My local finds

BryanB · 07-01-13, 06:14 PM

Normal checkered garter
[IMG]

[/IMG]
Black racer these things get huge here. Don't know what they actually are called
[IMG]

[/IMG]
Ring neck never expected to see one of these in my yard but moving rocks and there it was
[IMG]

[/IMG]
One of the many painted turtles I move from the road. My job is driving I move every one I see.
[IMG]

[/IMG]
Momma snapper laying eggs
[IMG]

[/IMG]
Lastly eastern woodland box turtle
[IMG]

[/IMG]

sweatshirt · 07-01-13, 06:21 PM

Nice! We have a black racer that lives on our lanai.

BryanB · 07-01-13, 06:24 PM

I am waiting to stumble on the other two snake species I know are around copper heads and at least one type of rattler.

Amadeus · 07-01-13, 07:28 PM

Wow nice finds. =]

**Pareeeee** · 07-01-13, 07:31 PM

[QUOTE=BryanB;851523]
Black racer these things get huge here. Don't know what they actually are called

I could be wrong but that looks like a Black Rat Snake

Anyway, great finds!

franks · 07-01-13, 07:36 PM

Whatever it is, I find alot of them when I am fishing in NJ.

BryanB · 07-01-13, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franks

Whatever it is, I find alot of them when I am fishing in NJ.

They are all over and big and very fast

Amadeus · 07-01-13, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryanB

They are all over and big and very fast

What color is the bottom of the snake?

smy_749 · 07-02-13, 03:05 AM

What do you do for a living, my job is also driving. Very nice pictures, lots more variety than what I have here in northern CT

BryanB · 07-02-13, 06:44 PM

I am a truck driver for a trash company

BryanB · 07-02-13, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

What color is the bottom of the snake?

No idea to fast to catch and they look to have huge attitude when you do see them stopped

**Pareeeee** · 07-02-13, 07:26 PM

Head shape and body pattern led me to believe that it is a Rat Snake instead of a Racer.
Northern Black Racer:

Eastern/Black Rat Snake:

In reference to your painted turtle rescue, I have moved two off the road this year so far, one being quite a large (female?) today. I pulled a 3point turn and drove back and an SUV was heading toward it, and it was almost as if they tried to hit it. The turtle had to pull its head back into its shell, if it hadn't it wouldn't have had a head. I dislike people sometimes.

BryanB · 07-02-13, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

In reference to your painted turtle rescue, I have moved two off the road this year so far, one being quite a large (female?) today. I pulled a 3point turn and drove back and an SUV was heading toward it, and it was almost as if they tried to hit it. The turtle had to pull its head back into its shell, if it hadn't it wouldn't have had a head. I dislike people sometimes.

i moved two in the last week that have had prior shell damage and not a tiny nick one had the entire corner above its rear leg gone but it still had its leg and it was healed so off the road it went.

StudentoReptile · 07-03-13, 05:48 AM

Actually, the most reliable distinguishing feature that separates a black ratsnake from a racer is: ratsnakes have (weakly) keeled scales, and racers have smooth scales. Head shape and coloration are very subjective; I've seen some ratsnakes that were completely black and young racers can still retain juvenile pattern longer than others.

smy_749 · 07-03-13, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Actually, the most reliable distinguishing feature that separates a black ratsnake from a racer is: ratsnakes have (weakly) keeled scales, and racers have smooth scales. Head shape and coloration are very subjective; I've seen some ratsnakes that were completely black and young racers can still retain juvenile pattern longer than others.

What about the loose throat skin and ability to inflate it, is that distinguishable from the racers?