I Brake For Snakes!

The leaves are changing here in Michigan, but the last few days have been warm and sunny.  I took advantage of a day off to head out and try for the last (maybe?) rattlesnakes of the year.  I spent a couple pleasurable hours hiking around a fen that is usually good for a snake or two, although not this day.  I decided to try my luck elsewhere, but figured it was a decent time to try a pass or two on one of the roads through the area.  It was a good idea, as not 200 yards down the road I swerved to miss a small twig stretched out on the road.

Neonate eastern massasauga rattlesnake

It didn't move for about 10 or 15 minutes of me photographing it and steering cars around.  This was shot with my 10-20mm wide angle.  For the nonphotographers out there, that means I had to scoot up nice and close to get that shot.  He didn't care.

I switched to the 90mm macro for a few shots.

The classic diagnostic shot.  

 

 Refer to recent posts for discussion of identifying massasaugas, including juveniles and neonates.



I also shooed a neonate water snake and a couple garter snakes off the road this day.  Unfortunately, there were two or three DOR (dead on road) water snakes, a few DOR garters, and DOR ribbon snake and a DOR redbelly snake.  Snakes were definitely moving, although like usual, the dead out numbered the living.  Happily, no DOR saugas were found.  I pride myself in spotting small snakes in the road, and seeing how slow to eventually move off this little guy was, this high traffic area most definitely would have claimed him soon.

So, do you brake for snakes?

BH

Season Ending

Unfortunately, things are becoming cold and dreary here.  A cool fall rain is falling as I type.  In a perfect world, there would still be days to be had in the field, but I am pretty booked through Oct and Nov due to hectic work schedules and various little trips.  Before I know it snow will be falling...

This season came and went fast.  I spent far less time in the field compared to years past.  It was still a memorable year, if not epic, and I enjoy any time spent outdoors.  I did manage to get out with the dogs last week on a specially nice day.  We saw a few snakes, likely the last of the year, some frogs and a salamander or two.  A far cry from other early October outings in years past, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Brian should still have some field time left out there, especially for salamanders, and hopefully he will get out.  Otherwise, I will try and share things as they come up, do some flashbacks and try and get through to the countdown for Spring again.

I will end with an image.  Although I am not currently in an area that has marbled salamanders, Ambystoma opacum, they actually breed in the fall.  This differs from most other Ambystomids.  We are getting a nice October rain right now, and if I were in southern Ohio right now, I would be sure to be out looking for them.