Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
- richlong8
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Re: Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
[quote=" But I've had four nasty encounters with rattlesnakes already this season up at my ranch between Visalia & Three Rivers - two of which involved my two dogs - BOTH were bit (The vet ![/quote]
I do not think that GTW is infested with rattlers. The lower elevations where your dogs got bit usually have more snakes. On a 2013 weekend trip to the Kern River in the GTW, at about 5000-6000', I did not see any, but normally, you might see 1-2 a day. The higher you go, the less likely you will run into a snake. I don't recall seeing one when I have been above 8000' in elevation. Plenty of nice fish in the Kern River though.....and sometimes you will see gopher snakes swimming in the water!
I do not think that GTW is infested with rattlers. The lower elevations where your dogs got bit usually have more snakes. On a 2013 weekend trip to the Kern River in the GTW, at about 5000-6000', I did not see any, but normally, you might see 1-2 a day. The higher you go, the less likely you will run into a snake. I don't recall seeing one when I have been above 8000' in elevation. Plenty of nice fish in the Kern River though.....and sometimes you will see gopher snakes swimming in the water!
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Re: Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
The unattractive feature of the Golden Trout Wilderness isn't rattlesnakes, it is the abuse caused by bovine grazing and the prodigious amount of cattle crap near and in waterways.
- AlmostThere
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Re: Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
Rattlers have been documented as high as 11,000 feet in the sierra. They are more numerous around water sources where small critters are also numerous, tho.
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- camptramp
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Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
I don't know if this is the result, but I noticed the water in pools in the Little Kern River were somewhat brackish. Not crystal clear like I expected.Ska-T wrote:The unattractive feature of the Golden Trout Wilderness isn't rattlesnakes, it is the abuse caused by bovine grazing and the prodigious amount of cattle crap near and in waterways.
I did come upon a rattler - right next to water. This one was ingesting a meal - somewhere nearby was a 'roar' - I kid you not. The closer I got the louder it got. Made me wonder if these critters cover for each other while they are dining?
Here's more photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yf8tyj7w80pwv55/j3IruFZRM9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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- camptramp
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Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
I can tell you I need to figure out how to lighten up. I can't haul all this stuff any more!
- camptramp
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Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
camptramp wrote:Made me wonder if these critters cover for each other while they are dining?Ska-T wrote:The unattractive feature of the Golden Trout Wilderness isn't rattlesnakes, it is the abuse caused by bovine grazing and the prodigious amount of cattle crap near and in waterways.
Here's more photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yf8tyj7w80pwv55/j3IruFZRM9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In the snake world: "Hey Tony! I got me a rat! Time for me to chow down! Cover for me, will ya?"
- rlown
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Re: Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
pretty sure rattlers are tasty and can be mixed into a fine pasta sauce. Just saying. you do need a fishing license to take a snake. Check your DFW regs accordingly.
- Rockchucker
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Re: Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
I kind of like rattlers, mostly because I despise rodents, and find most snakes rather docile. They rattle to say 'hey I'm here, don't step on me'.
I'm no suture for my future.
- rlown
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Re: Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
they don't always rattle. i've stepped over two that didn't.
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Re: Golden Trout Wilderness - rattlesnakes infestation - fact or
Nice photos!
I can see the utility of the ladder, easy to hang your bear bag, but regarding the hoe, were you removing non-native plants or doing trail maintenance?camptramp wrote:I can tell you I need to figure out how to lighten up. I can't haul all this stuff any more!
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