|
Contact John Loeschhorn |
|
Mojave Green RattlesnakeIs a very dangerous and aggressive rattlesnake, I have seen several of them while training east of Sacramento, but as I mentioned above, I have only seen two in more than 20 years of running trails in this county. Greens can mature to be 4-1/2 feet in length. They are very similar in appearance to the Red Diamondback, but their skin is greenish-colored, rather than reddish, and they have narrow tail bands, instead of wide ones. Their venom is said to be 44 times more toxic than that of the Diamondback, this combined with an evil temper makes Greens dangerous snakes to fool with. Possibly due to its aggressive nature, it rattles loudly even before you have gotten within a few feet of it. This early warning gives intelligent runners ample opportunity to keep their distance.However, as I have learned, you can't always count on a timely warning. If you are running, it is possible to run up on a rattlesnake before it knows you are coming. This could have disastrous consequences. Back in 1986 I was training for the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run with three more experienced trail runners. Since I had never run the race before, they were going to show me where the Last Chance Aid Station would be on race day. As we entered a large open area with a thin covering of fresh, spring grass and an assortment of leaves, we all came to a screeching halt at the shrill sound of a snake's rattle. Although the grass was sparse, there was enough to blend with his green color and he was further concealed by the shade of the towering redwoods around us. Fortunately for us, as he coiled, he withdrew slightly and we were all able to stop outside of his striking distance. Had he not rattled, when he did, I am sure at least one of us would have been bitten. Since we were 12 very rugged miles from civilization, this could have been a serious emergency. |
Copyright © 2001 by John Loeschhorn - Mail to:mtnrnr@pacbell.net June 23, 2001 |