Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK I think Jeff had a good idea when he suggested we get back to some of these guess the locality posts. So here you go. This animal is in the collection of my good friend Michael Coone. See if you can guess the county and State.

Dave
DNS Reptiles - Milk snakes

I suck at this, but I am going with NY.

That looks a lot like what I found in my backyard and in my basement. Worcester County, Mass.

Man Rob, that triangulum in the foreground of the second photo has got a cool open head pattern.

As the fashionable hipsters like to say. "Yo dog, he's Phat looking, know what I'm sayin, are you feeling me?"

-Dell

Maryland, wouldn't even hazard a guess at the county... unless you're willing to accept North Carolina as one.

Gerry

Nice looking triangulum Dave.

Being that I completely suck at picking out locality on Eastern milks I'm going to throw a wider net also, and stay w/ states.

My pick is the Bay State- Massachusetts.

-Dell

Let's play! I'll guess Fredrick Co., MD.

-Cole

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We call it FREDNECK County in Maryland. LOL. I hope it is not from Maryland, I will look like an even bigger loser for not guessing my home state. Probably will be. Thanks Dave!!! LOL.

Joe, I wouldn't play you like that! lol Nope not Maryland...just waiting to see if Jeff Schofield enters the game since he is our resident triangulum guru...

Awesome Dave, I feel a little better and now my chances of getting it right are up about 5 percent!!! LOL. Hope all is well my friend. I am sure Jeff will jump in soon.

Joe

"I am sure Jeff will jump in soon"

And I will have my tall rubber boots ready!..LMAO!!

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Hey Dave, did you get my email I sent you last night? I didn't hear from you, and just wanted to make sure the email I have for you is up to date. I know you're probably busy, but this me we're talking about!

-Dell

Dude, that thing looks almost as good in photos as it does in person! Full body shot?! I need a new retina-burning background for my computer.

-Cole

Hey Dell,

Yeah I got it - and responded too. Did you get my response? lol

Wow that animal has really colored up a little huh? what was I thinking???

Dave
DNS Reptiles - Milk snakes

Wow Dellster!,.....is that a crazy hyper-erythristic syspila??

That is some insane red wash in the white rings there, and the solid all-red head is over the edge man!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Wow, that's one stunning milk snake. Mind sharing some background on that one?

Brandon

That Eastern is typical of the Appalachian Easterns from MD to NC/AL. The black isnt distinct, banding is big and deep. Head pattern typical of a more southern variant, more slender head too. I'm going with Madison Co. NC.

Jeff, I've got to hand it to you. I am really impressed with your guess. Your cages may need to be cleaned more often but you know your stuff when it comes to L.t.t. and you certainly nailed this locality... It is McDowell County North Carolina. Good work.

Gerry G, you are definately an honorable mention with your North Carolina guess.

Thanks for playing.

Dave
DNS Reptiles Milk Snakes

DAVE(LOL), the band spacing definately looks like the Appalachian milks but notice how narrow and elongated the head. The northern variants have a more robust pronounced head dont you think? While they are always variable subtle body characteristics tend to hold true to ID. Body shapes differ from montane to the coastal plain. Wish I could be more specific about the features, but I guess I was pretty close.

Damn... always the bridesmaid never the bride. Couldn't make up my mind so went with Maryland simply because I've never been to NC... nice going Jeff

Gerry

What about me? I was several states off!! LOL. Good job Jeff. Nobody is going to get away with telling you lies about an LTT's locality.

Joe, for all of those that think they are simply variable and any snake could look like this from any locale this should be some kind of proof right? There are a great many subtle differences from locale to locale. I think its cool that despite urban sprawl you can still find them most anywhere on the right day.

Jeff,was that snake a juvenile? If yes and you still have it, how does it look now? Curious because some,(very few), of the LTT here in my neck of the woods do carry lots of their color into adulthood.(not too far from that snakes locale) Dave Niles has several from a clutch I hatched out and one male looks completely different from the rest and has WAY more color.

Joe, that snake was about 2-2.5' and I no longer have it. I have seen snakes from that area show coastal banding, maroon mostly but some as light as orange. Nice snakes!

What I find interesting/cool is that Cole & I have been is some milk habitat and not able to find one milk, we find other herps, Bulls, Racers, Rattle snakes etc., and sometime a
lot of other animals too. Then we hit the right conditions and the most prevalent snake in the same habitat is THE MILK SNAKE.

-Dell

Dell, funny you guys mention that because I have lived and herped in MD for well over thirty years and the vast majority of that time had never found LTT. Now that I know where to look for them I can find them every year. They seem to live in "pockets" around here. I know of several areas that ALWAYS produce them (of course right conditions) and areas that are within one mile that you just cannot find any. My buddy has lived within two miles of my best spot for twenty years and has NEVER seen a milk snake near his house. His mother lives next to the GOOD spot and sees them every year and always has. Picky bastards!!

In the right place under the right conditions milks are very prevalent. Thats why I dont understand alot of the laws protecting them from hobbyists. I found 18 in a hour and a half recently(not my special spot either). Yes, they were all different but each of them in their own way held some kind of marking that would link them to the locale.

Why did I listen to Rob Haneisen? I will never ever listen to him again!

I new it was North Carolina, curses!

-Dell