Found dead along the road with this rodent which I'm still trying to identify. ... After searching I did identify this rodent as a "Woodland Jumping Mouse". It was so big I thought it was a rat!
A rodent that me and my son found along the road dead next to an also dead black rat snake. Its body (not including tail) was about 4.5 inches long.
Me and my son were looking for snakes and found this one under a rock. I was almost certain it was a Water Snake being that I see nothing but those in this area, not to mention I had just caught a couple here a week ago. I saw this snake's bright red tail before it disappeared and it struck me as odd. Then looking at the photo when I got home I realized what it was. Awesome find for me being my first Milk Snake!
Thanks Loarie for the link to the snakes to help me ID this. I looked up so many and for some dumb reason I forgot to look at Queen Snakes. Even after other photographers told me they have gotten shots of them in this area. Just slipped my mind! But now after seeing the images this was most definitely a Queen Snake without a doubt. So sad I had to find it in a fatally wounded condition though :(
