Springtime has been extremely pleasant for most of East Texas over the past month. The warm sunny days mixed with the cool nights has made for some fairly good herping thus far. Between long hours at work and the taking care of a pregnant wife I still managed to get out for a few good outings. Here is an overview of findings during the past month. A handful of you may have already some of these pictures from a post I did back in April.

Nice weather followed good conditions finally made its way into East Texas



April 5th
(Near Splendora, Montgomery County, Texas)
My good friend Robert Edwards and I spent the afternoon searching for herps near his home in far eastern Montgomery County. We meet up before noon and hit many of our usual tin spots across that part of the county. Practically every snake found was well hidden underneath old boards and sheets of tin.

2 yearling Louisiana Milk Snakes (Lampropeltis triangulum amaura)
1 juvenile Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus)
1 adult Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus)
1 adult Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) AOR
4 adult Texas Rat Snakes (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri)
2 juvenile Southern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)
3 adult Southern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)
TMTC Ground Skinks (Scincella lateralis)
1 Five-Lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)

A few habitat shots





One of the many tin piles


We found several Southern Copperheads underneath tin and old boards


Robert took this cool picture of another Southern Copperhead


Texas Ratsnakes were abundant that afternoon. Here's one that Robert found underneath some tin


A really nice boardspot that produced another large Texas Ratsnake



Earlier in the morning, Robert and a few others came across these nice Buttermilk Racers



This nice young Texas Coralsnake was found as well


Robert getting a picture of the stubborn little guy


We then hit one of our favorite tin spots to find this super nice pair of Louisiana Milksnakes




April 19th
(The Woodlands/ Magnolia, Montgomery County, Texas)
While driving home from work, found a few snakes less than half a mile from my house.
1 adult Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) DOR
1 adult Texas Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri) DOR

April 20th
(The Woodlands/ Magnolia, Montgomery County, Texas)
I had a few spare hours that afternoon so I headed over to a tin spot near my home then hit a few quiet back roads before dark.
1 adult Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) (undernearth pile of tin)
1 adult Texas Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi texana) DOR
1 adult Buttermilk Racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus) DOR
1 adult Texas Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri) DOR

Large adult Eastern Coachwhip found underneath piece of tin (in-situ)


April 23rd
(Sam Houston National Forest, Montgomery County, Texas)
Robert Edwards and I met up with our friend Dave Long from Sacramento, California and his buddies Don Long and Brett Nelson for an evening of herping in the Sam Houston National Forest in the northern portion of Montgomery County. It was their last night after a four-day excursion all throughout East Texas and Western Louisiana. They were really hoping to end the trip that night with a nice Western Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri). Although the little pigmy didn’t make its presence known, they observed quite a few other animals that night. Being in our own vehicles, I combed through the quiet county roads for nearly 2 hours after sundown before turning in.

2 adult Texas Brownsnakes (Storeria dekayi texana) AOR
1 adult Yellowbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster) DOR
2 adult Texas Rat Snakes (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri) AOR
1 yearling Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) DOR
1 adult Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) DOR
4 juvenile Southern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) AOR
6 adult Southern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) AOR

A few habitat pictures from the National Forest






A Southern Copperhead from the area


April 25th through April 27th
(Big Thicket National Preserve, Hardin County, Texas)
I along with other members of the East Texas Herpetological Society geared up for our annual spring field meet in the Big Thicket National Preserve within Hardin County. Our group also teamed up with members of both the Austin Herpetological Society and the DFW Herpetological Society for a nice weekend of camping, exploring, herping and overall good fellowship.

Friday, April 25th
After packing up, I headed out from my home in The Woodlands and met up with Robert Edwards. While waiting for him to get off of work, I stopped for a few moments at one of the local tin piles.

1 juvenile Buttermilk Racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus) DOR
1 adult Louisiana Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum amaura) (under sheet of tin)
1 juvenile Texas Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi texana) (under sheet of tin)

An adult Louisiana milksnake (in shed) I found that afternoon underneath a sheet of tin.


Robert finally arrived and we made our way east into the Big Thicket. On the way we stopped at a few places that Robert knew of to look for snakes possibly hiding out underneath some old boards and tin. We did manage to find a small juvenile Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) although nothing else was seen that afternoon. We soon arrived where we were greeted with familiar faces and close friends. Tim Cole, Mark Pyle and a handful of others made the drive in from Austin and the Dallas area. Wayne Howell, David Doherty, Mike Rapley and other ETHS members eventually joined us as well. We quickly set up camp and helped others get settled in before dark.

The Big Thicket Preserve, habitat shot


Campsite


Another image from the campsite, cabins for the ones who can't tolerate bugs and spiders


Hiking trail near camp


Our plan that night was to simply drive some of the quiet back roads around the area before heading out to the Big Sandy Creek Unit west of town for a bit of walking. Our good friend Brian Williams joined forces with us for the night.

