Like throughout its historical east of the Mississippi range, the Eastern Timber Rattlesnake is either a species of special concern or outright endangered..........."Pennsylvania experienced a major decline in its timber rattlesnake population during recent decades attributed mainly to unrestricted commercial and sport hunting, den raiding, and land development"..........."That said, the Keystone State's (Pennsylvania) 2.2 million acres of State Forest lands provide the largest block of timber rattlesnake habitat remaining in the Northeast". ............"The frequency of encounters between humans and timber rattlesnakes increases in July and August when male snakes actively seek mates"................ "Mature males may travel up to six miles trying to intersect the scent trails of receptive females".................. "This activity often coincides with hot, dry summer weather leading to the misconception that rattlesnakes are “coming down for water".................... "Near the end of August the pregnant females give birth to live, fully-developed young"............ "Within about 10 days of birth, the newborn snakes shed their skins and disperse for several weeks of foraging and dodging predators".............. "Rattlesnakes usually return to the same den each year throughout their lifetime".............. "Youngsters follow the adults’ scent trails to denning sites by mid-October"...........Note that Timber Rattler's(and all rattlesnakes) want contact with us even less than we want contact with them".......... "They generally go out of their way to avoid us, or at least remain motionless and hidden until we pass"............... "Only when they feel cornered or threatened will most snakes even feign aggression"........... "Avoid the snake for a few minutes".........."When it feels the threat has passed, the snake will go back to what it was doing before your encounter, either slithering along on its way, relaxing back into a basking spot or taking up an ambush position to await some small prey animal"........."The primary prey species of the timber rattlesnake is small rodents, like mice, voles and chipmunks"......................... "The snake is primarily an ambush hunter, sitting and waiting along rodent runways, with its head on the surface of a fallen tree or branch that the rodents use for travel"............................. "The snake’s strike, injection of venom and release of prey seem instantaneous, protecting the snake from a retaliatory bite"................. "The stricken prey may hobble out of sight, but shortly dies"................... "The snake follows the scent trail to find its meal, which is already partially digested by the venom"................ "A healthy rattlesnake will eat three times its body weight each year and drink about the equivalent of its body weight in water"

Audrey Chambers, of State College, visited
 a Centre County

 rattlesnake den teeming with snakes. She 
captured the above

 photos during time among the timber
 rattlesnakes. More of her

 photos can be viewed at her Facebook page,

Audrey's Fluttering Shutters Photography. 

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THE TIMBER RATTLESNAKE IN PENNSYLVANIA-VISIT TO A DEN