Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What has been some experiences of anyone in the field? Have you seen more/less corns than in the past? Are their numbers declining? Just curious what some thoughts are on this topic.
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carl3
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

>>What has been some experiences of anyone in the field? Have you seen more/less corns than in the past? Are their numbers declining? Just curious what some thoughts are on this topic.
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In my area (Southeast Tennessee)I would usually see several corn snakes every year and probably eight or ten black rat snakes every year. These along with a few kings, racers, garters, lots of nerodia, and an occaisional brown snake and ringneck.
This was without actually looking for them. Some I would see around work, some around my brother's farm some around my parent's house on the lake and some just on the road.
This was about the norm through the 80's to early 90's.
Then it got to where I would see maybe one corn snake every other year or so and only a few black rats every year.
It has now been five years since I have seen a live corn snake in the wild. I have also only seen one black rat snake this year.
And I have actually spent time seriously looking for corns and rats. I have seen several kings and there are still plenty of nerodia around the lake and creeks but the corns and rats are disappearing. Most of the kings I have seen have been near water and I beleive they are living on the nerodia.
I have seen a couple dead on the road but even that number has gone down. For every live specimen I used to see there were probably two or three times that, dead on the road. Now just a couple dead ones and no live ones.
So, yes I would say I have noticed a decline in the wild.
The following is not fact just conjecture.
This may be WAY off base but I wonder.....In my area there has been an increase in skunks, racoons, o'possums and coyotes.
I beleive that the increase in these animals could be a reason for the decrease in the corns and rat snakes. It could be two fold. These animals will not only eat snakes on occaision but they will also eat the rodents that snakes prey on.
I also beleive that the stricter leash laws are a contibutor to the increase in the mammals mentioned. It used to be common for dogs to run loose just about every where. They would keep the skunks, racoons and coyotes basically at bay. Now with more and more people keeping dogs fenced, chained or pened and the continued encroachment on wild areas the racoons, skunks and coyotes are doing well on human waste.
None of this is based on any research or facts that I know of.
It is all just speculation and conjecture on my part.
Basically just thinking out loud.
So before you people jump on the bash wagon keep that in mind.....LOL
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

I went herping in the field just the other day (near PA/NJ area) and found nothing but TICKS TICKS AND MORE TICKS... In fact, they were the smallest ticks I have ever found on me, a real record breaker. I am REALLY worried now about lymes disease and don't know what to do! I have grown up in the pine-tick infested woods area and have NEVER seen them so small. sorry to go off BUT i have spent the last 2 hours playing scavenger hunt over my entire body. NOT FUN!

On another note, while I was in the field, I meet a div of wildlife guy tracking pine snakes implanted with transmitters. I helped him look for an hour or so BUT no luck finding anything. He looked annoyed at first since he probably thought I was a poacher BUT I convinced him I wasn't since I only had my camera with me. Then he kinda looked confused since I didn't even have a hook in case I ran into a rattlesnake. BUT all of those snakes are extremely rare and endangered species (corns, pines and rattlers)....so I figured the chance of finding any would be like winning the lottery.

I am convinced that there are no more corns in NJ area at all anymore. What can you do!!! I too think its not due to poaching but rather other environmental issues, such as habitat loss due to new home construction and human ignorance of killing any and all snakes they see with a shovel. I might try to contact a guy at a nearby college who does corn snake field research to see if I can help...maybe he'll have some that are implanted with transmitters that I can help him locate (and therefore photograph).
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carl3
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

A guy i worked with got it.It turned him into a drewling vegetable in 2 months time.Do yourself a favor and head over to your family doc.He can do a easy bloodtest to find out.I hunt mushrooms in the spring and get covered by the little bastages.

n/p
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carl3
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

Just give your Doc a jingle on the phone.They can give you all the info you need bro.They guy i worked with tick was found in his ear canal by the eardrum.

How did they find it inside his ear? That's insane...and it has completely freaked me out/paranoid! I probably won't look to photograph anymore herps in the wild b/c of the ticks being so bad and b/c I never find anything too motivating. Its a shame since I know some really awesome spots...its just too risky w/ticks and disease.

I heard the vaccine is controversial and not recommended BUT I think there are antibiotics one can take. I am going to call my doc and let him know so if I start to get sick in a few weeks, It will be on record as to why. Plus I am saving the ticks I found, in alcohal. I am pretty sure non were embedded but I swear if they weren't the smallest I'd ever seen in my life.

Well, if i stop posting in a few weeks, you'll know why!
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carl3
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

Oh yeah, corns are so extremely hard to find in the wild anymore (as are most other desired species too). Thanks to people like Don/Rich/Kathy for devoting their careers to captive breeding so that SO many can enjoy these animals without taking from nature. Its a shame that more people don't do what they do for other species as well (although it does seem to be improving).
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carl3
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

I went herping in the field just the other day (near PA/NJ area) and found nothing but TICKS TICKS AND MORE TICKS... In fact, they were the smallest ticks I have ever found on me, a real record breaker. I am REALLY worried now about lymes disease and don't know what to do! I have grown up in the pine-tick infested woods area and have NEVER seen them so small. sorry to go off BUT i have spent the last 2 hours playing scavenger hunt over my entire body. NOT FUN!

On another note, while I was in the field, I meet a div of wildlife guy tracking pine snakes implanted with transmitters. I helped him look for an hour or so BUT no luck finding anything. He looked annoyed at first since he probably thought I was a poacher BUT I convinced him I wasn't since I only had my camera with me. Then he kinda looked confused since I didn't even have a hook in case I ran into a rattlesnake. BUT all of those snakes are extremely rare and endangered species (corns, pines and rattlers)....so I figured the chance of finding any would be like winning the lottery.

I am convinced that there are no more corns in NJ area at all anymore. What can you do!!! I too think its not due to poaching but rather other environmental issues, such as habitat loss due to new home construction and human ignorance of killing any and all snakes they see with a shovel. I might try to contact a guy at a nearby college who does corn snake field research to see if I can help...maybe he'll have some that are implanted with transmitters that I can help him locate (and therefore photograph).
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carl3
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

they are all tired of the cold and moved to Florida, cause i have seen more here, well florida (I am in Iraq right at the moment) this spring than i ever have. from hatchlings to adults i have yet to see as many in the wild as i have. I have even found them by my house. Well thats just my two cents. and oh yeah Jimmy i was going to mial you that dollar i owe but i got mugged by one of the retired corn snakes...lol
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The next time the shuttle lands, lets all get dressed up in ape suits and charge at the astronaughts yelling and ranting. That way they can try to figure out where they took a wrong turn.

Hey Froggy,
Man, I hope you are safe over there. Keep your head and your ass down !!!!!!!
I guess I will just have to move to Florida with all of the snakes.
That will work for me.
I will be able to enjoy two of my favorite hobbies.
Bass fishing and herps.
I guess I will let that dollar slide.......lol
stay safe
Jimmy

no no no i always repay my debts. well where i am at is as secure as it can get i guess. we have snakes over here as a matter of fact there was a sand viper out in the road about two days ago. i moved him to a more safe location, and now everyone calls me the corc hunter.

well it aint all bad man, i got the internet and a secure building so you cant beat that. 3 hots and a cot, thats life i guess. i hear we are getting a burger king soon that will be interesting. well take care of yourself. and in florida we fish for snapper not bass. where i am from in north alabama we fish for bass, but not in the ocean ha ha

later man
ken
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The next time the shuttle lands, lets all get dressed up in ape suits and charge at the astronaughts yelling and ranting. That way they can try to figure out where they took a wrong turn.