The only species left in Connecticut is the state-endangered timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), which is said to have formerly been common throughout the state and hence the name of Rattlesnake Mountain, a 750-foot mountain close to Hartford, the state capital.
Currently, the timber rattlesnake is found in roughly ten towns in the central and western regions of the state, but its population is dispersed over the entire state.
Outdoor enthusiasts should exercise caution when visiting any of Connecticut’s five most rattlesnake-infested regions, even if their numbers have decreased as a result of human activity, habitat degradation, and deliberate slaughter.
Meshomasic State Forest
The 9,000-acre Meshomasic State Forest in central Connecticut, which includes the towns of Portland, East Hampton, Marlborough, and Glastonbury, is the country’s second state forest and the first in New England and Connecticut.
Wildlife, notably the endangered timber rattlesnake, thrives in Meshomasic’s rugged terrain and thick forests.
The state’s greatest population of timber rattlesnakes is found in the Meshomasic State Forest.
These venomous reptiles like rough terrain with steep ledges, rock slides, and a nearby water source.
Glastonbury
The oldest ferry in the United States, which connects South Glastonbury and Rocky Hill, is located in the town of Glastonbury, which is situated along the Connecticut River in Central Connecticut.
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Additionally, the town issued a warning regarding the existence of timber rattlesnakes in steep, rocky regions with fallen trees, log piles, and rock beds after multiple household pets were bitten by them in 2023.
A 5-foot timber rattlesnake bit two dogs in 2022 as they played in their backyard in Glastonbury, just minutes apart. After capturing and examining the endangered rattlesnake, the authorities put it back in its den.
Litchfield County
The Litchfield Hills, located on the Naugatuck River in the northwest region of the state, are home to timber rattlesnakes.
In the summer of 2024, a man stopped to remove a pit viper from the road so it wouldn’t be run over and was bitten on the hand by a timber rattlesnake in historic Torrington, Litchfield County, which is home to Burr Pond State Park and Paugnut State Forest.
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Because the local hospital’s doctors lacked competence in treating rattlesnake bites, the guy was later transported to Hartford for antivenom treatment.
The man’s symptoms, which included cardiac arrest, edema, and trouble breathing, appeared quickly. Although human rattlesnake bites are rare, some pets have also been bitten in the region.
East Hampton
In July 2023, during the peak of the timber rattlesnake population in the state’s Meshomasic State Forest, a dog was bitten by a rattler in the town of East Hampton.
Fortunately, the owner identified the animal as a timber rattlesnake, and the dog received prompt antivenom treatment at a nearby veterinary facility.
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When trekking on a route, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts should keep their four-legged companions on a leash to prevent running into a timber rattlesnake, which will only attack when it feels threatened.
Mount Algo
One prominent peak in Kent, Connecticut, is Mount Algo. It is a 52-mile section of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in the northwest of the state.
This section of the trail, which veers around the Housatonic River, is renowned for its verdant woodlands and serene riverbanks.
Timber rattlesnakes have been spotted on the trail by hikers over the years. Timber rattlesnakes are characterized by their black or brown crossbands on a yellow, brown, or gray background, and they typically reach a length of 40 inches in Connecticut.
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