The Chesapeake Bay is surrounded by a landscape that changes considerably as you move inland. Marshes, forests, farms, rivers, and rocky uplands all occur within the watershed, with the Appalachian terrain becoming more prominent toward its western edge. Those mountains and ridges create some of the most suitable rattlesnake habitat in the region. Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) are large venomous snakes that spend much of their time in wooded areas but rely on rocky outcrops, slopes, cliffs, and sunny openings for shelter, basking, and overwintering. They also frequently inhabit stream banks, river corridors, and the land where forest meets water. The Chesapeake Bay Program identifies the Appalachian Mountain region as the primary part of the watershed where timber rattlesnakes occur, while the U.S. Forest Service lists outcrops, rockslides, riverbanks, creeks, and floodplains among the species' preferred habitat. Together, that makes areas with rugged terrain and exposed rock or waterways particularly intriguing for these snakes. These five areas have proven themselves to be hot spots for timber rattlesnake sightings, habitats, and den sites. Green Ridge State Forest, Maryland Green Ridge State Forest covers 49,000 acres in the Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian Mountains, and its forests reach between the...