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Reptiles & Amphibians

Snake road

18 years ago

I herped the east side of the Shawnee all day on Saturday. Picking through abandoned houses/barns/foundations. Excellent habitat, but the herping completely sucked so I got the hell away from there. I made it to snake road saturday afternoon. I made three runs, one saturday afternoon, one saturday dusk, and one very early sunday morning. I saw huge numbers of cottonmouths, especially sunday morning. I stopped counting, and photoing after a while. Well over thirty snakes. At one point I could see four snakes at once lined up at the base of the bluffs, going south - right by the first den area. I had fun, got some good pics I will post soon. I also found many cottons in roadside ditches near heron pond - The only thing that sucked is I only saw three species!! (two black rats, one intergrade getula, and cottonmouths). I was alone, and I think I could have hit the 100 snake mark if I had went right to the west side of the Shawnee on Friday.

Later

Matt

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Comments (6)

wayne_mo
18 years ago
Matt,

I ran into a guy on Sunday morning who had seen 5 cottonmouths on the road and had seen many many cottonmouths on the bluffs that morning and who had lifted tin the day before and seen very little.

Either someone else had a very similar weekend to yours or it was you. Out of curiousity was it you?

Sounds like you had a great trip even with the lack of species diversity!

The cottonmouths were definitely out Sunday morning. I didn't get to herp the bluffs, but even on the road I saw 9 in one there and back pass.
the_ox
Original Author
18 years ago
I was wearing an old beat up blue and white tie dye. Walking alone carrying camera and hook - oops, they used to allow those! I didn't realize I was breaking the law until I was finished! I felt really horrible about that. i actually saw slightly more - longtail sals, slimy sals, skinks, fence lizards, garters, browns, midland water, and a couple more. I was very pleased to find the king, it was found just north of the border of Union and Pulaski counties near the railroad tracks. I will get pics up soon.

Later

Matt
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Snake Road photos - snake id again please
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Comments (6)
Nice Pictures! I can answer your question. That black snake is a black rat snake. Was that midland water snake (subspecies of the northern water snake) found at LaRue Road. I have never found a midland water there before. In fact I don't think I know anyone who has seen one there either. I'm sure they have a good population there, but it surprises me that you saw one. They generally inhabit lakes, creeks and rivers. One doesn't usually see a midland or northern water snake in cypress swamp. I have seen them up north in oxbow lakes. I did see a midland water snake at Mingo swamp in a ditch, but that is far as my northern water snake experience goes. Nice find. Ryan
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Comments (1)
I had seen these earlier on fieldherpforum, but thanks for putting them on here too. Great pics! I had originally planned to go yesterday, but I decided not to due to the cold temps forecasted. So I'm going next weekend (probably Saturday) instead. I'm curious to hear from anyone that went this weekend. Evan
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Comments (2)
Sorry we missed you Warren. We arrived Sunday at noon. We witnessed the same toad fornication as you did. Saw 9 Water Moccasins, mostly smaller, with one spotted that was huge. We got out at 3 pm as the sky turned ominous. We got back to Imperial, MO. at 5 pm just as the storm hit. We pulled into the garage and then the hail hit hard. Perfect timing. A mass exodus of Painted turtles were running the gauntlet across rt. 3 the few miles to the north of Snake rd. What the heck are they doing crossing the road there??? They were all over the farming fields. Many had been smashed in the road and we pulled over a 1/2 dozen times to rescue 8 of the critters. On friday here in Imperial, we found a southern facing volcanic formation. Within 10 minutes we had 3 Black Rat snakes(one 5 ft.), one huge Blue Racer, and 2 Ringnecks. We photographed and released them all. All in all, a good reptile weekend. gary
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Comments (9)
Brian, Of those you want to see I would rank their likelihood in this order: Southern Black Racer, Mississippi Green Water Snake, Green Tree Frog, Mud Snake, Bird-Voiced Tree Frog. I've seen all but the Bird-Voiced Tree Frog there and Racers and Mississippi Green Water Snakes are reasonably likely finds on any given day. The swamps along the road are the best spots for Mud Snakes and Mississippi Green Water Snakes (for Mud Snakes especially the swamp near the South road block...the end opposite Winter's Pond). That entrance is also the best place for Green Tree Frogs. Racers I usually see on the bluffs.
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KeithB
18 years ago
Seems like the King Snakes down there are almost always found near the railroad tracks. Makes me wonder if they aren't cheating and traveling by rail :-).
mitchell_m
18 years ago
Haha, Keith. You might be onto something there.

The only king snake I've seen there was crossing the road there at the RR tracks on Muddy Levee Rd.
the_ox
Original Author
18 years ago
Excellent snakes!!! I found a timber similar to that one squashed on the highway in Gallatin county on Saturday morning. That was so sad. I really wanted to turn up a red milk like yours - but no luck. Damn, I wish I wouldn't have wasted so much time on Saturday, I am so jealous of those of you who found horridus.

Matt
the_ox
Original Author
18 years ago
no more.

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