By Susanna Avery Reporter
News Three On Your Side
The trails are starting to become the beaten path, again. But while you live it up in the woods, remember others do too. “With 10,000 acres pretty much anything can live there,” said Sam McDuffie, an interpretive ranger at the FDR State Park at Pine Mountain. He shed some light on the trail conditions this season. “Dogs get bitten by snakes very often. Chances are it's a dry bite which means no venom is injected,” said McDuffie. News Three On Your Side
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Stumble It!He said despite popular belief, only 12 people in the nation die a year from snake bites. The venomous snakes found in our area are copperheads and rattlesnakes. “Usually you'll find them under wood or rocks. Spiders are one of the things you really have to look out for camping or hiking, because they can be found in trees and the ground,” said McDuffie.
The spiders that are usually on the trails in our area are black widows and wolf spiders.
McDuffie says coyotes are the biggest predator in the park. “Just throw a stick at it or walk away. They won't come attack you,” he said.
Another much smaller creature to look for is the deer tick. “This summer I could have 10 ticks on me in one day. Now, maybe one on me a month,” said McDuffie. He said ticks can get on you when you brush up on trees or walk underneath limbs. “Be sure to always wear a hat for ticks.”
Despite all of the many different creatures that are out there on the trails, McDuffie says hikers stand a small chance of encounters with snakes, spiders and coyotes if they stay on the trail.
McDuffie said the safest way to avoid spider bites is to prepare your campfire in daylight, so you can see the spiders. He says they borough under logs and rocks.
Second, if you see a snake, just walk away.
Finally, wear bright clothing while it's hunting season. Hunting is not allowed on state park property. However, McDuffie says they can't monitor all 10 thousand acres.
