I’ve not seen a Northern Water Snake in the Wetlands since the first week in May. Yellow-bellied Turtles continue to come ashore to lay eggs. The one pictured was alongside the path in front of the Lemur House. Following the downpours on Memorial Day, a Painted Turtle was spied crossing the paved path headed towards the Wetlands, presumably on its way back from laying eggs. Before and during the heavy showers which came through on Memorial Day the treefrogsRead more
Posts tagged: #Northern Water Snake
Snakes Mingle, Snappers Tumble, and Yellow-bellies Hatch
Each day that I visited the Wetlands during the first half of April I was able to locate from four to six different Northern Water Snakes. Towards afternoon of each day, there were at least four of these variably colored snakes on a near horizontal Black Willow trunk no more than a dozen feet from the paved path next to the Wetlands Overlook. Hundreds of field-tripping school children from districts all over the state, including some from Virginia, were ableRead more
Snakes, and a Toad Reprise
At least one Black Racer was reported by one of the Museum staff during the final weekend of the month, and the first Northern Water Snake was spotted on the 29th from the circular platform midway down the boardwalk that leads into the Wetlands. The large snake was sunning, coiled up on a tangle of branches just below the platform. After shutting down their breeding campaigns following the cold rains of the middle of March, American Toads regrouped behind theRead more
Baby Snapper and the Last Water Snake
A Snapping Turtle was rescued from the horseshoe shaped pond at Flap the Wings in Catch the Wind next to the Ornithopter. The turtle had found itself into the water filter basket of the pond, with no easy way out. This very young Snapping Turtle, only about 1.75 inches from the front of the shell to the back, was placed in the Wetlands. On the morning of November 1st, a Northern Water Snake was seen in the grass at theRead more
Active Snakes and Frogs
The Wetland’s Northern Water Snakes were out and about on October 4th & 5th with at least four seen basking or hunting. Green Treefrogs are still being seen by many Museum Guests along the north side of the Wetlands. Cricket Frogs can sometimes be seen hopping along the ground throughout the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop. And of course, there’s always a few Bullfrogs to be seen in the U-shaped pond at Flap the Wings next to the OrnithopterRead more
Is that a Moccasin?
I’ve said this before, snakes have been putting on a show in the Wetlands. The one pictured at right sat out in the open for quite a while at the foot of the boardwalk near the main Black Bear Overlook while many Museum guests got great looks at it. Understandably, upon first viewing this snake many folks thought it a Copperhead, or Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin). It’s neither. It’s a Northern Water Snake. The pattern on water snakes can vary considerablyRead more
Tree-climbing Turtle, Snakes vs. Frogs
In a previous Journal entry (Explore the Wild Journal, July 1-15) I mentioned having seen a Stinkpot, or Eastern Musk Turtle, in the Wetlands. I also mentioned that they’ve been known to climb trees, as high as 6 feet up. On August 3rd I saw one in a Willow about 50 feet off the Wetlands Overlook (image below). However, this little turtle was only about 3 feet above the water’s surface. I saw a young Snapping Turtle (4-5 inches fromRead more
The Wetlands Comes Alive
Top Photo: Green frog waits for something to happen. Cricket Frogs, Bullfrogs, and Gray Tree Frogs are calling. Occasionally, a Green Frog will pluck in with its twangy, single-note call. At least four Green Tree Frogs were seen along the path between the Lemur house and Catch the Wind. Look for them low on the vegetation along the raised banks on either side of the paved path (please stay on the path). They were calling during the first few daysRead more