This morning I was in search of some cat mint behind our house (for our feline purrrsuasions) when out of the corner of my eye, I saw the figure of what appeared to be a serpentine of a different kind. Snakes are a fairly common experience in our neck of the woods but it’s not very often that I find a Timber Rattlesnake. The first attribute I look for is the shape of it’s eyes. If they are round they are not a viper but if the eyes are slits, that’s a snake of a different color.
Here in Southeast Minnesota, Timber Rattlesnakes can be found on occasion but they are not too often seen unless you are looking hard for one and more often than not, they want nothing to do with humans. That said, they can be a problem for those who have farm dogs that sometimes encounter the rattlers and I can certainly understand if someone takes a disliking to these creatures.
Timber Rattlesnakes once had a bounty on them here in Houston County, MN and according to the Minnesota DNR nearly 6,000 rattlesnakes were submitted for bounty during the 1940’s. By 1987, fewer than 200 snakes were turned in for bounty. By 1996, the species was listed as threatened.
For myself, I was thrilled to see this snake. I photographed and filmed the snake on and off for a couple of hours today. It was about 30 inches in length from my estimation. It never rattled at me and did not seemed bothered by my presence. Of course I kept my distance and never provoked it. It was an enjoyable encounter to see it hunting and resting until it finally made its way back into the forest. It definitely looked well-fed… or …pregnant?
Side note: Almost all the images were taken with the Panasonic G9 and the Lumix 100-400mm lens. I prefer this combo for closer wildlife and macro work.
⏤Alan Stankevitz