Posted by:
Phil Peak
at Mon Nov 7 17:02:32 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Phil Peak ]
I'll start this post with a habitat pic from the Ky hills. The seasons are changing and the snakes will soon be in their underground lairs where they will spend their winter dormancy. Some cold hardy species such as Thamnophis may venture to the entrances of their den sites during winter warm spells but for the most part the only life function that will occur for most species in this torpid state is the all important resetting of their biological clocks. With this I mean the formation of viable sperm in males and the pre-ovulation cool down the females require for successful reproduction. Does any other life function take place at this time? At least here, the answer is no. Telemetry studies have shown that these snakes do move but very little. The biggest issue is avoiding perilous situations like gnawing vermin such as shrews and that sort of thing. Unfortunatly even below the frost line these snakes are apparently helpless and can not even defend themselves from the attacks of these miniscule little beast. Other issues are flooding, desication and other related issues of exposure.
While I'm digressing I'll show a pic of a ringneck snake. We see hundreds of these each year and I thought I should take a pic of at least one.
Another snake we found in the field this week, an intergrade red x eastern milk snake. Like most intergradient populations this one shows intermediate characteristics though over all in favors L.t.triangulum.
And a kingsnake! Seen plenty of these this year.
Found this rat snake this afternoon on the crawl in a wooded ravine.
Anyhow, I have no doubt that herps behave differently in different areas due to the local climatic conditions that exist. Its not always a matter of what herps want but more of what they get. Species adapt and move on. In tropical areas there are wet and dry seasons. I trust Franks judgement that surface activity patterns in the American southwest are as he says. I have never been there but I have always suspected that the snake hunting sucked in June. I do find it interesting that Frank assumes there is a whole world of activity occuring beneath the frozen earth in Wi. Can you support this? Phil
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 Some late season field pics before the snakes go into the big snooooze!! - Phil Peak, Mon Nov 7 17:02:32 2005
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