Rattlesnake Roundup! Sinnemahoning Snake Hunt

Timber Rattlesnake

Dark-phased Timber Rattlesnake (photo from Wikimedia Commons) The Sinnemahoning Sportsmen’s Association Snake Hunt recently held their 49th annual event, and it was attended by hundreds of participants and curious onlookers like me. It is one of several rattlesnake roundups held in north central PA every year. Participants first need to have a venomous snake-hunting permit acquired […]

Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Black-tailed Rattlesnake

According to an article on Black-tailed Rattlesnakes, this venomous snake packs a punch and “is capable of delivering large amounts of potent venom.  If encountered, it should be left alone.  A large percentage of envenomations occur when a snake is handled or abused.” While on a birding trip to Cave Creek Canyon in Arizona last […]

Mink at Lake Chillisquaque

Last week while hoping for shorebirds at Montour Preserve, and watching for anything that moves from the kayak, I spotted this long, thin, chocolate-brown creature.  I’ve seen them on the other side of the preserve before where very few people walk the trails, but never out in the open with people walking the path 5 […]

Coyote Pups

Across the field from where I was birding with friends was an animal that we thought was a deer at first.  Putting bins on it, we realized we were seeing an adult coyote running along the woods with a young pup running behind.  I know that the farmers in our area would not be happy […]