The Timber Rattlesnake’s range extends from New York and down south into the northern part of Florida, including the Okefenokee Swamp. Today’s post features a find outside the Okefenokee from up in Walton County, Georgia between Atlanta and Augusta.
An animal control co-worker texted me after-hours and said, “I’ve got one for you!” Along with that text came a photo of a nice sized Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, in a five-gallon bucket. The dark, v-shaped chevron patterns ran in regular intervals down his body while an orangish stripe ran along his spine, head to (almost) tail. And at the end of his black-tipped tail were six rattles.
He was picked up on a rural farm property in Walton County, not too far from a recent clear-cut of several hundred acres. No doubt the logging activity drove him out towards human habitations. After some photography and a short video, for which it put on a nice show, I released him in a forested area not too far from where he was originally picked up.
Hi, I’m conservation photographer and nature writer William Wise. Nature journaling and wildlife photography has been a favorite pastime since the ‘90s. I graduated from University of Georgia Warnell Forestry School's wildlife program in 1996. I'm currently an animal shelter manager/photographer and reside in Athens, Georgia, USA with my wife and two teenage daughters. My website www.williamwisephoto.com is a wildlife and birding photo website documenting the beauty, design and wonder of creation. I have a deep love of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. I became a devoted Christian in 1993 under a campus ministry while studying wildlife biology. My love of the outdoors quickly turned into a love for the Creator and His works. Creation Speaks is my teaching ministry that glorifies our Creator and teaches the truth of creation. I am also a guest author at Lee's Birdwatching Adventures and The Creation Club. The theme of my blogging comes from The Message version of Psalms 104 -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, You made earth overflow with your wonderful creations."
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2 thoughts on “Outside the Okefenokee: Timber Rattler”
Will, loved this post and video! When I posted what I thought was a humorous poem and a photo of a snake, I got only one comment, and that comment was that they were now even more afraid of snakes!
Will, loved this post and video! When I posted what I thought was a humorous poem and a photo of a snake, I got only one comment, and that comment was that they were now even more afraid of snakes!
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Nice William! I like seeing images of snakes, but do not usually like coming upon one when out photographing.😊
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