I usually come across at least one copperhead or timber rattler every year. I've jumped a medium size copperhead... not on purpose. They can be so camouflaged. I didn't see it until it moved, and by that point it was more of a jumping out of my skin move.

On a night ride once, I was climbing and right when I got next to the snake, it started rattling from the brush. No idea exactly how close it was, I never saw it, but scared the crap outta me. Two other people had already passed it, and never heard anything. Maybe that old 3rd person theory has something to it.

Don't even get me started on the fishing pool, that ended up being full of snakes. I think I walked on water that day. I still have nightmares about it, and without a doubt my worst snake experience ever.

 

Nope.

Nope nope nope nope nope.

No thank you.

Best way to handle an encounter is to not have one in the first place....

 

Rattlesnakes may be loitering.

 

Picture this: Three 20 year old guys are roommates sharing a house. One catches a rattlesnake and brings it home. One of the others empties out the 10 gallon aquarium to keep him in. He becomes a conversation piece on the end table of the couch for two years. Many a party with clueless people not knowing what’s in that tank because he was so camouflaged. Several times people would glance in and tap the glass, the snake would rattle and strike the glass. The glass becomes blurry over time from venom running down it. Once a month a mouse would be fed and people would come over for the event. I may or may not have been one of those roommates.

 

Obviously with scenario #1 where you have plenty of time to stop....or see that you have plenty of room too go around, you do what makes sense. In scenario #2 where you come up on them by surprise, KEEP MOVING and bunny-hop it if you have the skill and if not, run it over and keep moving. DO NOT try and slam on your brakes. Too many people panic and go OTB and end up right next to the snake. The videos have been posted on here before and I've seen it occur twice in real life.

I can't speak for back east or anywhere East of Louisiana for that matter but Arizona has the meanest *appearing* rattlesnakes I've ever encountered. It may be a show but they always seem pissed off and regularly coil up and then raise their upper body up in a stance like a cobra. A 2 foot Green Mojave in Sedona (coming back to town off Hangover) was by far the meanest, most obstinate snake I've ever dealt with. It was right on the trail that was 12" wide and wasn't moving for nothing.

 

 

can you spray them with insecticide?

 

They respond better to pee pee. But it has to be very warm so you need to get as close as possible.

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No step on snek!!!

leave em' be... unless they are stuck then help them get unstuck...

I grew up around ranch lands.. we had tons of rattlers... They won't mess with you none if you don't mess with them.

if you see one... give him room and don't mess with it... if you didn't see it and it is rattling ... if you are stopped stay stopped.. and it will probably go away.. if your riding and moving.... ummm probably keep going if you can't see him... if he is in front of you probably stop... and then stay super chill... well stop if you can do so outside of his strike range.. if not then try to go around him at his tail...

do not run over the snek... damn it...

 

I ran over the snake in post 46 with a large heavy Audi months before I had to take it out. I thought it was a pine branch. It didn't even phase it, just pissed it off.

 

I've seen some videos of toddler-aged kids just fearlessly picking up snakes.



Every time I ride past some hikers who've brought their kids, I might remind them about rattlers if I've spotted one.

On a bike, I feel a safe distance away from their strike range. They gotta be coiled and ready to strike for me to worry; if I'm riding behind another rider who startled the snake's sunbathing, I might just be worried enough to lift my legs off the pedals. Otherwise they're just a spectacle for me to perhaps get a better look at.

 

https://news.yahoo.com/snake-bite-leads-helicopter-rescue-172022151.html

Hope this person pulls through.

 

Yesterday's ride. Though admittedly on a rock outcropping where I know to look for them, so zero riding danger.

 

View attachment 1347115

Yesterday's ride. Though admittedly on a rock outcropping where I know to look for them, so zero riding danger.

Laurel Mtn?

I've only encountered one rattler in all my riding years, mostly in my area are Copperheads and for some reason I've always encountered them near a water source.

 

Yep, I’ve found American Snapping Turtles a half a mile from water. Females wandering looking for a place to lay their eggs.

Mike, looks like you possibly may have stumbled upon two snakes mating.

 

I had a close call last year. It was on the edge of the trail going uphill around a corner so we surprised each other and it was unhappy. It all happened fast and was the closest I had come to getting bit since I was a kid. Previously I had always seen them ahead of time (unless I didn't?) I pay more attention now and think it has to be that type of encounter that goes bad. I guess you remain calm if bitten and decide if you can ride out without raising your heart rate.... and call for medical help asap.

 

happened to me yesterday.... came around a corner at speed... and there was a Snek right in the middle of the trail....

I didn't have time to stop at safe distance from mister Snek... so I plowed by him towards his tail at speed....

I think he was more afraid of me than I was of him... happily other than startled neither of us were any worse for wear...

 

Have you ever tried shaking hands with a rattlesnake?

 

You need to maintain 6ft social distancing rule!

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Snakes don’t have hands.

 

Snakes don't have hands.

That doesn't stop Picard from shaking his snake.

 

About half of the time, I bunny hop them, because I come around a corner and they're right there getting some sun on the trail. They can only strike from a coiled position, and only half of their body length, even then. They're pretty harmless when stretched out across the trail. but of course, can coil up and strike fairly quickly, too.

 

"Bunny hop" seems like an unfortunate term in this regard.

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of course if i see it ahead i stop, but i almost never see them till i'm right upon them and then i just run them over...