Timber rattlesnake in North Carolina wanted to go for a swim in the ocean, so it did.
It is definitely an interesting take on nature, and on rattlesnakes. Facebook user Sam Corlis was out for a walk on the northern tip of Ocracoke Island in North Carolina when she happened on what appears to be a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) crawling on the sand. Normal enough right? It is what the snake did next that was interesting. The venomous reptile crawled with purpose into the surf and started swimming, away from land.
“He seemed perfectly at ease and purposeful in the salty waves,” Corlis told the News & Observer. “He knew where he was headed.”
Corlis was out collecting shells, picking up trash and taking photos when she happened upon the reptile.
“I have seen several variety of snakes on the island and in its backwaters but this was a complete surprise to me,” Corlis said.
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The video, all of two minutes in length shows the snake crawl from the wet sand into the water. It then starts swimming, its head held high above the water line. Obviously it wanted to go swimming and had somewhere to head to. And the ocean wasn't going to stop it.
One of the larger rattlesnakes, the timber rattler can grow to more than five feet with the largest recorded at a few inches beyond 6 feet. Large specimens can weigh nearly 10 lbs. Typical adults will be near 40 inches. The timber rattlesnake is considered by some to one of the most dangerous snakes in North America due to its long fangs and high venom yield. Yet the snake has a fairly mild temper compared to other rattlesnakes.
