Mile 3.9 (Mile 12.6) Railroad marker L 119 is here. This one signifies that we are 119 miles from Lyons, NY, headquarters of the Old New York Central Railroad. These old stone markers are accurate. There are fewer on the upper end of the trail than on the southern end. They should be found on every mile of the railbed.
In this area of the Gorge, river otter were released in the early 1980’s, as part of a project to reintroduce these native mammals into their original habitat. River otters once flourished in the state, but by the middle of the 20th century had practically vanished. In 1952, the state designated them as a protected species.
(Photo of otter from Wiki Commons)
Between 1980 and 1983, the Pennsylvania River Otter Reintroduction Project released 21 otters along Pine Creek. Reproduction has been successful. Mile 4.4 (Mile 13.1) Just south of…show more content… Eagles occasionally fly up and down the stream here. Deer may browse close to the trail or in the creek. Birds can be seen and heard. Hawks fly overhead or sit on tree branches.
And sometimes Rattlesnakes lay close to the trail or even across the trail.
Rattlesnakes cause terror in hikers and bikers’ minds, but there really is little to fear, as long as caution is heeded. They are most often seen sunning themselves in a warm, sunny area. This might be anyplace the sun is shining near the trail.
Rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive and they avoid humans. Given room, if you see one, the snake will either remain motionless or retreat.
Please, for your own safety, do not approach a rattlesnake. Given the isolated nature of the Rail-Trail, emergency help is not readily available, so caution is advised.
Rattlesnakes come in two phase coloring. A black phase rattlesnake is mottled black; a yellow phase rattlesnake is mottled yellow.
Rattlesnakes “rattle” the modified scales on the end of their tail to make the tell-tale warning sound they are known
