I was backpacking on Saturday and saw a snake stretched across the trail. I believe it was a copperhead, based on the coloring and pattern. I watched from a safe distance as it slowly slithered off the trail and into the forest. I then continued walking.altr

Edit: I’ve been informed it was a milksnake, not a copperhead. Dull wildlife encounter achieved.

  • Iced Raktajino@startrek.website
    7·
    3 days ago

    I had to kill a black snake last weekend, and I still feel bad about it. Usually I leave them be and let them eat the mice and moles but this one was massive and unusually aggressive. It tried to strike at my dog and still don’t know how she didn’t get bitten, but the thing decided to chase her which is what sealed its fate.

    I’ve never seen a black snake do that, so I guess it had a nest nearby or something and the dog was sniffing a little to close to it.

    • buttmasterflex@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      5·
      3 days ago

      Dang, that’s a bummer, but I totally get making sure your dog was safe! Where I was hiking is in the territory for timber rattlesnakes and copperheads, so I was doing my best to be vigilant while huffing and puffing along the trail. I thankfully saw this one well ahead of stepping on it and getting bitten. That certainly would have put a damper on the fun

  • wjrii@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    3 days ago

    I mean, don’t fuck with any snakes, and a lot is dependent on when and where you encounter it, but if you’re in the US I think that’s more likely a Milksnake. Of course, if it is then that makes this post even just a touch more dull. 🤣

    • buttmasterflex@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      5·
      3 days ago

      Okay, looking at the photos in the link, I’m pretty sure I saw a milksnake. I’m happy that I had a dull wildlife encounter! The state forest I was at is in southeast Ohio, and ODNR cautions that both timber rattlesnakes and copperheads have been observed there. I went with a healthy dose of respect

      • wjrii@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        3 days ago

        Smart. It’s a lot easier with the entire internet and plenty of time.

        And hey, the venomous ones are just doin’ their thing too.

  • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
    4·
    3 days ago

    Wow, amazing pattern.

    As someone else mentioned, you can usually identify a venemous snake by the head shape - it’s very different from a “friendly slithery head” (as another commenter described it!).

    Still better to act on the cautious side - I certainly would’ve paused and let it go about it’s business, too.

    • buttmasterflex@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      I’m just a geologist, so I only know which minerals are friendly or not haha. But yes, I always do my best to approach nature with a good dose of respect. Nonvenomous snakes bite, too, so no sense in stirring it up.