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Post by DK on Jul 7, 2009 12:47:02 GMT -5
The most exciting thing we've encountered at FATS were the bovine, ha! We've had deer and green snakes as well, but those I'm kosher with. Now the canal?? Insane wildlife. Alligator, many, many (many) snakes of all colors, turtles, and even baby raccoons. Must be all the water around the trail. I don't know about exciting, but it sure was interesting. I'm just glad it wasn't the gator.
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Post by DK on Jul 7, 2009 12:49:39 GMT -5
Forgot to mention, that pic was shot on Brown Wave yesterday afternoon.
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Post by imnav8r on Jul 7, 2009 15:16:16 GMT -5
When approaching such an animal on the trail...it's always best to moooooooooooooooooove it on over! ;D
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Post by dgaddis1 on Jul 7, 2009 21:22:34 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure I'd poop my shorts if I came 'round a corner and there was a cow in the middle of the trail.
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Post by oddcouple on Jul 7, 2009 21:41:39 GMT -5
That just not any cow looks like a BULL to me.
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Post by safetybreak on Jul 7, 2009 22:16:23 GMT -5
That just not any cow looks like a BULL to me. another reason that i wish that i rode with crocodile dundee ;D
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Post by DK on Jul 7, 2009 23:18:16 GMT -5
That just not any cow looks like a BULL to me. Kinda hard to tell from this end, and I didn't bother to look as I rode past. ;D He was harmless though. I stopped, snapped a couple of pics and talked to him for a bit to make sure he wasn't agitated or aggressive. He was just looking for a way back into the fence that he got out of. It made for an interesting ride, that's for sure.
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Post by jp3 on Jul 8, 2009 7:32:33 GMT -5
Just a thought, maybe we could have steak at our next cookout. I think I know where we could get the meat.
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Post by brianW on Jul 8, 2009 18:02:44 GMT -5
Would that be considered free range beef?
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Post by oddcouple on Jul 12, 2009 21:47:42 GMT -5
I for the 1st time in all my years of riding ran upon a rattle snake on the trail going back to the south trail head about 50 yards off the gravel road, it was laying completely across the trail I was able to stop about 2 ft from it looked like a root with funny markings.It did not move ,waited about 5 minutes, it was getting dark so I got a stick through over and hit it, didn't move for about a minute then slowly very slowly moved of the trail I waited for the tail to disappear then rode by.It got me to thinking about riding with friends and how sometimes we ride close together. I had to stop too fast for someone not to hit me.Just something to take about next time riding with friends.
Russell Hale
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Post by bigtime on Jul 13, 2009 15:00:09 GMT -5
dang, ya'll trying to scare folks out of riding FATS?
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Post by imnav8r on Jul 13, 2009 15:56:35 GMT -5
No sir, not at all. Just trying to inform those who do ride at FATS, and the rest of our trails, that snakes do indeed inhabit the area and an occasional meeting up with one of them is inevitable. Especially this time of year when they are more mobile. Better to be forewarned than forlorned, so to speak.
So keep an eye out. The snake encounters are rare and infrequent, but none the less they do happen. If you encounter one, leave it alone, give it plenty of room, and remember...you are in its territory.
Be safe!
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Post by lighterknot on Jul 14, 2009 21:59:34 GMT -5
Recently moved here and have ridden at FATS 3 times and ran across a rattlesnake on friday the 10th on the Deep Step trail. Glad I was going uphill or I never would have stopped in time. made me think maybe I need to find some riding partners...lol. Chad
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Post by imnav8r on Jul 15, 2009 5:56:37 GMT -5
That snake looks like a copperhead. Are you sure it had rattles? None the less...still a tough customer if you get too close!
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Post by safetybreak on Jul 15, 2009 8:28:09 GMT -5
That snake looks like a copperhead. Are you sure it had rattles? None the less...still a tough customer if you get too close! from the pics, it looks like a copperhead to me too. they will mimic a rattlesnake's sound by rustling leaves with their tail. either way that is big ass poisonous snake. i would rather come across a rattler than a copperhead any day. rattle snakes tend to be a bit more scared than a copperhead. copperhead are usually one of the more aggressive snakes.
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Post by Angela on Jul 15, 2009 12:23:36 GMT -5
I'm no snake expert but this really doesn't look like copperhead to me (could be the picture though). Copperheads have a pretty distinct pattern that looks like a hour glass with the small part of the hour glass up at the spine and the two larger portions down the sides of the snake but maybe the pictures aren't clear. Even though more people are bitten by copperheads than some of the other poisonous snakes they have a milder venom and don't inject the "victim" with as much of it normally so the results aren't as bad as with other venoumous snakes in our area. They actually are pretty mild as snakes go particularly compared to say a cottonmouth/moccasin.
Having grown up around snakes and spent years tromping through southern woods, the areas that always concern me the most are the bench cut areas particularly along the power lines where you find yourself riding with the bank of the trail elevated. That puts your body more at striking distance if a snake is at that level. Snakes aren't sitting there waiting for you to come along so they can strike you by any means it will be an accidental encounter. That is just where I am most watchful.
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Post by jp3 on Jul 15, 2009 12:58:04 GMT -5
I believe that is a canebrake rattlesnake.
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Post by imnav8r on Jul 15, 2009 13:44:22 GMT -5
Angela & JP I believe you're right. That canebrake does resemble a copperhead a little bit, but Angela is correct about the hourglass pattern being a distinctive feature of the copperhead. Here's a picture I found when I googled canebrake rattlesnake.
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Post by jp3 on Jul 15, 2009 13:56:37 GMT -5
Alex, What does Angela and I win? Oh wait, this isn't "Know your trail"
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Post by imnav8r on Jul 15, 2009 17:28:56 GMT -5
LOL!
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