Accipiter91
Well-known member
First I would like to say that this patch UNFORTUNATELY does not belong to me...however, I asked the land owner for permission so it is all good! My patch is located in Autryville, NC and consists of a small private cemetery scattered with mature pines, oaks, hickories, and sweet gums. If you follow a trail adjacent to the cemetery through the woods you will come to the second part of my patch the swamp. This is a medium sized tupelo/gum swamp with a generous smattering of tulip trees (poplar), oak, hickory, and the occasional pine around the perimeter. My patch is where I do most of my birding, herping, and butterfly watching and this is where the bulk of my life lists comes from.
Tonight I set out towards the graveyard in hopes of seeing the elusive Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans. Armed with a head lamp and a walking stick I set off through the warm night air. Crickets trill in the background and the miniscule eyes of spiders glow like tiny embers in the darkness. A Barred Owl Strix varia hoots softly in the distance but otherwise all is peaceful. That is when doubt and apprehension begin to set in. I listen to the sounds around me very hard and I become tense. That voice in the back of my head starts talking "Why are you out here in the dark walking towards a graveyard?" "It's not to late to turn a around ya know." Thats when the battle begins, one side of me wants to stay and possibly see a squirrel but the other side is fearful and begs to turn around. I walk faster as if I can outrun my growing dread. Suddenly I find myself in the graveyard...it is as silent as the grave. (sorry for the pun! :-O) I shine my head lamp around uneasily, the blue light reflecting eerily off the marbel tombstones. Suddenly I see it streched out in the grass...instantly my fear is gone and I am only thinking one thing...SNAKE. I walk forward slowly until I am able to identify the serpent. It is a novenemous Red-bellied Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster. I crouch down to observe the beautiful snake. Its belly glows orange like a candle in the night. I would love to have a pic of this snake but I don't have my camera...that means I would have to catch the snake and take it back home then bring it BACK after the photo shoot. Mom will not be pleased but I have made up my mind. Now...how to go about doing this...Watersnakes are known for being grumpy and will not hesitate to strike when annoyed. I decide to take the risk and gently put my hand around the snakes tail...so far so good...the snake doesn't move...I gently lift the snake up and rest my stick under its upper half. Success! The snake is very calm and doesn't attempt to bite once...
Unfortunatley I did not see the squirrels but did encounter a very beautiful snake! The photo shoot went well and I returned the snake back to the woods where it crawled rapidly away.
Sorry about the qaulity of the pic but my Mom took it and she wouldn't get very close... 3
Although I did catch this snake I urge people not to catch snakes or any other animal. It can be stressful on the animal and it is usually unnecessary. I would also like to urge people to stop the unnecessary slaughter of snakes. I have never been bit by a snake that I wasn't trying to capture. Snakes are not bloodthirsty man-killers and they try to flee or hide from man when possible, even venemous species. Don't kill a snake just because it is a snake...thanks!
Tonight I set out towards the graveyard in hopes of seeing the elusive Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans. Armed with a head lamp and a walking stick I set off through the warm night air. Crickets trill in the background and the miniscule eyes of spiders glow like tiny embers in the darkness. A Barred Owl Strix varia hoots softly in the distance but otherwise all is peaceful. That is when doubt and apprehension begin to set in. I listen to the sounds around me very hard and I become tense. That voice in the back of my head starts talking "Why are you out here in the dark walking towards a graveyard?" "It's not to late to turn a around ya know." Thats when the battle begins, one side of me wants to stay and possibly see a squirrel but the other side is fearful and begs to turn around. I walk faster as if I can outrun my growing dread. Suddenly I find myself in the graveyard...it is as silent as the grave. (sorry for the pun! :-O) I shine my head lamp around uneasily, the blue light reflecting eerily off the marbel tombstones. Suddenly I see it streched out in the grass...instantly my fear is gone and I am only thinking one thing...SNAKE. I walk forward slowly until I am able to identify the serpent. It is a novenemous Red-bellied Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster. I crouch down to observe the beautiful snake. Its belly glows orange like a candle in the night. I would love to have a pic of this snake but I don't have my camera...that means I would have to catch the snake and take it back home then bring it BACK after the photo shoot. Mom will not be pleased but I have made up my mind. Now...how to go about doing this...Watersnakes are known for being grumpy and will not hesitate to strike when annoyed. I decide to take the risk and gently put my hand around the snakes tail...so far so good...the snake doesn't move...I gently lift the snake up and rest my stick under its upper half. Success! The snake is very calm and doesn't attempt to bite once...
Unfortunatley I did not see the squirrels but did encounter a very beautiful snake! The photo shoot went well and I returned the snake back to the woods where it crawled rapidly away.
Sorry about the qaulity of the pic but my Mom took it and she wouldn't get very close... 3
Although I did catch this snake I urge people not to catch snakes or any other animal. It can be stressful on the animal and it is usually unnecessary. I would also like to urge people to stop the unnecessary slaughter of snakes. I have never been bit by a snake that I wasn't trying to capture. Snakes are not bloodthirsty man-killers and they try to flee or hide from man when possible, even venemous species. Don't kill a snake just because it is a snake...thanks!