Bald eagles generally eat fish, as far as I know. But this story is not about a bald eagle that caught a rattlesnake.
R and I went for an offroad drive today down 2N06 and up 1N04. While traveling along 1N04, which parallels the Santa Ana River, we stopped at a wide spot in the road so R could take Sirius for a walk. As I was getting out of the truck, I noticed something in a dead tree that looked a lot like a bald eagle. Now I see things that looks like bald eagles all the time because my brain likes to mess with me like that. But I wouldn't think this is the place to see a bald eagle - I always thought they hung out near lakes. I had my camera in my hand so I pointed it toward the tree and zoomed in! Just before I took the first picture, the eagle moved it's head. That convinced me it WAS a bald eagle!
After shooting a few more pictures, the eagle flew away. At this time, R let me know she was heading out for a walk with Sirius. I kept watching the eagle fly away, hoping for a picture of it in flight, but after watching it for about a minute, I never got the chance to get a picture - too many tree branches in the way. About this time, I heard R's voice which I found strange because last I knew, she was going for a walk. I ran over toward where she went because even though I didn't understand what she had said, I knew something wasn't right. Just as I saw her, I heard her say "SNAKE!" She pointed ahead to a spot on the road where there was a dark colored snake about 3 feet long slowly moving across the road. As I got closer, I could clearly see rattles on it's back end. It continued to move off the road and up a small bank, never stopping or turning toward us. It was at this time that I was very grateful for the 30x optical zoom that my camera has! I shot a few pictures of the snake, R went for her walk and I went back to the truck feeling quite overwhelmed by the sudden abundance of wildlife in practically the same spot.
Registered Member #1154 Joined: Wed Oct 24 2007, 10:30AM : Posts: 4809
Wow! But I thought you were gonna tell me the eagle got the snake for dinner! Great pictures. I once got swooped by an eagle when I was hiking up Sugarloaf from Greenspot...also have seem them perched in snags over on Gold Mountain. Cammy, you have such great talent with the camera!
He didn't mention it, but I saw ANOTHER snake a few minutes later! It was just a garter snake, and quite a bit smaller than the rattler, but still...I walk ON THE ROADS, instead of in the forest to avoid the snakes! sheesh! What doesn't kill me does NOT make me stronger. It makes me anxious, bitchy, and vulnerable...but nobody wants to see that embroidered on a pillow...Lisa Kogan...thx LXL...sorry i stole it from you! Ok, maybe I'm not sorry :-P
Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow...Larry the Cable Guy
The only correlation between the snake and the eagle is that we saw them from pretty much the same spot on the road. Craig - not 50 feet... oddly, the other times I've seen rattlesnakes, I've gotten scared of being close to them - my skin starts to crawl, etc. but this one didn't scare me. I was probably 10 feet away from it's rattles and it was slowly slithering away from me. I wouldn't have been that close if it was coming toward me or moving faster. It didn't seem concerned that we were there at all - it never even rattled for us! Just slowly moved away, taking it's sweet time.
For the second time in just over a week, we saw a Bald Eagle! This one was circling over Fawnskin yesterday.
So cool, he made a few passes over our house too, but the Ravens were with him and after they took off a hawk flew over us!! What a busy day. I love living up here! I don’t need your attitude thanks, I have one of my own!
Was the road sunny? I have seen many rattlesnakes as well as Corn, gopher and garter snakes stretched out sunning themselves on dirt trails and roads. BTW great pictures Cammy
We must have driven by just before Marty, as we passed 3 responding fire vehicles once we passed the scene.
I was paying close attention to the folks directing traffic so I didn't get a good look at precisely where we were (or the vehicles involved), but if it's the one I'm thinking of that corner is reverse banked with a fairly straight stretch leading into it (downbound); easy to come into it a little too fast (have seen lots of cars do it) and there aren't any of the arrows marking the corner ahead.
He said it was an older dark grey car against the tree and a white compact was the second vehicle but I do see that the CHP log makes no mention of a second car.
One car, off the side, looked like it might have rolled first. Two or three other cars on scene; no obvious damage so I'm not sure if they were involved. Also one 18 wheeler with a truck on it's bed also pulled over. Pedestrians out directing traffic around the wreck. I was surprised to see units from Big Bear responding. That's a long time to be trapped!
My husband just called on his way down 38. The downward traffic has been released. Most of the victims have been cleared. One car still wedged up against a tree and they are working to get someone out of that car. It was a two car head on TC.
Passed that accident 1/2 hour ago on my way up. They seemed to be working to excavate the occupant(s). Road was not closed at that time. Only half the down bound lane was blocked. Saw two units from BBC fire responding. I don't understand these types of accidents!
The Bald Eagle & The Rattlesnake (Photos)
She pointed ahead to a spot on the road where there was a dark colored snake about 3 feet long slowly moving across the road. As I got closer, I could clearly see rattles on it's back end. It continued to move off the road and up a small bank, never stopping or turning toward us. It was at this time that I was very grateful for the 30x optical zoom that my camera has! 
Just slowly moved away, taking it's sweet time.
