Watch and listen for a rattle just in case. So don’t be too glib about walking past any black snakes you see lying across the Appalachian Trail. This is because a) they could still bite if they feel cornered, which would be awfully painful even if they have no venom, and b) in rare cases, eastern timber rattlers can have solid black coloration that makes them look, at first glance, similar to ratsnakes. All they really want in life is to climb trees, soak up the sun, and eat plenty of mice.Īlthough ratsnakes are not venomous themselves, you should still take care if you see one on the trail. Despite their sometimes alarming largeness, they’re not dangerous.
#Lots of snakes on trail plus#
I saw a literal pile of ratsnakes sunning themselves on a rock near Sunfish Pond, NJ while thru-hiking the AT, plus many other sightings elsewhere on the trail. These guys are probably the most common snakes you’ll encounter on the Appalachian Trail. Range: Florida through western Vermont all AT states except NH and MEĭescription: typically 36-72 inches in length adults black with whitish belly juveniles grey or salt-and-pepper with dark blotches Ratsnakes’ heads are typically narrower, but they can distort their heads to imitate the triangle shape characteristic of venomous snakes as a defense mechanism. Notice the triangular shape of the head in this photo, likely an indication that the snake is agitated. It works surprisingly well and is a great educational tool. iNaturalist helps you identify local flora and fauna based on photos you submit to their database and your geographic location. If snakes are of interest to you, I suggest downloading a useful identification app such as iNaturalist. I’m just being straight with y’all, this isn’t a comprehensive list of every snake you could possibly encounter out there-just a few of the more common varieties. READ NEXT – Bears Noro, and Lyme: What to Worry About (Or Not) on Your Thru-Hike Common Non-Venomous Snakes on the Appalachian Trail You’re most likely to encounter them at dawn and dusk or overnight. Still, if you get bitten, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.Ĭopperheads are most active between March and October. The good news is that, although they are venomous, copperhead bites are almost never fatal to humans-they just hurt a whole lot. (Like timber rattlers, their first choice is still going to be to pass unnoticed or slither away in the opposite direction as fast as possible-they’re just generally more willing to move on to Plan B than rattlesnakes.) Furthermore, their mottled coppery coloration lets them blend in easily with leaf litter on the forest floor, so it’s relatively easy to accidentally stumble onto a well-camouflaged snake without realizing it. Note that there are a number of totally harmless snakes that look somewhat similar to the copperhead and are often confused, such as the northern water snake.Ĭopperhead bites are far more common than timber rattler bites-unlike their rattly pit viper cousins, they are fairly jumpy and tend to strike as soon as they feel threatened without giving off many warning signs first. The copperhead’s entire body is in various shades of bronze and tan, but the head does tend to be noticeably more coppery than the rest of the body in many specimens. Range: Most of the eastern US found in all AT states except Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine prefers deciduous and mixed forest habitatsĭescription: Typically 20-37 inches in length pale or pinkish-tan with hourglass-shaped crossbands broad, triangular head that is noticeably larger than neck distinctly copper-hued head Most snake bites involve young males, hands, and alcohol, not trail runners or hikers.*Boop.* Eastern copperhead. Lots of people encounter snakes on the trail, but few get bitten. Snakes generally can only reach about half their body length, so don't get closer than you have to but don't try and ford a river or climb a 5.14 wall to get around them if you don't have to. If that isn't an option, move them with the longest stick you can find. Just keep your distance and go around them with plenty of space. Sometimes they are coiled up and harder to see, but most times I've seen snakes they have been stretched across the trail sunning and are easier to spot. Just pay extra attention to the trail 10-15ft in front of you like /u/grifclarke said. Snakes generally aren't looking to start anything, if they strike it's probably because you surprised it and stepped next to/on it.
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