Pa. Protecting Timber Rattlesnake

[dogg57]

Not NJ But........ Pennsylvania stands out among states in the region as having done a good job of protecting the timber rattlesnake, a state official said.
James Chestney, the venomous species coordinator of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, says the reptile is endangered or threatened in other northeastern states.
By contrast, he told The (Towanda) Daily Review, the commonwealth has "a good population'' of timber rattlesnakes, which he attributed to good management.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Official-Pa-Protecting-Timber-Rattlesnake-216361451.html

 

[Teegate]

The most important lines from that article.

Timber rattlesnakes use the same den year after year, and it's possible that an existing den could have been used for thousands of years, Chestney said.​

"Once a den is gone, it's gone,'' he said.​

 

[ecampbell]

Who is destroying our dens?

 

[NJChileHead]

Coincidentally, I was speaking to someone this weekend who works as a naturalist in the Poconos, and when I asked about timber sightings up there, her response was that "there was a healthier population on the Jersey side" (of the Water Gap).

Also: http://fishandboat.com/images/pages/forms/snake_venomous.pdf

 

[Gibby]

I have to agree that the NJ side of the Water Gap has a few Timbers. I have also seen Copperheads while rock climbing several routes above Blairstown. I don't think any hikers along the Appalachian have anything to fear.

 

[RednekF350]

I'm gettin' me a permit !
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/images/pages/forms/snake_venomous.pdf