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How to handle a rattlesnake encounter?

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#21 ·
Never knew there were so many pansy mountain bikers. :lol:

What if some of the roadies heard some of these responses?
 
#22 ·
Harold said:
Our rattlers can get pretty big here. I'm not too enthused to try to shoo them off the trail with a 10ft tree so I'm out of reach. If you see those big'uns from far enough away that they don't go into defensive mode, you can sometimes give just enough pressure to get them to mosey along at a relaxed pace. Alarm them too much, and they'll coil up and never move while you're around.
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We get big ones here in the SW too, I've moved plenty of 6 footers off my property using a 3 ft. long snake grabber. I'm no expert but I've grown pretty familiar with their habits over the years and I don't fear them (much) once I've located them and assessed the situation. Mostly they just want to be left alone but sometimes you have to move them.
 
#23 ·
I've only had one encounter, and it rattled loud enough that I could hear it before I got close. I'm hard-of-hearing and I could still hear it from a ways away. *Eek*
 
#24 ·
I've bunny hopped a copperhead once .
I suck at bunny hops., So likely he felt my tire a bit. I stopped after to look back and it was coiled up and really mad.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
#25 ·
My trails in Scottsdale are riddled with rattlers.... I've learned to bunny hop (rattle hop )... it's the best approach. Keep moving and they will leave you alone.

The stats on snake bites leads towards 24yo drunk males that try to handle them. Snake Lives Matter, leave them alone.
 
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#27 ·
Albacore said:
Do what most real men do -- get off your bike, get closer to the snake, and take a picture.

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They don't chase you. Stay a safe distance and you'll be fine.
 
#29 ·
I just moved to AZ not long ago. The thought of running into a rattler is scarier than actually encountering one. It's something I worried about before moving here, but since being here I see them fairly regularly. Even on our evening family walks we've come across a few. I just keep my distance and respect their space. Like someone said above, they don't want to bite you.
 
#32 ·
DIRTJUNKIE said:
They don't chase you.
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Hell if they dont lol had a 6' one in middle of the road on my way to Iowa hill with 12 rattles chase me about 30 yards down the road, and I was swinging a 7' forked stick as fast as I could fending him off the whole time, as fast as I could run backwards away from his attack.

I must have really pissed him off, and ive never seen one since that moved so damned fast. That was 30 years ago.

needless to say I dont fk with rattlers anymore lol
 
#33 ·
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#34 ·
DIRTJUNKIE said:
They don't chase you. Stay a safe distance and you'll be fine.
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Sno-sneks here are absolutely murderous. They'll reach out and just snatch your wheel from under you. And they are white.

 
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#36 ·
Outhouse said:
Hell if they dont lol had a 6' one in middle of the road on my way to Iowa hill with 12 rattles chase me about 30 yards down the road, and I was swinging a 7' forked stick as fast as I could fending him off the whole time, as fast as I could run backwards away from his attack.

I must have really pissed him off, and ive never seen one since that moved so damned fast. That was 30 years ago.
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Pics or it didn't happen :p
 
#37 ·
It depends on how pissed off it already is. I have run over a few not even knowing. Also if you are riding in a group the first rider startles it, the second rider pisses it off, and the third rider gets bit which means get out in front.

Generally I leave them alone. Don't bother them they won't bother you. I do let hikers or riders know there is a snake up ahead.

this one was not happy
 
#38 ·
Outhouse said:
Hell if they dont lol had a 6' one in middle of the road on my way to Iowa hill with 12 rattles chase me about 30 yards down the road, and I was swinging a 7' forked stick as fast as I could fending him off the whole time, as fast as I could run backwards away from his attack.

I must have really pissed him off, and ive never seen one since that moved so damned fast. That was 30 years ago.

needless to say I dont fk with rattlers anymore lol
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LOL
The human mind plays funny games in times of fear.

And what rattlesnake species was this? If you don't know just tell me what state you were in and I'll tell you what it was.
 
#39 ·
azimiut said:
It depends on how pissed off it already is. I have run over a few not even knowing. Also if you are riding in a group the first rider startles it, the second rider pisses it off, and the third rider gets bit which means get out in front.

Generally I leave them alone. Don't bother them they won't bother you. I do let hikers or riders know there is a snake up ahead.

this one was not happy
View attachment 1346055
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Snake dance. ;)
 
#40 ·
Image

I saw this big boy a few weeks ago. If you have never heard them hiss, it is definitely more scary than them rattling.

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