He said the survival rate for adult rattlers is very high — better than 90% of adults alive in a given year will still be alive the next year — and survival rates of newborns after one year is also “reasonably high,” about 65%. We all know people come from near and far to cool off in Lake George during the summer. We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. In thirty-six years of research Bill has become well acquainted with Adirondack timber rattlesnakes. Despite their size, cryptic patterns and coloration allow them to easily conceal themselves by blending in with their surroundings. LTS – Timber Rattlesnakes July 8, 2015. Dr. Brown collects the snakes captured by DEC Rangers, as well as ones he captures for his research, and weighs and measures them in lab space made available to him by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at the Darrin Fresh Water Institute in Bolton. Lake George NY and snakes Nature Calls Earl Plato Is Lake George, New York State, the Queen of American Lakes ? Dr. Bill Brown will speak about timber rattlesnake, its natural history and habits, as well as conservation efforts and management of the Lake George basin’s timber rattlesnake population. The Tongue Mountain Range Trails are a series of hiking trails located within the Tongue Mountain Range, a subordinate range within the Adirondack Mountains of New York.The trails, 25 miles (40 km) in total length, vary from easy walks along the foot of the mountains on the shore of adjacent Lake George, to more rugged ascents of mountain peaks within the range. Dr. Brown, of Fort Ann, has been studying for some 38 years the timber rattlesnakes found around The Narrows area of Lake George. The Timber Rattlesnake is a common snake found in the Adirondacks. Timber rattlesnakes hibernate from October through April, gathering in overwintering dens below the frost line deep in the piles of rocks and boulders that collect at the bottom of cliffs. We hiked in approximately a 1/4 mile but did not encounter any, we were bothered more by the mosquitos. “I do think they are coming back, but it’s slow, almost imperceptible.” He added that he has not analyzed his data for a scientific population estimate. This year, by the end of June, there were four such incidents, says research biologist/herpetologist Dr. Bill Brown. Five to 10 times each summer timber rattlesnakes are found around campsites in The Narrows area of Lake George. First up, you have the Timber Rattlesnake - eek! When confronted will rattle and strike. Copyright © 2014 Lone Oak Publishing Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved. Rattlesnake populations exist at other locations around the state. Copyright © 2021 Lone Oak Publishing Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Brian Nearing/Times Union) Brian Nearing/Times Union Show More Show Less … Bounties were outlawed in 1971 and in 1983 the timber rattler was designated a “Threatened” species by New York State. The record length in New York is 60 inches. “All of these factors reduce human interference. They probably know the hiking paths to avoid! Timber rattlesnakes occur from New England to Texas to Wisconsin, although many populations in other states were also wiped out. That evening we drove up with the kids to see if we could see any for ourselves. The Fort Ann resident is a professor emeritus of Skidmore College. Humans Aren’t the Only Ones Who Enjoy Lake George… Four-Foot Rattlesnake Seen Taking a Dip. But while this might sound alarming to some, since rattlesnakes are poisonous … The 32 mile long lake is fed by mammoth underground springs. Snake Hill - Stillwater. It makes a great hike for first timers, children, and seasoned veterans. The trail tends to be dry, so it important to bring plenty of water. Even here, until about 35 years ago, any rattlesnakes found would be killed. Dr. Brown said he’s fortunate to be able to study a population where “we have the protected state lands, we have the cooperation of the Rangers, we have the actual protected status of the snake legally, and we have the relative inaccessibility and difficulty of the terrain. New Yorkers can primarily find these snakes downstate within the Hudson Valley, and sometimes making its way up to places like the southern Adirondacks around Lake George, and other secluded areas of Central New York. Handle the dead snake with tools only.”