I did take images of the snake's ventrum, and posterior body. The pattern was quite visible. There was a lot of reddish colorations diffused into the ground especially at the point where the sides transition into belly.

I think that it fairly safe to suggest that the Pituophis species complex in the east and southeast are in a precarious situation. Credit a loss of suitable habitat via agriculture, residential/commercial development, and poor forest management.

The good news is that new housing starts are down, and many forest managers are starting to understand what the benefits of healthy forest are and what management practices are important (fire!). "Smoky the bear lied, fire is one of the best management tools out there"

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• wild black pine image - ginter, Thu Oct 15 23:35:25 2009
• RE: wild black pine image - Pine_Snake_Piney, Fri Oct 16 00:24:57 2009
• RE: wild black pine image - RichH, Fri Oct 16 10:46:57 2009
• RE: wild black pine image - antelope, Fri Oct 16 02:00:04 2009
• RE: wild black pine image - cousinmike, Fri Oct 16 03:38:40 2009
• RE: wild black pine image - varanid, Fri Oct 16 10:12:37 2009
• RE: wild black pine image - monklet, Fri Oct 16 10:06:51 2009
• RE: wild black pine image - ginter, Sun Oct 18 12:06:16 2009
• RE: wild black pine image - ginter, Sun Oct 18 12:18:04 2009