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Category Archives: Reptiles, Amphibians
Copperhead Or Cottonmouth?
I got an education on the ID of this Juvenile Cottonmouth by several people. The color I think is what made me think that this was a Copperhead. Thanks to everyone that took the time to explain the difference between the two on Facebook and here on my blog.
I spotted this Cottonmouth crossing the road at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Instead of slithering away it froze which allowed me to take a few photos.
Common names include variants on water moccasin, swamp moccasin or black moccasin; also cottonmouth, gapper, or simply viper. Many of the common names refer to the threat display, where this species will often stand its ground and gape at an intruder, exposing the white lining of its mouth.
Western Scrub Jays, Lizards And Rabbits
On March 31, I setup camp at Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah. I know I am in a great spot when I see wildlife in my camp area.
At 3:30 PM everyday I would have a couple of Western Scrub Jays fly into my campsite. They would just look around for a minute or two and then fly off. I did some research on these birds and discovered that they are very intelligent.
Recent research has suggested that Western Scrub Jays, along with several other corvids, are among the most intelligent of animals. The brain-to-body mass ratio of adult Scrub Jays rivals that of chimpanzees and cetaceans, and is dwarfed only by that of humans. Scrub Jays are also the only non-primate shown to plan ahead for the future, which was previously thought of as a uniquely human trait. Other studies have shown that they can remember locations of over 200 food caches, as well as the food item in each cache and its rate of decay. Western scrub jays also summon others to screech over the body of a dead jay, according to new research from the University of California, Davis. The birds’ cacophonous “funerals” can last for up to half an hour. (Wikipedia)
Lizards and Rabbits were also a daily visitor.
Also posted in Birds, Mammals
Tagged kodachrome basin state park, utah, western scrub jay
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This Warm Arkansas Weather Is Bringing Box Turtles Out
Box Turtle I Found While On A Hike
The temps here in my part of Arkansas has been in the 70′s the past couple of days. This is unseasonably warm winter weather and I guess it has gotten the Box Turtles to come out of hibernation.
Depending on the part of the country, most box turtles in the wild hibernate. In northern states they may hibernate for 6 months while in Florida and along the gulf coast they may only slow down during the cooler winter months and not enter a true hibernation state.
Box Turtles hibernate by burrowing into loose soil, decaying vegetation, and mud. They tend to hibernate in woodlands, on the edge of woodlands, and sometimes near closed canopy wetlands in the forest. Box turtles may return to the same place to hibernate year after year. As soon as they come out of hibernation, box turtles begin feeding and searching for mates.
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
I spotted this Eastern Hog-nosed Snake while riding my bike on Fort Chaffee here in Arkansas. I have never seen one this color before.
This species is unquestionably one of the most variably colored and patterned snakes found in Arkansas. The predominant coloration can be black, brown, dark olive, yellow, or red. Some individuals will have a bold blotched patterning while others will be almost completely solid. Solid individuals are typically dark: brown or olive. Patterned individuals typically have a background coloration of yellow or light tan, though some are more rust-colored.(Herps of Arkansas)
One-eyed Turtle
While I was working in my yard I observed this large slider turtle passing through. I grabbed my pocket camera and when I got close to the turtle I noticed that it had only one good eye. I was able to get close as long as I stayed on this turtles blind side.
Tagged Turtle
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