trackjackie69's Identifications

Diadophis punctatus stictogenys (Mississippi Ring-Necked Snake) - as evidenced by narrow neck ring, irregular belly spots, and location. Found under carpet on shoulder of road in heavily shaded hardwood stand. 72deg F, 95% humidity, sunny conditions (though location very shaded at this time of day..also damp from recent heavy rains).

LIFER!

Storeria dekayi wrightorum (Midland Brownsnake) found under discarded carpet next to dirt road cutting through large pine stand in Bibb County. Carpet was shaded among brush. Sunny day, 87deg F, 48% humidity.

LIFER!

Nerodia sipedon pleuralis (Midland Watersnake) found basking on low branches over water. Easily caught from kayak. Did not try to escape to water before being grabbed. Bit handler a few times before calming down and becoming docile. Partly cloudy, 88deg F, 52% humidity.

LIFER!

DoR

Appears to have deceased just prior to me finding specimen. Thus presumed weather conditions while this snake was crossing road: Cloudy skies with storms brewing, moon waxing gibbous at 85%, temp 74deg F, hum 86%, pressure 29.9"Hg and rising

Juvenile Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus (Northern Cottonmouth) found coiled on shaded rock shelf (photo 2). Captured for photos, released into adjacent waters. Partly cloudy, 84deg F, 62% hum, 30.15”Hg & falling.

County record! Vicinity of Manchester Township, NJ. "Black" Rat Snakes ("Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta") are virtually unknown from the Pine Barrens proper, known only from the fringes of the region and the Inner Coastal Plain in South Jersey. I've sought (and found, haha!) the herpetofauna of the Barrens for more than 45 years, and this 53" gravid female "Black" Rat was the LAST species I thought I'd run into on my first adventure there of the season! A truly awesome day in the field with fellow Herpetologists Pete Danch (@jdanch) and Tianqi Huang.