Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Bear with me while I try to describe the following scenario...

I frequently walk a trail that is in between a canal, teeming with life, and a shallow, fast moving, river that has nothing in it. The path is 2 feet from the surface of the canal and 25feet from the river below. Steep inclines on both sides.

The canal has everything, fish, plant life, turtles of various species, and a considerable number of northern watersnakes. While walking the trail I have only, and I do mean only, ever seen watersnakes on the side of the trail that borders the canal. Makes sense right? Food supply in abundance, favorably slow currents, fast escape route into the water (2feet vs 25 feet).

Today however I observed not one but no less than 6 obviously(!)gravid females basking on the river side of the trail...???

I have NO IDEA why they would cross this frequently travelled trail to bask. I'll admit it, I'm utterly baffled.

Before you reply, yes, I have absolutely looked on that side of the trail before and in 10 years NEVER seen a snake on the other side of the trail.

(I warned you this might be long winded) :O)

DO watersnakes drop thier young in some refuge away from the water's edge?? That's the only thing I can think of... that they eat insects etc. until they are ready to join the adults??

I'm hoping that there are some veteran field herpers out there that can shed some light on this for me.

Thanks to all, and how great is Kingsnake?!?!?!?

One possibility is sun exposure. How is the walkway oriented? Do you walk this area regularly at the same time of day? If it's a north-south walkway with steep slopes on each side, the east slope will get more direct morning sun, the west slope more direct afternoon/evening sun. When they're gravid, their needs shift more toward sun/warmth and away from food. That might explain their migration to an area where they're normally not seen. I'd be interested in other theories, though. Interesting!
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MichaelB

That's my only thought - the need for gravid females to seek out optimal temperatures.

It would be interesting to know if they follow the shifting sun throughout the day.

-Joan

Thanks for the reply. I have to think it's something to do with thermoregulation as well. The canal side has some flat rocks at the water's edge that are normally used for basking so perhaps they were all trying to stay cooler? I'll take some pics tonight so you can see for yourself what I'm talking about.
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"Umm Marge, did you find my snake farm? I'm going to farm and sell snakes"- homer simpson

Actually you can move a gravid water snake 10 times from a hot road that is busy with a hundred cars a minute and it will return again and again to heat up it babies. The snakes have no clue what we are or what the heck is happening to their surroundings, only to warm their bellies. You should keep a journal and camera and over years document this for research and hobbie.