I'm not really disputing any of that because I don't personally know otherwise, but what about the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus), Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon c. contortrix), and Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)?. I have some range maps that put the Massasauga as far south right about up TO that area the poster designated. Also, I have a couple range maps that depicts the Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon c. contortrix) as ranging right about UP TO that pin-pointed area the poster gave as well. I certainly do realize that most range maps are not absolute "hard boundaries", and ranges on the very outer fringes of maps that aren't a good bit more interior of their depicted ranges can often be somewhat questionable, and of course this depends on the accuracy of the individual map itself and the researched sources the map illustrator used. I am not from that area at all, so I am simply stating this from literature I have come across.

I do know a very dedicated and hardcore herpetologist in southern Illinois that I will run this by to get his opinion on it too. He does LOTS of hands-on field work and rersearch and is about as hardcore about accurate data and taxonomic identification as you could possibly get..LOL!

Anyway, I'm not personally disputing what you said, because I am only going by the maps I have here, and both the species I referred to come VERY, VERY close to meeting that area. Now as to if the specific habitat in that area the snake was found in can support either of the two snakes I mentioned, I couldn't say either way either.

I also have a range map or two that shows the Timber Rattlesnake ranging ridiculously close, if not right UP TO that exact area too.. With all three of these snakes seeming to range right slap up to this area, it would seem reasonable that possibly some of these snakes could in fact be found there, although they might not be nearly as abundant as they would closer to the centers of their respective ranges.


cheers, ~Doug

-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com



"some are just born to troll and roll"

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