Dog Bitten by Timber Rattlesnake Near Lake George

On Sunday, May 26th, a 15 -pound dog was bitten by a rattlesnake on the Fifth Peak Trail at Lake George‘s Tongue Mountain Range near Hague, according to an account by the dog’s owner posted to Reddit.  “As rare as it occurs in the area, I feel it’s important to share our story and what we learned to potentially save a dog’s life,” the anonymous author wrote.

“On the way down, approximately 2 miles from the parking lot, we encountered a rather big snake blocking the trail,” the dog owner explained.  “It was black with a blue and orange rattling tail, 2-3 times bigger than our pup. My dog launched at the snake despite my commands and got bit. Our dog was off-leash, which was mistake #1. We picked him up and ran, fueled by adrenaline and fear. In 30-45 minutes, we made it down the mountain; our pup was visibly in pain.”

Eastern timber rattlesnakes are common on the Tongue Range, and present in isolated areas around the region in smaller numbers, including the east shore of the lake and as far north as the Split Rock Forest on Lake Champlain, believed to be their northernmost enclave. They can also be found in other Hudson Valley locations to the south.

In the Tongue Range they typically sick to the steep cliffs and rocky outcroppings that descend to the shore of Lake George, but have been seen frequently on the trails and even swimming in the lake nearby.

Historically, rattlers were hunted there for bounties paid by New York State, but today they are protected by state law. They typically grow to four or five feet in length, sometimes longer, but generally do not pose a hazard to hikers unless harassed, which is against the law. Signs at the beginning of the trails in the Range warn of their presence and advise hikers to remain aware to avoid them.

The owner of the dog which was bitten attempted to call an emergency vet and spent a couple hours looking for one which had a supply of antivenom, eventually locating a supply in South Glens Falls. The dog is in ongoing treatment, which will run into the thousands of dollars, but is expected to survive its owner said.

Hikers can avoid the threat posed by rattlesnakes by looking ahead on the trail, remaining aware of their surroundings, and keeping pets leashed at all times. Rattlesnakes are most active in the morning and evening hours in May and June.

In the case of a similar emergency call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264).

You can read the full story from the dog’s owner here.

Photo: NYS Environmental Conservation Officer George LaPoint with a timber rattlesnake captured at a vacation home in Hague in 2020.