Hiking Central Pa. trails? Here’s how to stay safe from snakes, bears and more

• By Rebecca Logan/For LNP and LancasterOnline

A young copperhead settled into a sunny spot smack dab in the middle of the main hiking trail in Ferncliff Wildlife and Wildflower Preserve in Drumore.

The snake was in no apparent hurry to move as two hikers approached on a Sunday afternoon earlier this month. With its hourglass bands blending into leaf litter, the venomous pit viper came within about two inches of being stepped on. But it stayed put for roughly five more minutes on a stretch of trail that had just been passed by a mom with young creek-stomping kids, a couple walking dogs and several towel-toting teenagers headed toward the Susquehanna River.

Eventually the snake slithered into some weeds. Potential medical emergency averted.

“Honestly, snake bites are relatively rare. You may get one or two (per year) county-wide,” says Justin Parrish, a captain with Lancaster EMS. “Matter of fact, I’ve been a paramedic for 30 years and I’ve never treated a patient with a snake bite. That’s how rare they are. They do happen. But not often.”

It’s something to think about as folks stretch their legs on more than 60 miles of trails in The Lancaster Conservancy’s portfolio, 29 miles of Enola Low Grade Trail, and other walking and riding opportunities such as those spread throughout county or municipal parks.

“There aren’t really many dangers that we might encounter there that we wouldn’t encounter in the suburbs or other areas of the county,” says Keith Williams, vice president of engagement and education for Lancaster Conservancy.

The difference is that responses become more complicated when something happens in a spot far removed from immediate help, he says. So, it’s good practice to mentally prepare, he says. On that note, we asked some experts for advice on various “what if…” scenarios.

What if I’m bitten by a copperhead?

“The biggest thing is to remain calm,” Parrish says. “I know that’s a lot to say in that instance, especially if you’re scared.”

Remove any restrictive clothing and don’t try to cut off circulation with a tourniquet, he says.

“A lot of people had this old adage that you should do that to try to stop the spread of the poison,” he says. “But don’t. Don’t apply tourniquets and don’t try to suck out the venom.”

Circle the red, sore area with a marker, he says.

“That will give the emergency department an idea of how fast the damage is progressing,” he says. “Go to the emergency department or call 911.”

Getting bitten by a copperhead while hiking is unlikely, Williams says.

“Their superpower is camouflage,” Williams says. “So even if you would have stepped on it, chances are it wouldn’t have bit you.”

Williams says he has friends in a group in Maryland who studied responses of about 75 copperheads in the wild being “stepped on” by a boot on a stick. Of those, 73 did not strike, Williams says.

He says snake bites tend to happen on hands. Sometimes folks are climbing rocky outcroppings and accidentally reach up and touch a snake. Other times they are intentionally making a bad choice, he says.

“If you go and grab a wild animal, it’s going to grab you back,” he says.

What if I have an emergency and can’t get a cell signal?

“Especially in the southern part of the county, it’s really kind of spotty cell service,” Parrish says. “Or if you get up into the hills or down along the river.”

Sometimes you may have to move to get help.

“Start working your way out,” he says. “Have somebody work their way to get cell service to call 911.”

Check to see if your cell phone has an emergency satellite service and know how to use that, Williams says. Companies such as Garmin make satellite communication devices with hikers in mind.

Many backpack manufacturers include whistles built into backpacks, says Morgan Larrick, senior gear specialist for Enwild, a Manheim-based, online-only outdoor supply company. But if you aren’t carrying one of those backpacks, consider a stand-alone whistle, he says.

What if I brush some stinging nettle or wood nettle?

If you’ve lived in Lancaster County awhile, you may have heard someone call it burn hazel.

“This plant will make you sting, burn and itch immediately,” says Lisa Sanchez, senior naturalist with the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The sting can last 10 minutes or several hours.

“The juice in the stem of jewelweed can be used to alleviate the sting,” Sanchez said in an email. Fortunately, jewelweed tends to grow near the nettles, she adds.

Other things not to touch because they can cause a stinging sensation or a rash? Venomous and poisonous caterpillars. Sanchez says in Lancaster County those include the saddleback, tussock moths, puss and slug caterpillars.

What if I’m caught in a thunderstorm?

Seek enclosed shelter, advises the website for the American Hiking Society. Tents don’t count. If shelter is not available, head for a valley or a depression in the terrain, states the site.

Avoid isolated trees or other tall objects. If you have anything metal (including a bag or backpack with metal lining) put that at least 100 feet from you.

If you’re in a group, spread out and shelter at least 100 feet from each other, states the site. That’s because current could travel if someone were to be hit. An extreme example: more than 300 reindeer were killed by a single lightning strike in Norway in 2016. The animals were huddled together.

“Crouch on the ground with your weight on the balls of your feet, your feet together, your head lowered and ears covered,” states the website. “Never lie flat on the ground.”

What if I’m biking and get a flat?

Hopefully you’ve brought along a temporary tire fix kit, says Josh Kreiser, service manager at Lititz Bikeworks. Oftentimes those will keep you rolling until you’re off the trail.

