Rattlesnakes in Balt Co?

[baltimorelaw]

Having discussion with a couple guys from northern Baltimore county who say there are timber rattlesnakes in prettyboy/ gunpowder area. I've never seen one and can't find evidence of a confirmed sighting in last 25 years. Curious if anyone has seen or heard of them in this area?

 

[BigCountry14]

I have heard that. There is an old map someone that shows a small circle near prettyboy. I'll see if I can find it.

I did see a picture in Howard County a few years ago

 

[BigCity]

I've not seen one but heard one was found years ago along the river thru Sykesville.

 

[BigCountry14]

Maryland Biodiversity Project - Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

www.marylandbiodiversity.com

There's this one, but it doesn't give much info

 

[BigCountry14]

Also this Sun article

Baltimore Sun: Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic

Baltimore Sun: Your source for Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic

www.baltimoresun.com

 

[Squaregrouper]

I am unaware of confirmed sightings, but Prettyboy is within their natural range.
I will ask our Curator of Herpetology tomorrow.

 

[baltimorelaw]

Maryland Biodiversity Project - Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

www.marylandbiodiversity.com

There's this one, but it doesn't give much info

Thank you - I see it shows Baltimore Co as within range but my theory is that's historical range. DNR conducted a quad search in 1997(ish) and couldn't turn up any and I haven't heard a first hand account that isn't at least 25 years old. Find it hard to believe there could be a population of them in the watershed or gunpowder falls and not see/hear more about it with today's social media.

 

[baltimorelaw]

I am unaware of confirmed sightings, but Prettyboy is within their natural range.
I will ask our Curator of Herpetology tomorrow.

Agree re historical/natural range. Thanks for asking - curious what he/she says!

 

[BigCountry14]

Thank you - I see it shows Baltimore Co as within range but my theory is that's historical range. DNR conducted a quad search in 1997(ish) and couldn't turn up any and I haven't heard a first hand account that isn't at least 25 years old. Find it hard to believe there could be a population of them in the watershed or gunpowder falls and not see/hear more about it with today's social media.

Historical range put them all the way to the Susquehanna in Harford.

 

[RoadDawg]

The last one I saw in northern Baltimore County, was in White Hall. But that was before hurricane Agnes went through in 1972. It was entering the yard where my younger brothers and sisters were playing. It did not survive the encounter. Haven’t actually seen another in the area since.

 

[gmharle]

Living in the area I can say that I have not seen one here, but I can say that there is lots of terrain that would be perfect habitat without any human interaction.

 

[baltimorelaw]

Living in the area I can say that I have not seen one here, but I can say that there is lots of terrain that would be perfect habitat without any human interaction.

Definetly agree!

 

[Applehd]

So many pictures of boots and belts in the wild...

 

[Doctor_M]

I worked with a Herpetologist years ago who said he knew of several dens in that area but wouldn't tell anyone where they were because he wanted to protect the snakes... I tended to believe him as he was a pretty sharp dude and genuinely cared about snakes.

 

[baltimorelaw]

I worked with a Herpetologist years ago who said he knew of several dens in that area but wouldn't tell anyone where they were because he wanted to protect the snakes... I tended to believe him as he was a pretty sharp dude and genuinely cared about snakes.

Interesting, thanks, and yeah good call on not sharing location(s).

 

[Crazytrain]

I have seen many rattle snakes in the west, never here in Maryland. But, I rarely see any snakes here at all. The occasional Garter, a few Rat Snakes and a Ribbon snake once. Perhaps I'm just in the wrong place; but they really don't seem all that common here. At least in comparison to other states. I've never seen a Copperhead; but I'm assured they exist in the area. Perhaps the Rattle snake population is just very small.

 

[Afrikeber]

I’ve seen them here in Frederick up in the watershed area which is part of the Cotoctin mountains. I can imagine them as they multiply moving out into new areas.

 

[baltimorelaw]

I’ve seen them here in Frederick up in the watershed area which is part of the Cotoctin mountains. I can imagine them as they multiply moving out into new areas.

Yeah I dont spend much time in Catoctin but have been advised to be careful if hunting in that area because there's a good population in there of both copperhead and timber rattlesnakes.

 

[Wiley]

One crossed my driveway last Friday in Montgomery County. It was a pretty thick snake about 3 1/2 - 4'

 

[mauser58]

I have only seen them in the far western part of Maryland. They come out of hibernation in spring and will see them sunning themselves . This is rocky and mountain areas in Garrett and Allegheny counties. They tend to hide once the heat is here till fall again. I have seen many snakes this year at work in Edgewood/ Aberdeen . Only two copperheads and both were aggressive as usual and coiled up and struck at me about 5 or 6 times repeatedly as I was moving away from them. I see many harmless black snakes, racers and water snakes there daily.