Hunting Rattlesnakes with Rattlesnake Ace bobpbx

[Teegate]

All,

We headed out early this morning to meet up with Rattlesnake Ace bobpbx and two other individuals to search for and photograph a Rattlesnake. I arrived at Bob's house and we headed off in his vehicle with me unaware I had left my GPS in the car. When I realized I did not have it, and was uncertain where it was, a few tense moments occurred. Fortunately, when we arrived back at my car it was there.

Finally, we arrived at our search location and in less than a minute of searching Ace pointed out a rattler and we crowded together trying to get a view of it nestled near a log. Nearby was what appeared to be a recent and complete skin.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1750-1/IMG_7060.JPG

Slightly blurry

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1753-1/IMG_7061.JPG

Jessica with the skin

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1741-1/IMG_7042.JPG

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1747-1/IMG_7047.JPG

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1738-1/IMG_7041.JPG

The skin was so recent that there was flesh still attached to the head portion of it. If you are not into that don't click on this link.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1733-1/IMG_7040.JPG

I roamed around and took this of the Turkey Beard in bloom.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1756-1/IMG_7057.JPG

We then traveled to the Trumpet Pitcher plants and checked on them as usual. Again, non native to this area....they were placed there.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1759-1/IMG_7063.JPG

And the Cinnamon Fern was looking good.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1762-1/IMG_7064.JPG

And a poor shot of a Rose Pogonia sometimes called a Snakemouth...appropriate for the day.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1765-1/IMG_7066.JPG



Guy

 

[dragoncjo]

Nice find! Is there only one timber there, is this the same one as before? Normally with most herps if the area has one it normally has several. At least this has been my expierience with timbers in pennslyvania. Once again very nice find.

 

[Teegate]

Nice find! Is there only one timber there, is this the same one as before? Normally with most herps if the area has one it normally has several. At least this has been my expierience with timbers in pennslyvania. Once again very nice find.

I am not sure what you mean the same one as before. This is the first one I have ever viewed. In any event, we only saw one.

Guy

 

[dragoncjo]

I meant the one that bobpx took a picture of before. The one with its head sticking out of the log from a previous post, maybe a month ago or so..

 

[Teegate]

Could be. I am not sure.

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

So now Guy's a herper....

 

[woodjin]

I believe that is the same one but Bob will have to confirm.

I got the message that we were still on too late. sorry I didn't go with you. Very nice!! Did he rattle or did you all keep a pretty safe distance?

Jeff

 

[Bobbleton]

so was i the only one not invited?

 

[uuglypher]

The skin was so recent that there was flesh still attached to the head portion of it. If you are not into that don't click on this link.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/1733-1/IMG_7040.JPG

Guy

Great shots, Guy! Great find, Bob!

The "...flesh still attached to the head portion..." is not flesh, per se, but evidence of a rather severe bacterial infection with exudate accumulation in and under the labial skin. I've observed such an infection with the pictured distribution only once in a wild snake, but have seen it many times in captive snakes afflicted with a bacterial infection of the oral mucosa (lining of the mouth) most often caused by the bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila - a common pathogen in undernourished and stressed captive reptiles and amphibians. In snakes, the infection typically begins in the oral mucosa, but in severe, persistent, progressive, and untreated cases may spread to the adjacent skin of the lips, face, and head.

A normal shed skin never has any "...flesh..." attached. It is composed entirely of the stratum corneum - the outer later of dead epithelial cells. Snakes don't shed flaked dandruff as we do; their dead epidermis remains intact and it is shed it in its entirety several times a year. Note that the ocular scutes (eye scales" are clearly visible in the photo. These are obviously shed along with the rest of the skin and are testimony to the snake's lack of need for eyelids. So don't ever challenge a snake to a staring contest in which the first to blink looses!

The shed skin pictured appears to be from a dark phase timber - similar to the beautiful live one pictured by Guy. Was the skin collected, by any chance? If so, and if it hasn't become too dessicated, it is possible that the causative bacteria could still be cultured from the shed lesion.

Interesting observation! And kudos for the excellent photographic documentation thereof.

Dave (your Friendly Neighborhood Wildlife Pathologist, Ret.)

 

[Krloucks]

I'd buy a ticket to see a timber in the pines!

 

[Teegate]

Dave,

Thanks for your input. I appreciate that. So do you think the snake should get better on it's own?

Guy

 

[uuglypher]

Dave,

Thanks for your input. I appreciate that. So do you think the snake should get better on it's own?

Guy

Odds are, he's already recovered. The fact that he shed an apparently complete skin, including the labial scales, suggests that the underlying, newly revealed epidermis may be perfectly normal. The one wild snake ( a "pilot black") I caught that was afflicted with "mouth rot" (bacterial stomatitis) also had secondary involvement of the labial and facial skin. I sexed. measured, marked, and released it. I caught again late the following year and it was the picture of health. As common as that disease is among captive snakes, and as rare as it is in the wild ones, I always wondered if it had been a sick captive that had been released.

Dave

 

[NJSnakeMan]

That's an awesome rattlesnake! woah....i read this post a little late.