“Especially with the e-bikes,” Kreiser says. “We sell a lot of them and they’re going to be heavy if you have to push them out.”

What if I need first aid?

Again, here’s why you need to bring a kit.

“They sell pre-made ones,” says Enwild’s Larrick. “But, honestly, I suggest putting one together yourself. That way you can have quality control.”

Here’s what the American Hiking Society suggests for a first aid kit: prescription medications in a labeled bag; sealed single-use packs of ibuprofen, Imodium and an antihistamine; moleskin and athletic tape; various sizes of adhesive bandages; a small roll of sterile gauze; a CPR mask; latex or nitrile gloves; alcohol-based sanitizing gel; a pair of tweezers; a CPR/first aid card; a small knife or scissors; antiseptic ointment; hydrocortisone cream for insect bites and poisonous plants; liquid bandages; and safety pins.

What if I start suffering from heat exhaustion?

That’s one of the most common calls EMS gets on the trails, Parrish says. Look for water and start cooling your skin with a wet cloth, he says. Bringing water on hikes is essential, he says. So, Williams says, are salty snacks, which he said can be needed to replenish electrolytes.

What if I see a bear?

Make sure it knows you’re there, says Travis Lau, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

“Bears don’t like to be taken by surprise,” he says. “So, whatever you do to alert the bear to your presence, do it as calmly as possible.”

Don’t climb a tree.

“Often times a female, if she senses danger, will make her cubs climb a tree,” Lau says. By the time you see mom, they may already be up there.

Black bears do move through Lancaster County, often in early summer, as they spread out across the state in search of new habitats. In late May of this year, bear sightings (perhaps of the same bear) ranged from Drumore to near the Amtrak station in Manheim Township.

When bears are in backyards looking for food, they’re often easy to spot. But if a bear in the woods detects a human, chances are it will move away before a person ever sees it, Lau says.

Back away from a black bear and don’t run, Lau says. If the bear approaches, stand your ground and shout, he says, adding that the less a bear seems deterred by shouting, the more aggressive of a response is called for.

He recommends reading more tips at bearwise.org. Those include responding to a bear that is coming toward you by making yourself look larger by holding up your jacket or standing on a rock or stump. Shout, clap and bang a stick. Don’t back away from a bear that is following you until it stops its approach, suggests bearwise.org. Should one attack, fight back with anything at hand like binoculars, rocks and kick, advises that site, which stresses that people should not play dead.

What if there’s a human with ill intent?

Trust your instincts, says Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. Logan Brouse.

“If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, leave the area,” Brouse said in an email.

Not all encounters with humans on the trail are good ones. PSP Tips Facebook page posted on July 15 that state police are trying to identify a man suspected in several indecent exposure incidents on the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail in Providence Township, just outside Quarryville. They shared a picture of a shirtless man who appears to have a back tattoo and was wearing pink bandana or hat.

Don’t engage with any suspicious or threatening individuals but get away quickly, taking note of any details you can remember and contact authorities immediately, Brouse says. Avoid wearing headphones because those can limit your awareness, and make sure your phone is charged and easily accessible, he says.

“Consider carrying a whistle, personal alarm or similar noise-making device,” Brouse says.

Travel with a partner when possible and tell someone your route and expected return time, he says, adding there are apps that can share your location in real time.

“Preparedness and vigilance are essential for staying safe on the trails,” he says.

Snakes you might see

Three types of venomous snakes are found in the wild in Pennsylvania.

The Eastern copperhead’s territory includes all Pennsylvania counties except a few touching the New York border, according to a Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission pamphlet.

The Timber rattlesnake’s territory includes most of the middle of the state and barely bumps into Lancaster County on its northwestern edge, per the pamphlet.

And the Eastern Massasauga lives in a condensed territory in a few northwest Pennsylvania counties.

Massasaugas thrive in that area’s wetlands as they like to borrow crayfish burrows, says Tyler Knierim, an associate biologist with Western EcoSystems Technology in Harrisburg, who has gone there to study them. Copperheads aren’t common in all parts of Lancaster County, he says.

“They’re pretty tied to specific areas and specific habitats,” Knierim says, adding those are often rocky areas near the Susquehanna River.

Knierim was on the Enola Low Grade Trail last year when he snapped a picture of a copperhead at the base of a rock face. He recorded it as part of The Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey, a state-sponsored project launched in 2013.

His is among 27 Lancaster County copperhead sightings recorded on that survey. The three most commonly snakes sighted were the eastern rat snake with 139 survey sightings, the northern water snake with 145 and the eastern garter snake with 221.

The website paherpsurvey.org offers photos of each variety. That’s helpful because, as Knierim points out, many people do mistake some nonvenomous snakes for copperheads.

He looked at photo of one hanging out mid-trail Ferncliff Wildlife and Wildflower Preserve in Drumore and confirmed it was copperhead. The bright yellow tale indicated it was a juvenile. Knierim suggests proper footwear.

“Hiking boots are not 100-percent foolproof,” he says. “But it will sure decrease your chances of fangs penetrating if you do get bit.”