shovel. Most times they put their head under their coils as they rattle so you have to work to get the head out.

Little ones are the ones that are worse. But I have had one stubborn old rattler decide to cross in front of me, rattle his tail once and then go into a hole on the otherside. That got my heart racing as if he wasn't spotted I probably would have stepped on him.

 

[rjs34]

I killed one on a trail on a local hike a week or so back. My daughter was in front of me and heard it rattle/move from the bushes and stopped (luckily). It was about a foot off the trail. Too close for my liking .

 

[Califhuntn]

I hate them nasty things. Hey RosinBag what elevavationwere you at when you found that sucker. Was it during the archery season?

 

[shaun]

I hate them nasty things. Hey RosinBag what elevavationwere you at when you found that sucker. Was it during the archery season?

Looks like it was a timber

 

[RosinBag]

I wish it was the only one, but we run into them from July thru September and from about 4000 - 8000'.

That specific one was killed in July at about 7000'.

 

[Califhuntn]

Interesting. I guess I have been lucky. The times I have been there I have been fortunate enough to have never come across any. July, August & October.

 

[Vitals]

Kevin Root- Where in SJ did you see him? I too am from the SJ area and haven't seen many in my time growing up there.

Do you or Califhuntn ever get out to the Rokslide hikes or meets? It would be nice to know of some local guys who get out to those things.

Mid April was the first one this year for us. My wife and I were about 5 miles into the middle of our hike and we took this picture of us sitting down looking out on the horizon. After getting up my wife almost stepped on this snake while it was crossing trail just several feet away from where we were sitting. The good news is we have been up on the same hike several times since without seeing anymore snakes. I do see them more often in the summer months though in the hills above us. They are one critter I'd just prefer not getting very close to.

 

[Kevin Root]

Kevin Root- Where in SJ did you see him? I too am from the SJ area and haven't seen many in my time growing up there.

Do you or Califhuntn ever get out to the Rokslide hikes or meets? It would be nice to know of some local guys who get out to those things.

We saw this one at Rancho San Antonio county park up on the PG&E trail in Cupertino at about 1,100 ft elevation. In San Jose not far from our house I see them in the summer mostly up on the trails at Santa Teresa county park. I'll gather they are all up in most of our foothills here in California. I'd prefer not seeing them. Some days I see more than one on hikes.

I've not been on any Rokslide hikes yet. So far I've seen Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Montana and Nevada hikes mentioned but no California yet.

 

[Vitals]

Yeah that's the only hesitation I have. I'm not even sure how many CA guys are on here. We are definitely in the minority.

 

[shaun]

We saw this one at Rancho San Antonio county park up on the PG&E trail in Cupertino at about 1,100 ft elevation. In San Jose not far from our house I see them in the summer mostly up on the trails at Santa Teresa county park. I'll gather they are all up in most of our foothills here in California. I'd prefer not seeing them. Some days I see more than one on hikes.

I've not been on any Rokslide hikes yet. So far I've seen Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Montana and Nevada hikes mentioned but no California yet.

All foothills and then some! They are all over the mendota refuge even

 

[Kevin Root]

All foothills and then some! They are all over the mendota refuge even

Central California has it's share too. I saw this guy a year or so back in the Golden Trout wilderness. They are high and low all through the state.

 

[mtmiller]

Yet to see one this year, but here are a few from last year. I have never feared for my life, so all these went in peace.

 

[Kevin Root]

Those are some nice pictures mtmiller. I really like pic #2 of it ready to strike. I've never had a big lens with me when I've seen them out. The critters are surly afraid of us and just want to get away or have us to leave them alone. I do worry more so on stepping on one when moving through tall grass off trail though and have thought about some kind of kevlar snake proof gaiter for more peace of mind. Most times I've seen them they are quietly crawling with the exception of the one above. That one rattled at me hearing me walk before it even saw me.

 

[RosinBag]

I have done some hikes with some Roksliders...

Ed F in Nevada and Arizona, Travis B in Arizona and Aron in Colorado......

 

[2rocky]

Saw my First buzztail yesterday on a horseback ride. Nearly Black, and was scooting off the trail. 300 yards before I'd ridden by a gopher snake stretched out on the trail.

 

[mtmiller]

Those are some nice pictures mtmiller. I really like pic #2 of it ready to strike. I've never had a big lens with me when I've seen them out.

Thanks Kevin. Big lens is not always needed when they are just little pissed guys.

 

[ShootToKIll]

came across two during the same run in the mountains last week. One was in some rocks that I was climbing up, scared me half to death as I came up on him at around eye level, fortunately I saw him in time and jumped back. The other one I saw cross the trail about 10 yards in front of me and disappear into long grass. Im not a fan of them. I hope I never have to use the bite kit I always bring with me!