. He said there has been a slight increase in the number of rattlesnakes found on the islands, from two to four per year 30 years ago to the five to 10 of recent years, although he noted that in the past rattlesnake sightings might not have been reported as well. It’s not the survival rate, it’s the low reproduction rate that’s the threat to the snakes, he said. Populations at Shelving Rock on the east shore of Lake George and at French Mountain were among those wiped out. Clay Meadow trail at top of Tongue Mountain Hwy (Rt.9N). DEC said that rattlesnakes were wiped out at many New York locations, killed for the bounties once paid for dead rattlesnakes, or because they were considered a pest, or they were taken for the exotic pet trade. Timber rattlers range as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html. Photo by Seth Lang. We've hiked a number of peak in the ADK and have never seen even one. Get answers to your questions about Lake George, What info do I need to know about bringing my boat to LG, Information about Fort Ticonderoga and Fort William Henry, Hotels near The Fort William Henry Museum & Restoration, Hotels near House of Frankenstein Wax Museum, Hotels near Tour Boat Lake George at Blue Lagoon Resort, The Fort William Henry Museum & Restoration, http://glensfallschronicle.com/lake-george-rattlesnakes/, http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html, Holiday Festival of Lights in Lake George, Thinking about visiting in a couple weeks, Things to do in Fall at Lake George - with covid going on, Hikes/restaurants/things to do at Lake George/Kattskill Bay, Fall foliage/leaf peeping next weekend, Sep 26-28, Quick visit to Lake George area before weekend at Rydin High. Emily Riccio Posted on July 10, 2015 December 11, 2017. On August 2, ECO LaPoint responded to a residence in the town of Hague, Warren County, for a report of a trapped timber rattlesnake at residence where a family was vacationing. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Most are males, which tend to travel more in search of females to mate with, but a quarter to a third are females, said Dr. Brown. They eat mostly small mammals such as mice and chipmunks, but will also eat birds, amphibians and other snakes. A study like mine couldn’t take place if there were much human interference at all.”. The trail features many spectacular views as well as two lean to shelters for backpackers. I believe it is. An Eastern timber rattlesnake on the western shore of Lake George near the town of Hague on May 28, 2017. I do not think you have anything to worry about. Enough rattlesnakes are living in the region to keep him occupied, Brown said. Be aware of rattlesnakes in this area. Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0. It was a sunny, hot day after a cool evening, so I was watching out and actually hoping to see a rattlesnake. 2,173 Views, By David Cederstrom, Chronicle Staff Writer. Hot Copy Rattlesnakes can continue to rattle for hours if forced to, Dr. Brown said. He checks to see if the snakes are ones he’s marked in the past, which many are, and marks them if not. It looks PERFECT up there for them ! Call NYS DEC for hiking trail maps. George Crum supposedly invented potato chips here. If you come across a rattlesnake on Lake George, Dr. Brown said there’s a simple way to deal with it: Keep your distance and “call DEC and the Rangers will come and get it.”. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. This is a popular and easily reached lookout over northern Lake George. TONGUE MOUNTAIN RANGE - Note there are many rattlesnakes in this area. Large and medium-sized mammals known to occur in the central and southern Adirondacks are also believed to be common inhabitants of the Lake George watershed and include the white-tailed deer, moose, black bear, coyote, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, bobcat, fisher, river otter, mink, striped skunk, long-tailed weasel, short-tailed weasel, beaver, muskrat, porcupine, and snowshoe hare. I hiked the Tongue Mtn trail on Sunday. Dr. Brown said he marked the snake 30 years earlier and made what he feels is a “relatively conservative estimate” of her age as 15 at the time. Dr. Brown said that “something totally unexpected” he’s discovered is that timber rattlesnakes can live into their 40s. Dr. Brown has been studying the local timber rattlesnake population for 35 years. Terzian Woodlot is maintained by the Lake George Land Conservancy which ensures the protection of a Lake George tributary, has created public access to beautiful forests and ridges, and provide habitat and refuge for the endangered timber rattlesnakes. I have always heard of the Timber Rattlers around there, but this is the first solid evidence I have seen. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-67557729', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake George since the late 80s and never once had an issue at all. The population around Lake George appears to be stable, Dr. Brown said. Do you bring along any kind of snake kit? He said that the snake, when confronted by a human, will try either to flee or to coil into a defensive position while producing a high-pitched buzz with the distinctive rattle at the end of its tail, indicating that it feels threatened. The snakes are then released in their home territory on the west side of the lake. Dr. Brown has found that on average, females produce offspring only 1.8 times per lifetime, “which is low,” he said. I have been hiking the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? He said they’re most likely to swim out to the islands or to the east side of the lake in July