Re: Beware where you step!!
 

I used to mountain bike & teach classes up RINGWOOD for a long time until I blew out my discs & ended my riding/teaching days. There so many rattlers there along with bears it would freak you out if you knew.

Best to make your presence known & avoid the rocks as much as possible.
Rattlers will find a warm rock after a large meal to help speed up the digestion. That is their most vulnerable time so they can be extra pissy & will strike without rattling.

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

"Respect Mother Nature and all it's creatures"...a mantra to live by.

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

There are plenty of rattlers in Ringwood SP and Ramapo Mtn SF. I've encountered probably a dozen or so over the past 10 years while hiking and doing trail work up there. Before that I saw maybe 1 in the previous 10 years, so they are making a comeback. In fact I read a few years ago about some residents in Ringwood having an issue with them coming into their yards. The town was distributing literature on how to make your yard less attractive to them.

I know they are still considered endangered in NJ , but with the numbers I've seen in recent years and the numerous encounters I've heard of, I wonder if they really still are.

I haven't seen copperheads in Ramapo/Ringwood, but have seen them at Wildcat Ridge and around Split Rock.

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

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Try BEARSWAMP for the copperheads, but watch for the really dangerous wildlife around there...the JW's!

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

So are Cormorants. :eek:

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

I live in Ringwood. Bears are no longer a surprise to me. And if I find a timber eagled in my yard I can't touch it because they are protected.

Love living up here!!

Ps. Eddie. My son just made eagle. Very proud

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

I take great offense to your comment I married a JW and lived on stag hill for years those JWs would give you the shirt off there back live and let live !!!! PS she gave me to beautiful daughters one of then is in the Air Force and the other is doing very well not bad for a guy who grew up in Ridgewood NJ

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

Congrats to you and your son Steve! It really is a great accomplishment that only a handful of young men achieve. Many life lessons learned because of the Scouts!

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

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Did not intend to offend you & I sincerely apologize since that is obviously the case. I had a bad encounter up there & I was basically roughed up, my fish/pole & tackle taken when I was a kid up there. We had ridden our bikes up for a day of fishing & got more than we asked for.

Now that live up in the area & I have met many really good folk who are JW. Sorry about that insensitive comment.

Re: Beware where you step!!
 

North Jersey doesn't have a monopoly on timber rattlers. I took our scout troop canoeing on the Wading river in Burlington county. We camped at Bodine field. I made mention to the rangers that we encountered the most deer tick infested area I have ever seen. You couldn't remain still on a lawn chair for more than 2 minutes before they (multiple) were walking up your legs. Even being aware of them, 2 leaders and 2 scouts contracted Lyme because they were practically microscopic. The Ranger told me we were fortunate they weren't rattlers, as all the neighbors surrounding the field had them loungeing all over their yards. The ticks should feed on the snakes and everyone would be happy.:)