Wildlife myths debunked in Moultoborough

[Skip]

HERE
is a nice article in today's Citizen about a recent presentation at the Loon Center, where a number of commom wildlife myths are debunked by speaker and wildlife biologist Judy Silverburg of NH Fish & Game.

Interesting read....

[twoplustwo]

I had no idea there were any rattlesnakes in NH, I figured it was too cold for them.

I will continue to live in denial if that's ok with you, Skip

[EricP]

Interesting read, thanks for posting it.

[Island Life]

I think I might be right there, belly up on the ground with the opposum if I saw a snake in NH that could be mistaken for a puff adder.

[SAMIAM]

I have serious doubts about rattlesnakes in NH......I'll believe it when I see one.

[hilltopper]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I have serious doubts about rattlesnakes in NH......I'll believe it when I see one.

I don't think NH Fish and Game is lieing to the public when they say there is a known group of Timber Rattlesnakes in the state. I also don't think you'll ever see one if there's only about thirty of them in one general area and you don't know what that area is.

An old timer I worked with in Connecticut who had grown up in Berlin spoke of seeing them before, so my vote is the Berlin area. Still not much to go on if you're seeking them out, which F&G clearly doesn't want happening.

Here's some additional reading (page A-226): http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wild...Amphibians.pdf

hilltopper

[Lin]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I have serious doubts about rattlesnakes in NH......I'll believe it when I see one.

I wouldn't doubt it. Massachusetts have several protected colonies and many towns still carry the names Rattlesnake Hill, Rattlesnake Island, Rattlesnake Road. Even though they were named that eons ago for the creature they are still found in MA. The article did not say where they are found in NH but that there are 30. So F & G must know where they are. I know in MA the Berkshire's had a Rattlesnake spot when I was in forestry college plus there were a few more locations. Most times people will not know where these locations are so that vandelism and death to the Rattlesnake do not occur.

[SAMIAM]

Rattlesnake Island,Mountain,Hill,Road and others were not named because they had a snake population....but because they resemble a serpent as the outline of our own Rattlesnake Island does......Every old timer has a tale of seeing or knowing of a rattlesnake nest somewhere but none have ever proven it an no one has every produced a live or dead snake. Rattlesnakes don't like cold weather......and,although I've seen a few "snow snakes" I still won't believe it untill I see one for myself.

[Lin]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Rattlesnake Island,Mountain,Hill,Road and others were not named because they had a snake population....but because they resemble a serpent as the outline of our own Rattlesnake Island does......Every old timer has a tale of seeing or knowing of a rattlesnake nest somewhere but none have ever proven it an no one has every produced a live or dead snake. Rattlesnakes don't like cold weather......and,although I've seen a few "snow snakes" I still won't believe it untill I see one for myself.

I wasn't talking about Rattlesnake Island in Winni, as a third generation summer resident of the lakes region, I know that the island was named for the shape, I was talking about areas near my own town that were named for the reptile rattlers found in the rocky pockets and ledges of that type of topography. I'm sure Fish and Game in NH are not lying when they say there are 30 Rattlesnakes in an area in NH. Most organizations do not release the locations due to people's fear of the snake and others finding the location and maliciously killing them. When I did boundry work at the State Park I managed, we had a major rocky area to traverse and I DID keep a lookout for the critters as it would not have been unusual to find them. The park is not far from Rattlesnake Hill which WAS named for the reptile in the same town and very near the confirmed nests in the next county over. The rattlesnakes in New England are Timber Rattlers not the Diamondback rattlers you would find in the southwest. Here are some links, many with maps showing the areas of population including NH.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp...s_horridus.pdf

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wild...attlesnake.htm

http://www.timberrattlesnake.net/

http://people.wcsu.edu/pinout/herpet...dus/index.html

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wild...ame/snakes.htm

http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/a_close...tlesnakes.html

http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/...us+horridus%20

[hilltopper]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I still won't believe it untill I see one for myself.

So you don't believe in the dinosaurs either, right? Not trying to be a smart arse, I just don't understand why you don't believe F&G. They are not "old timers telling stories", they're real people who have seen them and know where they are and are trying to protected them via the state's endangered (not extinct) species list and not telling the general public where they are.

Where's the Rattlesnake dude that was kickin' around here last year? We need him/her to chime in...

[kthy66]

Thank you for the post Lin! Very informative!
I have to say I was shocked to learn we have rattlesnakes in our area. I was not aware that they hibernated thus giving them the ability to survive our winters.
Very interesting stuff.

[wildwoodfam]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I have serious doubts about rattlesnakes in NH......I'll believe it when I see one.

Your chance of converting to believer status is slim - BUT

Having SEEN ONE up close and personal - in the Monadnock region - about 5 years ago - I am a believer!!

[tis]

Sam, there is one at the Libby Museum that was found in Tuftonboro by the state guys working on the road.

[wildwoodfam]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Rattlesnake Island,Mountain,Hill,Road and others were not named because they had a snake population....but because they resemble a serpent as the outline of our own Rattlesnake Island does......Every old timer has a tale of seeing or knowing of a rattlesnake nest somewhere but none have ever proven it an no one has every produced a live or dead snake. Rattlesnakes don't like cold weather......and,although I've seen a few "snow snakes" I still won't believe it untill I see one for myself.

Desert night can be downright FRIGID!!! BYW - Rattlesnakes go under ground in the winter - thats how they survive our New England winters!

Also- we have a Rattlesnake Hill Rd here in my hometown (Massachusetts) and it does NOT resemble a rattler - but rather was once home to a colony of the venemous serpants!!

SEEING IS BELIEVING???? Samiam!! Don't you watch the Polar Express????