Snakes in our yards

[Jim Smith]

When I was a kid, I used to go "field herping" several times a week every summer. I called it snake hunting That was over 50 years ago and I don't generally go out hunting snakes anymore, mainly because of time constraints and because here in Georgia, you'll get ticks and chiggers just about every time you go in the woods. I've already gotten Lymes Disease once from a Deer Tick and I'm not interested in a repeat performance. That's another story.

Anyway, I thought I ask to see what snakes others find in their yards as they do yard work etc. In the past year or so, I found 4 or 5 Black snakes usually ranging from 3- 4 ft long, several King snakes, ranging in size from 3 feet to one beauty that I see from time to time that's just about 6 feet long. One very pretty 4 foot long Pine snake, several Decay snakes, a couple of Garter snakes, two Eastern Worm Snakes, a number of banded water snakes, and two beautiful Copper Heads. Blue Tail Skinks and Anoles abound and we're constantly having to catch the Anoles when they sneak inside the house. These were all within 50 feet of the house. Thankfully, my wife is very cool and she's not afraid of snakes in the least, but she calls me to get them if they find there way into the house since she's not that familiar with which ones could be dangerous.

What are some other peoples experience about suburban herping?

Jim Smith

[wrecker45]

I have smooth greens, dekay browns, redbellys, ringnecks, garters, eastern hognose, fox, ribbon, and massisauga rattle snakes.

[sweatshirt]

I live in Florida, but I've never gone in-depth herping. I've run into black racers (I have one that lives right outside my lanaii), corn & rat snakes, pine snakes and one rattle snake, though, while walking or just hanging out in the backyard

[infernalis]

For me, I see Garter snakes, water snakes, smooth green, black rats, milk snakes, Dekai, Red bellies & turtles.

[SnoopySnake]

I live in the city so I don't really see snakes around here, but I always use to find snakes at my uncle's house. Garter snakes, ribbon snakes, eastern milksnakes, dekays snakes, eastern hognoses, and blue racers.

[Zoo Nanny]

Ring Neck, Water Snake, Milk Snake, bull frogs, peepers, tree frogs, american toads, red back and marble salamanders.
A couple of years back we had a Timber Rattlesnake which was relocated to the Blue Hills Reservation. They are very rare in New England. The Milk Snake I found in the house or rather my bird found it. She was not very happy. Beautiful snake very calm and laid back, didn't try to strike even though I almost stepped on it. I opened the slider and she slipped right out the door and proceeded to bask on the patio for an hour. I think she had spent the winter in the crawl space below the house and came upstairs through the vents. We didn't see a single mouse that year. I was very appreciative to her.

[Kera]

I feel unfortunate. I live in Wisconsin and have never seen a snake around here. Up at my cabin my dad always sees many many snakes but I never have.

[marvelfreak]

In my yard tree frogs and toads that's it.

[leper65]

I haven't seen many this year but usually I see numerous Black Rat Snakes, then the occasional Garter Snake, Rough Green Snake, Eastern King Snake, Water Snake, Redbelly Snake, and Brown Snake.

[Caylan]

I have garters and gopher snakes in my yard, and no mice in the house

[lisas]

We have black racers, ringneck, green smooth, garter and water snakes. There are snapping, wood and painted turtles. For amphibians, there are American toads, bullfrogs, green frogs, pickerel frogs, wood frogs, and spring peepers. We also have red spotted newts (a lot), redback salamanders, and spotted salamanders.

[Jim Smith]

I didn't get into the turtles since living on a lake painted turtles are overly abundant. Every spring they crawl into the yard to lay their eggs which drives our dogs crazy. Lisas mentioned red spotted newts which we have but are extremely rare to find. One thing I thought I mention just in case some people don't know, but the Red Eft found in the Northeast is EXTREMELY poisonous. I watched a video of a bull frog attempt to eat a Red Eft. While it got it into it's mouth, within 2-3 seconds it was trying to spit it out. It did manage to get it out of it's mouth, but within 30 seconds the bull frog was dead. The Red Eft is actually just about as poisonous to humans and other animals. I say this to warn people not to include these in your collections for fear of an other pet or much worse, a baby, finding one that gets loose and putting it in it's mouth with tragic results. There was a case where two boy scouts on a camping trip found one and one of them double-dog-dared the other to lick it. He took the dare and licked it and he died later at the hospital. Just please be careful.

Jim Smith

[sharthun]

I wish I had a yard with herps! I'm jealous! All I have is Mediterranean Geckos where I live.

[bigsnakegirl785]

At my old place, I would find mostly black ratsnakes. The longest I caught was about 6ft long, but most were 4 or 5ft long. I did see garter snakes and Northern water snakes every once in awhile, though. Once I caught an Eastern milksnake. Eastern fence lizards were really common, and occasionally I'd see some Eastern box turtles. Here, there isn't really anything. As far as reptiles go, I've only found a baby Eastern ringneck snake and a baby common alligator snapping turtle. I hear frogs everywhere (according to my father, my cousin let a whole bunch loose around here), but I've failed at catching any so far.

When I lived in Minnesota, I could find blue-tailed skinks by the handful, as well as American bullfrogs, spotted salamanders, and American toads. That was over 8 years ago, though. I never saw a single snake the 2 years I lived there, captive or wild.

[lisas]

Jim thanks for the advice. The red spotted newts are everywhere around here. I see a few of them every time I go into the woods; if its raining I see about 20 or more. They do get run over a lot, which is sad. I didn't know they were poisonous at all. I pick them up and move them to the side of the road all the time.