Snakes on the Appalachian Trail

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Though most of the snakes you will encounter will be nonpoisonous, some poisonous snakes do inhabit the Appalachian Mountains.  These include:

Copperheads are found from Georgia to Maine, but rarely spotted north of Massachusetts.

Timber rattlesnakes are found from Georgia to Maine, but again, rarely spotted north of Massachusetts.

Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes inhabit Georgia and North Carolina.

Pygmy rattlesnakes can be seen Tennessee and south.

Cottonmouths live Virginia and south.

The Massasauga rattlesnake inhabits New York and Pennsylvania.

Like all the other animals you will encounter, these poisonous snakes will only be dangerous when surprised or cornered.  While walking, use your hiking stick to push aside leaves and brush that cover the path.  If you do surprise one of these poisonous snakes, do not freeze.  Move immediately and quickly away.

Getting bit by a snake: It is rare to get bit by a poisonous snake on the trail.  If you were off the trail and bitten by a poisonous snake, the advice would be to get to a hospital.  Should you get bit on the trail where access to a hospital may not be feasible, the advice is to stay calm, find shelter and warmth, expect to be sick, and call or send for help.  There may be swelling, nausea, and shortness of breath, but the odds are in your favor that you will survive a poisonous snake bite just by toughening it out.

The nonpoisonous snakes that inhabit the Appalachian Trail include garter snakes, black snakes, corn snakes and water snakes.

2 comments

  • Comment Link Pebs Sunday, 21 August 2011 05:46 posted by Pebs

    While day hiking from Annapolis rocks to the parking lot on Rt. 40 in Maryland I saw a timber rattler crossing the trail on August 10th 2011. It waws about 4 to 41/2 ft long. It was really a beautiful snake.

  • Comment Link rob Sunday, 19 June 2011 23:59 posted by rob

    What is wrong with this world? People fall over themselves to make sure they don't kill a snake??? I just grabbed a snake by the tail as it was heading for my 12 yr old, on AT, in PA, and I smashed it first and checked its poison level second. Turns out it was a rattler. But what is WRONG with all you people trying to prove how much you love snakes???? The freaking food chain is NOT in danger from a couple too many snakes beings cut in half. The heck with snakes [what is wrong with you people???]

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