Another spectacular ride, yesterday afternoon/evening. Couple of ride shots and "Critter of the Day".
Fun trail/rock/ riding yesterday.Two pictures from the ride, below. Additional ride shots are posted under the PUSH thread.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=296996#post296996
The critter of the day presented itself on the ride. About four feet in length, and quite photogenic.
I showed Louis how, if you're not afraid of them, (REALLY, TRULY, NOT AFRAID!), you can calm them down by blowing on them, lightly and steadily. If they don't sense a threat, they calm down. They tend to watch you or just amble off into the shrubs. If REALLY PISSED BECAUSE YOU RUN THEM OVER OR NOSE-WHEELIE ON THEM, they don't ease back so quickly. They are known to be aggressive if messed with and will stand their ground. He , (the snake), was a bit upset when we encountered him, but calmed quickly. I stay out of striking distance, because after all, he is a snake. More people are bitten by this type than any other rattlesnake.
If you look at the pictures, you'll see his tongue flicking and two 'black holes' on the snout. Theses holes are the 'pits' that give a 'pit viper' it's name. Viper head shape is evident in the photos, also. Between it's tongue tasting the air and the pits' infrared sensing/heat sensing abilities, it is quite the hunter. It is also eaten by about everything walking/flying the desert. Rough life…
Note: not all snakes sans viper head are innocuous. Coral snake, (quite deadly) is one example
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
family Viperidae
subfamily Crotalinae
genus Crotalus
Fun trail/rock/ riding yesterday.Two pictures from the ride, below. Additional ride shots are posted under the PUSH thread.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=296996#post296996
The critter of the day presented itself on the ride. About four feet in length, and quite photogenic.
I showed Louis how, if you're not afraid of them, (REALLY, TRULY, NOT AFRAID!), you can calm them down by blowing on them, lightly and steadily. If they don't sense a threat, they calm down. They tend to watch you or just amble off into the shrubs. If REALLY PISSED BECAUSE YOU RUN THEM OVER OR NOSE-WHEELIE ON THEM, they don't ease back so quickly. They are known to be aggressive if messed with and will stand their ground. He , (the snake), was a bit upset when we encountered him, but calmed quickly. I stay out of striking distance, because after all, he is a snake. More people are bitten by this type than any other rattlesnake.
If you look at the pictures, you'll see his tongue flicking and two 'black holes' on the snout. Theses holes are the 'pits' that give a 'pit viper' it's name. Viper head shape is evident in the photos, also. Between it's tongue tasting the air and the pits' infrared sensing/heat sensing abilities, it is quite the hunter. It is also eaten by about everything walking/flying the desert. Rough life…
Note: not all snakes sans viper head are innocuous. Coral snake, (quite deadly) is one example
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
family Viperidae
subfamily Crotalinae
genus Crotalus
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