5/18/08 (Montgomery County, Texas)
After working on the yard and getting a few things done around the house, I slipped out for a few hours in the afternoon for some local herping. I drove 15 minutes away to an area not far from my mother's house; a place where I had spent most of my childhood exploring. This place, simply know as "the woods" to my family, quickly became near and dear to my heart at a young age. It was a safe haven for most every common species of reptile and amphibian that existed here in East Texas. With the insane growth of the area came quite a bit of change over the last few years. The community master planners and developers were continuing to cram million dollar homes into every undeveloped wooded acre that they could get their hands on. Unfortunately, I feared that this place that I had enjoyed so much was one day to be destroyed. Thankfully though, the leaders did the exact opposite and recently decided to make the area into a natural preserve. The miles of trails that were once on privately owned property were now made public. I hadn't been on the trails for a few years so it was a real treat to get back out to where it all began for me.
Although I have found most everything that exists in that part of the region, one of my main pursuits has been to discover a locality of Louisiana Milksnakes from this particular area. They are found 20 miles or so in 3 different directions but have never (that I know of) been found along that particular river/ creek system. Time and lots of herping will tell.
Here are a few trail-habitat shots from the afternoon
Since first stumbling into the place at around 10 years old, hundreds of snakes and other herps have made themselves known there. Texas Rat snakes (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri), Eastern Hognose Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) and Buttermilk Racers (Coluber constrictor anthicus) could easily be found wandering the trails on any given day. Southern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) are extremely common and it wasn't to difficult to locate Texas Coral snakes (Micrurus fulvius tener) hiding underneath the bark of dead pine trees.
The major creek system, Spring Creek runs just south of the entire area, separating Harris and Montgomery Counties. Run offs from the main creek provide excellent habitat for most of the aquatic wildlife. The sloughs are home for many of the preserves' Nerodia, the Broad-banded, Diamondback and Yellowbelly Watersnakes.
The slow moving streams and sloughs eventually feed into this lake. American Alligators once existed here but none have been reported since 1993.
Continuing on down the trail, another habitat shot
Again, more smelly swampy areas, home to lots and lots of wild pigs
After nearly an hour of walking and halfway through the preserve, I was feeling a bit frustrated about not having seen at least one snake. I headed off the main path along a trail that I knew quite well; a trail that was "off-limits" to the public. I was making my way down to a very slow moving creek, a place that has never let me down in all my visits. Nearly 10 feet away from the creek itself I spot this out of the corner of my eye.
Then I get a closer look
These 3 nice looking Western Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) didn't mind me pulling up a front row seat and generously allowed me to snap off a few quick pictures.
Looking down below the three I found another coiled up close to a small dead log.
The four decided that picture time was over and all dispersed. Continuing on, stepping over the log, I stopped to get a few pictures along the creek before finding this one just a few feet away.
After taking a few more habitat shots and packing up, I found that one of the first few I discovered made its way back into the water without me noticing.
Further down the trail I found 2 adult Yellowbelly Water snakes (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster) , one hiding in an old rotted out tree trunk and the other in a small pool of murky water.
The day ended with a quick run through at a local board spot where I found two very large Western Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis proximus proximus) engaging in courtship behavior on top a pile of old shingles. Overall, not a bad outing for 3 hours.
5/19/08 (Montgomery County, Texas)
Again I found myself having a few hours available after church and lunch with the family. My brother-in-law tagged along with me and we headed for the preserve once again. Retracing my steps from the day before we came across only one single adult Western Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis proximus proximus). Before we called it quits we drove over to a board spot east of town that my good friend Robert Edwards had told me about. After a short drive we found the spot; 9 or 10 really large pieces of old plywood. Frustrated, we found nothing under the first 7 or so boards. However, the second to last produced this large Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix).
As well as this large Buttermilk Racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus) that was covered with nasty blisters and sores.
Another image
Moving onto the last board we found an adult Western Ribbon Snake(Thamnophis proximus proximus), another large Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) and the largest Buttermilk Racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus) I have seen in nearly 20 years. As soon as the board was lifted, all of the snakes took off in different directions and were gone within seconds. The look on my brother's face after the snakes shot out was priceless especially since he had never been out herping before. He certainly wasn't expecting that to happen. Again, not a bad few hours. Thanks for looking.
Nathan Wells
