Went to RRG two weeks ago. Found all sorts of neat things this time around on Rough Trail.
Came across a Velvet Ant
Cicada Killer
My first Rattlesnake, beautiful snake. Wish I got to spend more time with it. As we were ending the trail we stopped at Rush Ridge. Another hiker and just walked ahead of us with his dog and then we decided to leave. My wife started first and then she yelled for me to come over and I ran over and there it was, stretched out across the trail that a guy and his dog just moments ago walked right by. I picked the snake up and moved him to a more controlled area as there were more hikers on their way and didn't want anyone to hurt or kill the snake as I have seen them do to a harmless Black Racer. So I let them walk by and then it crawled up the root system and I then grabbed his tail while he was on the hook but he was wrapped up in the roots so I just let him crawl up it. Took a short video with the wrong camera app as I only got 15 seconds of video. But that's OK, was worth every 15 seconds. I had been looking for Copperheads the entire time and didn't come across any. I just skipped right over the less venomous snake all the way up to the king, it's an awesome feeling to be holding something 40" away from you that could easily end your life. He was very, very calm, not once did it rattle, was never defensive, was just trying to get simply get away but since folks know what it is, it's the reason they are mostly killed. Can't wait to go back and find more.
Came across a Velvet Ant
Cicada Killer
My first Rattlesnake, beautiful snake. Wish I got to spend more time with it. As we were ending the trail we stopped at Rush Ridge. Another hiker and just walked ahead of us with his dog and then we decided to leave. My wife started first and then she yelled for me to come over and I ran over and there it was, stretched out across the trail that a guy and his dog just moments ago walked right by. I picked the snake up and moved him to a more controlled area as there were more hikers on their way and didn't want anyone to hurt or kill the snake as I have seen them do to a harmless Black Racer. So I let them walk by and then it crawled up the root system and I then grabbed his tail while he was on the hook but he was wrapped up in the roots so I just let him crawl up it. Took a short video with the wrong camera app as I only got 15 seconds of video. But that's OK, was worth every 15 seconds. I had been looking for Copperheads the entire time and didn't come across any. I just skipped right over the less venomous snake all the way up to the king, it's an awesome feeling to be holding something 40" away from you that could easily end your life. He was very, very calm, not once did it rattle, was never defensive, was just trying to get simply get away but since folks know what it is, it's the reason they are mostly killed. Can't wait to go back and find more.
