The decedent was from my area in Western Pennsylvania. The fatal encounter occurred in North-Central Pennsylvania at a private camp. In that area, there is no hospital readily accessible. The time required to transport the victim to a hospital contributed to the tragic outcome. Until then, it had been fourteen years since such a death occurred in Pennsylvania.

In Massachusetts. I’d always heard we had rattlesnakes in the area but never saw any growing up. Saw plenty when I lived in CO for a while. Now back in Mass, and this is the second story about nearby rattlesnakes I’ve heard this week! 😳 The other being on a trail outside Boston. 😳 I mean, in the Berkshires, okay, but as far east as BOSTON?! They must be expanding their range as well as population.

There were two bites, two years ago. Copperheads. The victims went off trail to relieve themselves. The last rattlesnake bite was about 20 years ago, at the Delaware Water Gap. The victim was hiking with his kid. He saw a rattler on a rock and wanted a photo. But the fukkin snake wasn't facing the Sun like it should have been. "So I reached down to "adjust" the snake."

For his effort, he spent two weeks in hospital and got a $2k fine for pestering an endangered species.



But it gets more interesting. Along the Appalachian Trail, the part where it goes through New Jersey, is a section where the trail goes into Sunrise Mountain. At the top of the hill (N.J. doesn't not have any real mountains, 2,000 ft + elevation), is a shelter that was probably built by the Civilian Conservation Corp. Two feet to the east of the shelter, goes the Appalachian Trail. I would guess that about 10,000 people walk on that part of the trail every year.

Anyways, 5 more feet to the east, is a Timber Rattlesnake nest. I have photos of two of the largest Timbers you might never want to encounter. The think is, they are not aggressive. You need to make an effort in order to get bitten.