What kind of snake is this?

NJSnakeMan

Explorer
Jun 3, 2004
332
0
34
Atlantic County
Yep, it's definitly a king. Those things are pretty, hopefully i'll turn one up next year. Wow, things are still moving a bit huh? My friend just found a 3' black rat, still showing it's blotched markings. I'm supposed to get out again sunday. Looks nice, 62 and sunny.
 

dragoncjo

Piney
Aug 12, 2005
1,579
307
43
camden county
Yeah I'm going to try to get out sunday, my brother in law went fishing last week in central pa and said he still saw wood turtles out. Figured I'd give it on last shot to see what is still out.
 

Windsor

Scout
Aug 11, 2005
66
1
50
Somerdale
Yes, I think he was a bit cold. :) It seemed like he was catching the last rays of sun that he could. I just watched him and took the pics as he slowly slithered to the other side of the trail under some leaves and brush. I have owned tons of snakes in my time, but it's just really special seeing them in the wild. Good luck little buddy and I hope to see you in the spring when it is warm again. :)

Oh, and thanks everyone for the ID of the snake. :)
 

NJSnakeMan

Explorer
Jun 3, 2004
332
0
34
Atlantic County
dragoncjo said:
Yeah I'm going to try to get out sunday, my brother in law went fishing last week in central pa and said he still saw wood turtles out. Figured I'd give it on last shot to see what is still out.
My only encounter with wood turtles was also in PA- Jim Thorpe. I found a pair mating, i didn't disturb them but it was awesome to watch them mate.
 

dragoncjo

Piney
Aug 12, 2005
1,579
307
43
camden county
My brother-in-law and I have seen close to 30 adult wood turtles since about 1999. Every time I go up to this spot I see a couple, but most of my trips have occured in the summer and fall. I plan on going more in the spring so I should see even more at that time. This place is a haven for wood turtles and timber rattlesnakes, here are some pics. Sorry for the non pine barrens post, it is a result of fall boredom.
Chris







 

kingofthepines

Explorer
Sep 10, 2003
268
7
the final outpost
pine snake?

Anyone know? I always thought it appeared a little dark to be a pine snake. Could be the camera though.
201104_0449-med.JPG
 

NJSnakeMan

Explorer
Jun 3, 2004
332
0
34
Atlantic County
Dragoncjo-

Hey! NJ or not, herp posts are all find with me! =) I know wood turtles are considered rare, or pretty uncommon here. What's their status in PA? And you have any pics of the rattlers?
 

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,722
4,908
Pines; Bamber area
kingofthepines said:
IIRC They thought it was around 6ft.

It looks like it except for the color. Whats up with that? It has a yellowish, tan tint to it. I have never seen that before. Their color is usually dirty white.
 

dragoncjo

Piney
Aug 12, 2005
1,579
307
43
camden county
Brandon-

I think in pennslyvania they may be a species of concern. Given the right habitat they are fairly easy to find. But there must be a fairly large size creek with clean water flowing in it. I have a couple pics of the timbers but has you can see from my previous post photography is not one of my strenghts, also my camera is awful. Here are the pics, also I'm unsure what kind of snake the black one is.


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/dragoncjo/Picture138.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/dragoncjo/Picture132.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/dragoncjo/Picture132.jpg
 

Krloucks

Explorer
Oct 22, 2005
144
0
Bensalem, Pa
www.krloucks.com
Wood turtles

Wood turtles are always cool. In Pa, they are locally common from upper Bucks county northward depending upon the quality of the stream. I used to find them here in Lower Bucks, but development and subsequent tainting of the water ways have left them absent. Found 1 this year in Sullivan county. As for the snake on the rock. That's a beauty of a black rat snake! Did you find him there? He doesn't look happy!
Kyle
 

NJSnakeMan

Explorer
Jun 3, 2004
332
0
34
Atlantic County
Nice snakes, and yep that's a black rat snake. I'll be in PA for two weeks next year and i'm supposed to go to a timber rattlesnake hot spot. Can hardly wait!
 

uuglypher

Explorer
Jun 8, 2005
381
18
Estelline, SD
kingofthepines said:
Anyone know? I always thought it appeared a little dark to be a pine snake. Could be the camera though.
201104_0449-med.JPG

Definitely a pine snake. Its background color is certainly a darker ochre/tan than that of the average NJPB pine snake, but it's certainly in the area under the Gausian curve for the species in NJ. In fact, my first thought was that it looked very much like the last Louisiana pine snake I saw in East Texas and remember thinking at the time that THAT one looked like some of the darker ones I'd seen in the NJPB!

Put this snake on the ground in southern Iowa, and the local herpers would call it a "light phase bull snake" (just a putative subspecies of the nominate pine snake...)

Ain't biological variation fascinating?

Dave
 
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