Hiker encounters two rattlesnakes on trail near her feet

Rattlesnakes are pit vipers and are venomous snakes. The sight of a rattlesnake in the wild is enough to cause terror for many people, but the truth is that they are almost completely harmless, only posing a threat to humans in extreme cases of self defense. They are timid and reclusive and they avoid contact with humans whenever possible. This hiker came across two massasauga rattlesnakes while on a hike in a remote area near Parry Sound, Ontario. The trail is little more than a deer and moose track that goes from one remote lake to another through dense forest. It was the telltale buzzing sound of the snake's rattle, along with a slight rustle of leaves that gave them away. Kristy wisely stood still and listened until she could determine where the snake was before taking another step.