Time or arrival : 8:30
Temp: Morning 65F, Afternoon 89F

The day started off as usual when i take a trip to N. WV. Wake up at 7 and usually takes about an 1.5 hrs to get there.

I arrived at 8:30. Was a nice cool morning. I had talked to a buddy the night before who said he had a freind count 9 Timbers 2 days before… So i was quite exited about the trip, sence I had a general idea of where the guy seen them, and also heard rumors of a den in that area but I had no real proof yet.
So i knew my 1st stop was going to be the den I usually check out. Well this time the den was EMPTY….. I had recently seen 2 there over a few months time and a Copperhead. The area looked Disturbed. Probably some ignorant kids. So yes i was pertty POed.

I hiked a small medow and found a few bones. Im guessing they are from a Garter.

Well off to the area that my buddys friend mentioned. About a 30 min hike from where i was. I searched that area for about an hr with no luck. Then desided to call it quites.

On my way out I passed this group of hikers. I had my hook with me so they said “Hey do you catch snakes or something”. So i said “Yes”. They were like “There is a Rattlesnake up at the Main public area next the overlook”.. I was sceptical till they showed me a photo they had taken..So immidiately I took off to my car to head back twords the Public area of the park. And to my suprise there was a group of people around the snake looking at it . The snake had moved off the overlook on to a rock below. A Park Ranger was there and I asked him if he needed any help removing it. But he said he would get it and had to go back and get a bag. So i said I would get keep an eye out and take a few photos.. Funny though.. I climbed over the rail on to the area where the Rattler was. A few onlookeds were like “Im sure you shouldnt be that close to the snake “Its dangerous” Ha… I told them there was no need to worry I do it all the time. Then people started handing me there cameras so i could take a photo for them.


The rangers finaly came back and Bagged it and took it off. I did get a chance to ask them about the disribution of Timbers in the area. They said there were a few 100 dens and gave me a few tips on the 2 dens i was looking for earilier. Though it was already late in the day and i was tired I figured i would try back again in 2 weeks. Nice to know the Population in the area is thriving. Maybe when I go back down i can talk to the Ranger again to see about more dens in the area. All in all the snake was returned to a local den and safely away from the people in the park.