On Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:54:34 -0500, Boater wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:47:37 -0500, Jim wrote:


Looks like a great place to catch rattlers and cotton mouths. They like
slow moving water. And with all that underbrush you might find corals
too.

Rattlesnakes, maybe, but cottonmouths and corals range generally south of
the Shenandoah.


FloridaJim is geographically challenged.

Rattlesnakes can be found throughout the mid-Atlantic states, along with
copperheads. There are at least a dozen varieties of snake in this part
of the country, maybe more, but not many poisonous ones. I've never seen
a rattler out by the Shenandoah, but that doesn't mean they aren't
there. I have seen a few copperheads. I've seen big corn snakes on my
property right here, and we have an old ravine I do not walk in without
wearing tall boots.

The big threat out there is, incredibly, feral dogs. There are packs of
dogs around, wild ones, and they attack people. Which is why it is a
good idea if you are hiking to carry a sidearm. The other threats to
people come from bears. There's a bear cave on the property out there.
There also have been sightings of cougars, supposedly.

Mostly, though, if you are careful and quiet, you will see foxes,
possums, raccoons, squirrels, frogs, and, of course, all manner of
birds, including some gorgeous hawks and eagles.

Did you ever run across the Krausii Liesallthetime Marylandus? They tend to
hide in bushes, or so I've been told.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

"It's not a *baby* kicking, beautiful bride, it's just a fetus!"