Rattlesnakes

[JerseyPete]

If this has been covered in another post, please delete this post.
I saw that @phillychris498 posted a pic of a rattlesnake ( http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/threads/im-happiest-when-biking-at-walking-speed.44849/#post-794900 ) and wanted to suggest that those who see them let the state know. They are endangered and the state wants reports on the numbers.
Link:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/tmbratlr.htm
There used to be a phone number to call in that I had years ago. Anyone know if it still exists? They also wanted bobcat data too at one point.

 

[JimN]

This is from two years ago, so probably not worth reporting, but I figured this post needs some rattlesnake pics. This was on the red trail coming down from yellow up at Ringwood. More or less the same area Chris just saw one.

 

[phillychris498]

If this has been covered in another post, please delete this post.
I saw that @phillychris498 posted a pic of a rattlesnake ( http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/threads/im-happiest-when-biking-at-walking-speed.44849/#post-794900 ) and wanted to suggest that those who see them let the state know. They are endangered and the state wants reports on the numbers.
Link:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/tmbratlr.htm
There used to be a phone number to call in that I had years ago. Anyone know if it still exists? They also wanted bobcat data too at one point.

Thanks for letting me know, i’ll complete the form provided on that website once I’m home. I didn’t realize they’re endangered, but given this is my first encounter of one in over 5 years of New Jersey mountain biking it makes sense. Really a beautiful animal.

 

[rick81721]

Thanks for letting me know, i’ll complete the form provided on that website once I’m home. I didn’t realize they’re endangered, but given this is my first encounter of one in over 5 years of New Jersey mountain biking it makes sense. Really a beautiful animal.

Hard to tell scale but the one you saw/photographed looks pretty big. Hopefully they are coming back

 

[mattybfat]

Endangered for sure hence why the tick populations are at an all time high. They are what kept tick population at low. Growing up at the base of the Appalachian mountain I would see folks kill them including family members at an alarming rate, such a shame.

 

[phillychris498]

Hard to tell scale but the one you saw/photographed looks pretty big. Hopefully they are coming back

It was the thickest snake i’ve ever seen by far. I’ve seen black racers all over that are around 4 feet and much skinnier, but that was certainly an adult rattlesnake.

 

[phillychris498]

For anyone who hasn’t seen the picture on the other thread:

 

[Monkey Soup]

There’s no reason to kill one of these, they’re amongst the most mild-mannered rattlesnakes in NA. You really need to antagonize when to get it into defensive mode. I see them in Ringwood quite often, just watch out because they blend in perfectly with the leaf litter.

Reason ticks are at an all-time high is because of the deer. The abundance of hawks, owls, foxes, and coyotes have been doing a good job with the smaller vermin. The deer though are dropping ticks off right in our yards.

 

[rick81721]

There’s no reason to kill one of these, they’re amongst the most mild-mannered rattlesnakes in NA.

There's no reason to kill any snake

 

[JimN]

There's no reason to kill any snake

Some people eat snakes.

 

[rick81721]

Some people eat snakes.

Some people eat people!

 

[JimN]

Some people eat people!

Don't knock it til you've tried it?

I once came upon a group of dudes on the trail out in CA, and they had just killed a rattlesnake with a rock. They were wrapping it around the one dude's camelbak, and they told me they were bringing it home to throw it on the grill. It didn't seem like their first time.

 

[rick81721]

Don't knock it til you've tried it?

I once came upon a group of dudes on the trail out in CA, and they had just killed a rattlesnake with a rock. They were wrapping it around the one dude's camelbak, and they told me they were bringing it home to throw it on the grill. It didn't seem like their first time.

Yeah I think I've had rattlesnake before - assume it was farm raised if there is such a thing. Just saying shouldn't be killing snakes out in the wild, unless you are starving

 

[Paul H]

Was told snakes taste like a cross between pork and fish

 

[JimN]

Was told snakes taste like a cross between pork and fish

Maybe I'll buy one for $78 from Fossil Farms in Boonton and find out. My wife is a pescatarian, not sure where reptiles fit in. My guess is they don't.

 

[Paul H]

Maybe I'll buy one for $78 from Fossil Farms in Boonton and find out. My wife is a pescatarian, not sure where reptiles fit in. My guess is they don't.

I am getting hungry already....
From wikipedia
Those on pescetarian or pollotarian diets may define meat only as mammalian flesh

 

[Monkey Soup]

Yeah I think I've had rattlesnake before - assume it was farm raised if there is such a thing. Just saying shouldn't be killing snakes out in the wild, unless you are starving

I've had rattlesnake before, it was ok. Not "holy-shit this is amazing why haven't I tried it before" good, just ok. Most of the rattlesnake you eat is Diamond back I believe. They have these big snake round-ups out west where they have an excess of these things. Gator was also just ok. if I were going to Fossil Farms, I'd rather throw down on a nice Piedmontese steak or Wagyu Ribeye. In my opinion, reptile meat is a little greasy, a little overrated.

 

[Kaleidopete]

pescatarian.

had to look that one up!

 

[mattybfat]

There’s no reason to kill one of these, they’re amongst the most mild-mannered rattlesnakes in NA. You really need to antagonize when to get it into defensive mode. I see them in Ringwood quite often, just watch out because they blend in perfectly with the leaf litter.

Reason ticks are at an all-time high is because of the deer. The abundance of hawks, owls, foxes, and coyotes have been doing a good job with the smaller vermin. The deer though are dropping ticks off right in our yards.

If you think deer are the biggest carrier you are mistaken mice out number deer 1,000,000 to 1 though in NJ you would think it is other way around. That's not counting rats, chipmunks squirrels ect.
https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/news/timber-rattlesnakes-vs-lyme-disease

 

[Juggernaut]

If you think deer are the biggest carrier you are mistaken mice out number deer 1,000,000 to 1 though in NJ you would think it is other way around. That's not counting rats, chipmunks squirrels ect.
https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/news/timber-rattlesnakes-vs-lyme-disease

THANK YOU! I glanced at the other post and I couldn’t for the life of me make the (what should have been obvious) connection between the loss of the rattlers and ticks, I’m like...it’s not like they eat’em.

Of course now I have this cartoon image of Joe Rattlesnake hunting ticks with his friggen tongue like an aardvark stuck in my head.