and August. “We’re still doing a considerable amount of research” on the rattlesnakes, said Dr. Brown, who still occasionally teaches at Skidmore, and for the last eight years has taught courses at SUNY Albany. Rattlesnakes were once a more common sight in the Adirondacks – Elisha BElden was a well-known entertainer with rattlers on the Lake George Steamships (he was on the John Jay when it sunk, for instance). Riley's Cove (Chinatown) - Malta. Access to trails on Rt 9N about 10 miles north of Bolton Landing. He added he has also found males in their 40s. The department said Environmental Conservation Officer George LaPoint responded to a residence in the town of Hague where vacationers staying at the home reported finding a rattlesnake… Dr. Brown expressed concern that last year was a poor year for reproduction numbers, and that he hasn’t seen a really good year for a long time. The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is an accredited not-for-profit land trust that works within the Lake George watershed in the southeastern corner of New York's Adirondack Park. An outcrop on the east side of the lake named for timber rattlesnakes that denned there until their extirpation in the mid-1800s. By David Cederstrom, Chronicle Staff Writer Five to 10 times each summer timber rattlesnakes are found around campsites in The Narrows area of Lake George. Found in lower Hudson Valley, eastern… The 10.5 mile Tongue Mountain Range Trail is a popular hiking destination in the Lake George Wild Forest of the southeastern Adirondacks. Re: Lake George Rattlesnake Photos - 08/24/09 03:01 PM I am a tiny bit disturbed as well, since me and my family swims, wakeboards, tubes, explores islands in that area. Lodges at Cresthaven - Interval Timeshare, Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center, Super 8 by Wyndham Lake George/Warrensburg Area. He estimated that between 100 and 150 have been removed in that time. “In New York there have been no records of human deaths attributable to rattlesnakes in the wild during the last several decades,” says the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Deciding between two Lake George places to stay. Killing, harassing, possessing or selling them is illegal. Rangers have told us that rattlesnakes inhabit the Tongue Mountain area in particular, but can swim across Lake George, and have been found on the islands. I have been hiking the Lake George region for the past several years and have not come upon any rattlesnakes, however I did hear there were numerous snakes at Buck Mountain last year. July 17, 2014 They typically travel one to three miles from the den for the summer, although some go farther. Lake Shore Road borders Split Rock Mountain, which is thought to be the northernmost habitat of the timber rattler. 2,260 were here. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. The paths are wide and flat and there are great views of Lake George. We hiked in approximately a 1/4 mile but did not encounter any, we were bothered more by the mosquitos. “We have a greater than 90% save rate of rattlesnakes that got to the campsites over the last 25 years,” Dr. Brown said. To report a “nuisance” rattlesnake: DEC on Green Island, (518) 644-9684; DEC on Glen Island, (518) 644-9696; Dr. Brown, (518) 644-3541 or (518) 639-8819; Town of Bolton police/animal control officer, (518) 644-2444. Hopefully you'll find this article reassuring: http://glensfallschronicle.com/lake-george-rattlesnakes/. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-67582453', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake George region for the past several years and have not come upon any rattlesnakes, however I did hear there were numerous snakes at Buck Mountain last year. “In most places in the United States, you won’t find a state agency that promotes and protects venomous snakes like this region here,” Dr. Brown noted. Dr. Brown said that a rattlesnake killed by a car or otherwise is still valuable for scientific study. This year, by the end of June, there were four such incidents, says research biologist/herpetologist Dr. Bill Brown. Both Rangers and ECOs receive training on the habits and handling of rattlesnakes, specifically in the Lake George area. Saratoga Lake Sailing Club - Manning's Cove, Malta. Measuring from 3 to 4 feet or more in length, the timber rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in New York. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/george-lake-trail--3 If you are concerned about it then I would not say "NO do not bring one" But with that said - I have been in and around (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Have people come across them on hikes like Buck Mountain, Stewart's Ledge, Prospect Mountain, Shelving Rock Falls? Jet-Ski, Boating, Swimming, Kayak/Canoeing... What are the 10 must things to do at lake george? Which when vibrated, makes a buzzing sound characteristic of a disturbed rattlesnake ( 3.4 RT... 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