Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Herp Comparison

21 years ago

A little off subject but I think it relates to maybe a few herps that may be close or are thought to be extirpated. The smooth green snake and northern scarlet snake here in Missouri come to mind. It seems like if there is at least some good habitat left it is possible they could still be here. I really think a scarlet snake will eventually be found here in the Ozarks.

According to the news the last documented sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker was in 1944. If this latest report is true that means there has to have been a few all along. And if a bird of that size could escape detection all these years surely a scarlet snake could hide in these Ozark hills.

This is big news even for the non bird watchers!

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Comments (4)

wayne_mo
21 years ago
Gary,

Great minds think alike ;-). I had actually thought of how you and herpfriend are looking for the rediscovery of the Scarlet Snake in Missouri when I heard about the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker being rediscovered.

Also the Dusky Hognose Snake was recently rediscovered in Missouri after 25 years between sightings.

Given the secretive habits of the Scarlet Snake they could easily go undetected for many years.

The rediscovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker is a great story no matter how you look at it.
wayne_mo
21 years ago
Oops, I meant the Dusty Hognose Snake has been rediscovered in Missouri. I believe it was in Scott County or that general area.
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serpentryan
21 years ago
I was only a few miles from where the woodpecker was found yesterday. I nearly soiled myself when I heard that news on the radio. I hope the sighting is true. Anyway, I believe the scarlet snake does still exist in Missouri. There have been too many sightings for them not to have even a small, isolated population. I am also basing this on their secretive nature. As for the other species, it wouldn't surprise me if one is found in the future.

Ryan
chad_ks
21 years ago
I think it is funny, because I also thought of copei in Missouri and the recent discovery of the gloydi in southeast Missouri. Copei absolutely exist in Missouri, I truly believe this. I have found them in Oklahoma where they are known to be from, but they are still EXTREMELY difficult to come by! These snakes are EXTREMELY fossorial in the midwest, they just about have to be.

Gary, I know that your day is coming. You will bust a copei sometime. I think that in order to find them, one must research heavily on the geology and soil ecology in Missouri. I believe that to find a relic population of snakes, you must find the relic habitat. There are loads of relic habitat in Missouri, and I know that the sandy and loosely soiled areas that the Scarlet Snake seem to inhabit in Oklahoma MUST still exist in Missouri. In my opinion, it is only a matter of time...Just think of where the hognose was found...
chad

Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Herp Comparison

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wayne_mo

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