In the place I live-snakes, last year, were so common-people were tripping over them-literally. We were seeing herps into December even.
This year-not ONE has been seen by anyone-my neighbors have even remarked they haven't seen any at all. This is weird.
What do you think might have happened? The only thing I can think of that is different-is the flooding at the end of April that made people's staircases-inside and outside look like waterfalls for about a week.
We have plenty of insects, rodents, birds and amphibs around-more Red back Salamanders than ever before but nothing to eat them apparently.
I thought about the feral cats but they won't get every single one of every species. And there are no more than usual.
The only snake I did find was about 1 mile from my home-in an area that was also flooded badly. I could barely make out what species as it was caked with mud. Very seldom do I have to look more than once to ID a snake but I had to this time-and knowing the area-I didn't touch it-good thing too-on closer inspection-it was Copperhead.
This seems to be somewhat isolated as in areas about 2 to 3 miles out snakes are being found left and right.
any ideas? (other than the flooding nothing has changed-no developement or construction etc.)
L.
as I side note-Plenty of turtle species and on one night I think I found all but 2 species of salamanders and frogs in our area. To top it off-my daughter found a Northern Leopard Frog today-I've never seen one in this area-EVER!
