Snakes on Trails

[consularrider]

An email on the WashingtonDC yahoo groups from yesterday evening:

“On my commute home tonight, at about 6:30, I rode about 12-18 inches away from a coiled Timber Rattlesnake (I looked it up when I got home–it’s the only rattlesnake in this part of the country, and it’s bite is potentially lethal). A cyclist riding right behind me told me that it snapped at him but missed (we were riding about 18-20 mph, which might have saved him). This is a cycling hazard that is new to me, but folks should be advised to keep on the lookout…

it was about two miles north of Georgetown”

[TwoWheelsDC]

F$k it…I’m taking Metro home.

[acc]

I hate snakes.

See ’em all the time.

Still hate them.

[Greenbelt]

Last time I saw a snake from the trail it was dangling from the talons of a bald eagle.

My problem is the deer.

Why can’t we have deer crossing signs on the trails like they have on highways so the deer know the proper places to cross?

And don’t get me started on the bunnies…

[sjclaeys]

@Greenbelt 66835 wrote:

Last time I saw a snake from the trail it was dangling from the talons of a bald eagle.

My problem is the deer.

Why can’t we have deer crossing signs on the trails like they have on highways so the deer know the proper places to cross?

And don’t get me started on the bunnies…

Suicidal rabbits are my greatest fear on the bike.

[Jason B]

Loves snakes on the trail. Just tonight I saw a wonderful juvenile northern water snake on the WOD near 50. I am kicking myself for not catching it, but water snakes are real biters. They also have a anticoagulant that would have caused a messy ride home, not to mention they musk like crazy,,, damn I should have grabbed it.

[Jason B]

@sjclaeys 66838 wrote:

Suicidal rabbits are my greatest fear on the bike.

Suicidal rabbits don’t scare me, but this one does
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3858[/ATTACH]

[jnva]

@Jason B 66858 wrote:

Suicidal rabbits don’t scare me, but this one does
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3858[/ATTACH]

Easily defeated with the holy hand grenade.

[PotomacCyclist]

When I was riding CaBi to the Nation’s Triathlon last month, I was startled by a rabbit on the MVT. He wasn’t particularly vicious or anything. He darted away suddenly, which startled me. That’s… something, no?

[Ellen]

@sjclaeys 66838 wrote:

Suicidal rabbits are my greatest fear on the bike.

My problem is suicidal squirrels in Lafayette Square. They try to dive into my wheels. Once I ran right over one – he was OK, though. They are very durable.

[PotomacCyclist]

I think a frog committed suicide on my bike shoe one day. This was a couple years ago, on the MVT in Alexandria, or maybe south of Old Town, near Dyke Marsh. I was riding along at a moderate speed on the paved trail. Then I saw/felt something jump out of the grass and smack right into the side of my shoe. It had to be a frog or a toad. It felt soft and I don’t think it was a bird. I turned and looked at the grass. I didn’t see the frog or toad hopping away, so I think he was toast.

It was his fault for crashing into my foot.

[Melissa703]

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen two snakes on the Mount Vernon Trail.

The first was a medium snake about two weeks ago between 5 and 6 p.m. It was black, and until I was right on top of it, I mistook it for that rubber asphalt material that’s used to fill in cracks in the trail surface. It didn’t seem to move; maybe it was already dead.

On May 26, between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m., I was headed North between Crystal City and Rosslyn when I saw a large fallen branch on the trail. I figured the branch must have fallen from the tree hanging overhead. The cyclist about 15 feet ahead of me swerved around it. Following, I swerved into the southbound lane to avoid the branch…when I noticed it moving. I panicked and wobbled, but fortunately I kept my balance. Imagine falling and landing on the snake. It looked to be brown and black; I didn’t care to get a closer look. I looked back and noticed another cyclist had dismounted to get a closer look. I proceeded North and warned oncoming joggers and cyclists of what was ahead.

Any other sightings?

[huskerdont]

@Melissa703 140524 wrote:

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen two snakes on the Mount Vernon Trail.

The first was a medium snake about two weeks ago between 5 and 6 p.m. It was black, and until I was right on top of it, I mistook it for that rubber asphalt material that’s used to fill in cracks in the trail surface. It didn’t seem to move; maybe it was already dead.

On May 26, between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m., I was headed North between Crystal City and Rosslyn when I saw a large fallen branch on the trail. I figured the branch must have fallen from the tree hanging overhead. The cyclist about 15 feet ahead of me swerved around it. Following, I swerved into the southbound lane to avoid the branch…when I noticed it moving. I panicked and wobbled, but fortunately I kept my balance. Imagine falling and landing on the snake. It looked to be brown and black; I didn’t care to get a closer look. I looked back and noticed another cyclist had dismounted to get a closer look. I proceeded North and warned oncoming joggers and cyclists of what was ahead.

Any other sightings?

Two on the towpath over the weekend–a garter snake and a fat grey one that was too quick for me to identify. Your black snake was likely a black racer or black rat snake. Had one run over top of my foot once while hiking. They mostly just want to get away from you, although the garter snakes can be quite testy and will strike. I don’t mind them if I can see them first and they’re in their habitat; hate being surprised by them. We had a black rat snake in our basement a few years back that was a challenge to get out. I did not enjoy seeing it going up the stairs.

[MRH5028]

Ugh I seriously hate snakes. I have a mini heart attack every time I see one slither along the trail in front of me. I’m basically Indiana Jones really.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@huskerdont 140528 wrote:

We had a black rat snake in our basement a few years back that was a challenge to get out. I did not enjoy seeing it going up the stairs.

It’s a good thing I just moved out of my Arlington house with a basement….otherwise I’d probably have to burn it down so this could never happen.

[Author]

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