Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As I had mentioned before, I really like taking photo's of snakes that have recently shed. This photo in her hide with her recently cast skin was about all I could get before she went ballistic on me. She is one of those northerns that seems to absolutely loathe the presence of any human contact what so ever. I have to admit that I have always admired this behavior in these snakes though. This one is a CB northern pine, western Kentucky locale.

Phil

That is a great looking northern. Great colors!!!

Scott Robinson

Yeah, another place to drool over that pic!! I have looked at your pits pics on the ky forum about thousand times. Can't wait to see what babies you have this year!!

Zack
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Everything I know about life I learned from Nintendo!!!

Thanks Zach. We are looking forward to this breeding season as well. Once again we will be returning to the field in the hopes of securing more genetic material so we can move forward with this project.

Phil

Good luck!! I'm thinking about joining with my family to the KY Herp Society here soon. (Even though it would be closer for me to join the Greater Cincy Society.) Maybe, I can go out with you and Will and help you find some!!

Zack
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Everything I know about life I learned from Nintendo!!!

Why not join both? The GCHS is a great club and we have many friends there. I also think you would enjoy being a member of the KHS. We manage to have a great time and pull in some first rate speakers. Along the way we have field trips, picnics, etc.. Anyone with a strong interest in herps owes it to themself to check out their local herp society.

Phil

Thanks. One of the most interesting aspects to us is the natural variation in pattern and color that exists from the various locales within the northern pine snakes range. The yellow and black pines of the Tennessee Valley are in stark contrast to the white and black pines of the Jersey pine barrens.

Phil

Thats a cool looking northern! She looks like a louisiana pine. Kevin

Thanks Kevin. They are definitely different looking! Basically a yellow snake with black blotches. Quite a contrast to the typical northern.

Phil

Beautiful snake - nice genetic stock you have in KY. Your account makes me glad my bullsnake is a real gentleman - lol.
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Tim

Thanks Tim. I have a couple of bulls that get very defensive too. Oddly enough, most of the Pits that I have seen that have this disposition are females while the males are generally more tractable. Just like in humans lol!

Phil

Thanks for sharing the photo. Have any of the biologists asked you guys for DNA samples on your two groups of KY pines? Seems to me that your locale could be the missing piece of the genetic puzzle between the various pines and the eastern bullsnakes.

Regards
John

Thanks John. From what I understand, the DNA of the western Ky pines has been analyzed and compared and contrasted with other populations of Pits. To my knowledge this has not been done with the population from the cave region.

Phil