1 adult Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster) DOR
1 adult Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer) DOR
1 adult Texas Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi texana) DOR

The amphibians were out in full force and we made a few stops along the way in attempts to photograph a few. Leopard, Bronze, Cricket, Green Treefrogs and Narrowmouth Toads were just some of the active ones that we encountered. Heading into the Big Sandy we came across 2 adult Southern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) DOR before we stopped off to walk along a small creek for nearly an hour. There we found 2 large juvenile Western Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) lurking in the shallow water. After another good solid hour of driving and not finding anything else, we called it a night and headed back towards camp.
One of the juvenile Western Cottonmouths that we found while walking


Saturday, April 26th
We got up early the next morning and drove around town stopping to flip any debris that were visible from the roads. To our amazement not a single snake was found after nearly 3 hours of going through over 100 sheets of tin and boards. Disappointed, we headed back to camp. Many more people had arrived and as the early afternoon rolled around, some decided to split up to explore what the Big Thicket had to offer during the daytime. Robert, Brian and I decided to take a small group of new members (mostly kids and their parents) on a hike along the nearby Turkey Creek Unit trail. Our group of nearly 15 of us walked for over 3 hours finding an array of herps along the way. The time spent there was a real treat for some, many of whom had never seen snakes in their natural environments. Every reptile or amphibian we found was seen directly along the trails or within the nearby swampy sloughs.

2 juvenile Southern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)
1 juvenile Broad-banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata confluens)
1 neonate Yellowbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster)
3 adult Yellowbelly Water Snakes (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster)
1 adult Tan Racer (Coluber constrictor etheridgei)
1 juvenile Texas Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi texana)
1 adult Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus)
1 adult Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta)
TMTC Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis)
TMTC Ground Skinks (Scincella lateralis)
TMTC Five-Lined Skinks (Eumeces fasciatus)

Habitat Shot from just off the hiking trail


Southern Copperhead


One of the many sloughs that ran alongside the hiking trail


Another slough


These swampy areas were great spots to find Broad-banded water snakes


As well as grumpy Yellowbelly water snakes


The group pausing to observe a large Red-eared Slider along the swampy edge


Western Ribbon Snake


And one of the highlights of the afternoon was this gorgeous Tan Racer


After our hike there we headed north to the Pitcher Plant Trail, another unique hiking trail that is littered with hundreds of pitcher plants in certain spots. Along the board walk we found quite a few lizards out and about.
TMTC Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis)
TMTC Ground Skinks (Scincella lateralis)
TMTC Five-Lined Skinks (Eumeces fasciatus)
1 Broadhead Skink (Eumeces laticeps)

Heading down the Pitcher Plant Trail


A very neat place to be


Robert and Brian (in-situ) getting a few shots of some of the lizards running around


During the short drive back to the campsite we encountered a total of 4 road-killed Eastern Coachwhips (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) while another member found a really nice adult Prairie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster) AOR.


Arriving back at camp, we concentrated on getting everyone fed. I have to say that Brian Williams can whip up some of the best tasting hamburgers around and in no time nearly 50 of them were quickly devoured.

The master chef at work


David Doherty, Robert Edwards and Mike Rapley enjoying some down time


After a good while of visiting and sharing stories around the campfire, Robert, Brian, our young herping buddy Colby and myself all piled into Robert’s truck for another night of driving. Conditions seemed right but for some odd reason the animals were just not moving. Right before dark we found a few road kills.

1 adult Rough Earthsnake (Virginia striatula) DOR
1 juvenile Broad-banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata confluens) DOR

After a few hours of driving and not seeing any movement, we stopped to spotlight a few ditches and creeks. While standing on one bridge looking down I spotted a very large adult Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) casually outstretched on a log awaiting its next meal. Unfortunately, that was the only live snake of the evening.

Massive Western Cottonmouth


Another really good shot of this snake that Robert took


Sunday, April 27th
The groups were up early, taking down their tents and preparing for their long drives home. Breakfast was prepared and served. As most were getting ready to leave one of the last snakes of the trip was spotted on the outskirts of the campground. A surprised member called out to me that a coralsnake was casually making its way in front of her as she sat and read at a table. Sure enough, it was a really nice adult Texas Coralsnake (Micrurus fulvius tener). For most, it made a perfect ending to a good weekend.



After packing and making sure that everything was cleaned up around the site, Robert and I made the trip home. We found a few more road-killed snakes on the way and “flipped” another handful as well.

2 adult Tan Racers (Coluber constrictor etheridgei) DOR
1 juvenile Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) (under piece of tin)
1 neonate Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus aestivus) (in grass at tin site)
1 adult Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) (under trash pile)
3 adult Rough Earthsnakes (Virginia striatula) (underneath carpet)
1 adult Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) DOR
1 adult Buttermilk Racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus) (under piece of tin)
1 adult Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta) (trying to lay eggs just feet from the highway)

This nasty Buttermilk Racer was probably the ugliest one I have seen in twenty years


May 4th
(The Woodlands/ Magnolia, Montgomery County, Texas)
I had the day off from work so I took a friend out for a few hours of looking through a few local tin/ board piles.

1 adult Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) DOR
1 juvenile Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) (under old board)
1 adult Rough Earthsnake (Virginia striatula) (underneath carpet)
1 adult Buttermilk Racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus) AOR

After an hour or so of digging around we headed back closer to home to walk around a few small ponds and trails.

A few habitat shots



1 juvenile Broad-banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata confluens)
1 adult Broad-banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata confluens)
1 adult Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer)
TMTC Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta)


Overall the herping here in East Texas has been really good. Hopefully with the recent rains things will began to pick up even more. Thanks for taking the time to go through this incredibly long post. Hope you enjoyed the tour.
Nathan Wells

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