Hobbies And Interests
Geography
The timber rattlesnake prefers habitat that includes rocky terrain and deciduous forests, both of which are present in the Adirondacks. The snake lives in the eastern and southern sections of these mountains, with the higher elevations of the Adirondacks too chilly and severe in winter for this species. At one time, this was a reptile with populations in all of New York State's hilly and mountainous landscapes.
Seasonal Movement
During the summer months, the pregnant female timber rattlers congregate on wide-open ledges to bask in the sun. The males, along with the females that are not pregnant, remain in the cooler woodlands, where protection from the heat comes in the form of shade from the forest canopy. These poisonous snakes migrate from their winter dens as far as four-and-a-half miles in the summer, according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The average movement from their winter dens, located in the rocks where many snakes may spend the cold months together, is between one-and-one-third miles to two-and-a-half miles in the warmer months.
Habits
Hikers in the Adirondacks have no worries about the timber rattlesnake from about the middle of October until the second week of May. The snake is in a state of hibernation in its den during that period, coming out later in the springtime than those found in locations that are more southernly. Timber rattlers are slow moving when they first emerge from their winter slumbers, doing little feeding until the temperatures are consistently warmer. The snake's venom is dangerous and potentially fatal to a person if left untreated; however, there have been no fatal encounters with this species in New York for many decades. The timber rattlesnake bites if provoked or threatened, but only after trying to warn off an enemy by shaking its tail.
Identification
Two different color phase of the timber rattler include a dark gray to nearly black body with dark bands about the back and sides. The other is a yellowish body with dark brown or black crossbands adorning the snake. The timber rattler is stocky, has a triangular head, reaches lengths between 3 and 4 1/2 feet and has the telltale rattle on its tail. A somewhat similar species you could possibly mistake for this poisonous reptile is the black rat snake. Its range overlaps that of the timber rattler in the Adirondakcs, but it is much thinner, longer and not venomous.