Glad I didn't trip over that guy during my visits. I agree, we need
rain desperately, or we'll continue to see them. At Penns, don't
always assume that the large, black snake in the grass is a black
snake. I came across a black phase rattler near the Clay Bank one
morning during a very dry year. Made the mistake of walking up on it
to inspect the "black snake".

Regarding rattlesnakes, and their bites, do chest waders provide any
protection against their bites? Waders come in varying thicknesses,
and mine are multi-layer, so I would imagine that the ability for a
rattler to penetrate will depend on the type of wader.

Any thoughts?