I was backpacking on Saturday and saw a snake stretched across the trail. I believe it was a copperhead, based on the coloring and pattern. I watched from a safe distance as it slowly slithered off the trail and into the forest. I then continued walking.
Edit: I’ve been informed it was a milksnake, not a copperhead. Dull wildlife encounter achieved.
I had to kill a black snake last weekend, and I still feel bad about it. Usually I leave them be and let them eat the mice and moles but this one was massive and unusually aggressive. It tried to strike at my dog and still don’t know how she didn’t get bitten, but the thing decided to chase her which is what sealed its fate.
I’ve never seen a black snake do that, so I guess it had a nest nearby or something and the dog was sniffing a little to close to it.
Dang, that’s a bummer, but I totally get making sure your dog was safe! Where I was hiking is in the territory for timber rattlesnakes and copperheads, so I was doing my best to be vigilant while huffing and puffing along the trail. I thankfully saw this one well ahead of stepping on it and getting bitten. That certainly would have put a damper on the fun