The Madison Area Herpetelogical Society (MAHS) is a non-profit organization that specializes in the education of reptiles and amphibians. MAHS's goal is to help educate the general public about frequently misunderstood reptiles and amphibians which we are strongly passionate about. Each MAHS cache series will give information about a select species of reptile or amphibian mainly native to WI but some will be other species located around the world. For more info please go to www.madisonherps.org
Crotalus Horridus, better known as the timber rattlesnake is a protected species here in WI. These beautiful snakes are venomous but would rather flee than strike if threatened. I recently had the opportunity to photograph 7 of these rare WI snakes in the wild and none of them seemed interested in trying to bite me at all. The first one we found which was around 4ft long just warned us she was there as she slide back into her hole. Whats awesome about the timber rattlesnakes that are found in WI compared to the ones in other states is that these snakes are very brightly colored where as the southern states they are darker. Also being that they are protected in WI it is illegal to capture them and even touch them. That is if you can even find them.
The timbers in WI are very rare and to find them you have to go to high bluffs in specific areas where there is pretty much zero human activity. So do not worry about running into one while out here hiking. Timber rattlesnakes are pit vipers that use special heat pits located on their face that help them find food and are 1 or 32 species of rattlesnake found in the united states. Its rattle which it uses to warm predators and is a series of hollow interlocking segments that is made up of keratin. It gains a new segment every time it sheds its skin so the idea of being able to tell the snakes age by the number of segments is a complete myth. Another cool thing about rattlesnakes that sets them apart from most snakes is that they are ovoviviparous which means they carry their eggs inside them until the babies hatch and then give a live birth. Other WI snakes such as the common garter snake and Dekays brown snake are also ovoviviparous.
Note that a valid Wisconsin State Park sticker is required for either parking location.The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to and approved by Devil's Lake State Park. Wisconsin DNR. All Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager information can be obtained at: http://www.wi-geocaching.com/hiding