Herping In My Yard

SWDK · 08-02-12, 02:02 PM

Found two Red Bellied Snakes today in my yard.

Hatchling in shed

MoreliAddict · 08-02-12, 02:07 PM

Nice wee snakes!

SWDK · 08-02-12, 02:09 PM

Yeah, they ate the smallest snakes I've caught this year.

brandonh · 08-04-12, 04:38 AM

aww so cute , you are very lucky i hardly ever get to find those here in northwestern pa,
they remind me so much of dekays which are more common in my area.
great find

i'd like to see more if possible

Jlassiter · 08-04-12, 05:07 PM

Cool finds....

SWDK · 08-05-12, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonh

aww so cute , you are very lucky i hardly ever get to find those here in northwestern pa,
they remind me so much of dekays which are more common in my area.
great find

i'd like to see more if possible

They are very common where I live. I find them more than any other snake.

infernalis · 08-05-12, 05:43 AM

Very nice.

I have only seen one this year, Now that I think of it, I have only seen 2 live Dekayi as well.

I think the drought is taking it's toll on them.

Storeria eat ONLY snails, slugs and small worms, with the ground all dried out and the grass all but dead, the poor snakes have no food.

You should see it right after a nice rain, the worms will surface, the slugs and snails all come out, and the Storeria will be plentiful.

Unfortunatly we have had so little rain that the worms have gone down deep, and the slugs/snails are nowhere to be seen.

Compound this with the fact that Storeria like cool temperatures, and it has been scorching hot, the poor critters are getting the bad end of the stick this year where I live.

SWDK · 08-05-12, 06:18 AM

I've definitely noticed a decrease due to the heat and lack of rain. I think they hang around my yard because I water the grass and hummingbird garden frequently.

infernalis · 08-05-12, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWDK

I've definitely noticed a decrease due to the heat and lack of rain. I think they hang around my yard because I water the grass and hummingbird garden frequently.

Exactly.. Good for you.

Usually when we have mild droughts I pump a lot of water out of the creek to keep my wetlands flooded, but this year the creek dried up, so the wetlands did too.

That screws up the whole chain, Baby garters and water snakes have no tadpoles or little minnows to eat either.

So that subsequently leaves no food for the baby Milk snakes, Rat snakes and racers who prey on the baby Storeria, Thamnophis and Nerodia

Everything is taking a huge hit this year.

brandonh · 08-05-12, 11:10 AM

i couldn't agree more the lack of rain the intense heat is just one big bad chain reaction that is taking its toll on the snakes and other critters as well. the river that runs through this place is the lowest i have ever seen it. i think its been pretty harsh on all species. i haven't seen any.

SWDK · 08-05-12, 12:31 PM

Oh definitely. It's not just reptiles and amphibians. Ive seen a decrease in turkey polts and whitetail fawns.

Drgnfly2265 · 08-05-12, 01:33 PM

I really like that red bellied snake

SWDK · 08-05-12, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drgnfly2265

I really like that red bellied snake

Thanks! That is a really nice colored one.

I went out herping this afternoon for a few hours and nothing. We had a shower this morning and it cooled things down a bit. Then the sub came out. I thought i might have some luck.

brandonh · 08-05-12, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWDK

Thanks! That is a really nice colored one.

I went out herping this afternoon for a few hours and nothing. We had a shower this morning and it cooled things down a bit. Then the sub came out. I thought i might have some luck.

we had the same showers you did today to and i had the same result no luck at all

SWDK · 08-05-12, 07:39 PM

It's nice to spend a few hours out in the field, but it's nicer when you find something.