[Philmont]: Where To Expect Rattlesnakes

It did not surprise me one bit that most of the rattlesnake reports listed the Tooth of Time or the trail near it.
 
Where do you expect to see rattlesnakes? Where rattlesnake food is because rattlesnakes do several things in their life. They hunt, they eat, they digest, they mate and they reproduce. Oh and they also sun themselves quite a bit also since they don't produce their own body heat like we do. Some call it cold blooded. NOt the proper term, but it will do for now.
 
Where do they hunt and eat? Where their favorite food is found. The rocky terrain that the Tooth of Time trail goes through is prime habitat for rodents. Plenty of hidey holes. Therefore there are plenty of Rattlesnakes poking into those hidey holes looking for a meal.
 
And that is the best reason I can think of for not night hiking at Philmont, especially along the Tooth trail. Night hiking includes "getting an early start".
 
When do rodents scurry about? At night. When can you not see the rodent's predator, the rattlesnake? At night.
 
OK, off my soap box.
 
John LeBlanc

                
---------------------------------
 Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Wed Aug 24 22:44:37 2005