Black Snake

[Mike T]

I came across this guy the other day while out walking. I got down low and was trying to get a shot with its tongue out but never did. If I staid still so did the snake when I would move a bit the snake would flick its tongue out. But by the time I could refocus it would stop. After about twenty shots I guess the snake got tired of figuring out what I was and took off. Shot with a Canon 30D , 300mm 2.8 and 2X extender.
Mike

[Bevb]

What a lovely shot, love the way you have caught the snake with eyes sharp and in focus. DOF is great. What snake is this?

[cyberlord]

If this photo was taken in the NE it's probably a black rat snake. If it was from the SE it's probably a black racer. I can't tell the difference myself. I'm not sure what the variety is out west (Arizona), but from the speed of the black snakes I'd say they were racers.

Tim

[Mike T]

We have both Black Rat and Black Racers here in NJ. I pretty sure this is Black Racer. I use know snakes a lot better, as a kid my brother and I use to go out catching them. Seems to me there are a lot less snakes around now then there were some 30 odd years ago when I was a kid.

[paulnj]

That's a black ratsnake. They are pretty common(as far as snakes go) in the stokes state forest area, which is where I found a few last year.

You are correct about more nature in general being in NJ years ago. With mass development and feral cats, snakes get killed off or driven out. Kestrels are soon to be listed(within a few years) due to habitat distruction too.

[Mike T]

But in some cases there is more. Back when I was a kid out catching snakes I would never see Bear, Turkey, Coyote, Bald Eagles all of which I have seen in the last few years. Not to mention the deer population along with the ticks that go with them. Besides the lack of snakes the other thing I use to see a lot of back then that I don't see now is Ruffed Grouse.
Mike

[paulnj]

Well, the bald eagle was nearly wiped out from DDT , so that's why. Turkeys I think the state stocked(as they did with canada geese) to sell more licenses. Coyotes are very secretive, but have been spreading farther into the range they once had. Bears have always been in NJ , but had more room to be left alone. They didn't have any real enemies(besides cars) , so they grew in numbers(to 1/2 what the state claims). developing has made them more noticable. If you go to Stokes, high point , waywayanda, pequannock watershed you have a good chance at seeing a mother with her cubs where they belong. I drive from the delaware watergap to high point through state land mostly and down to pequannock in a day of birding. I may see a bear if I am lucky.

Ruffed grouse are VERY SECRETIVE and desire alot of woodland. I know where 1 pair is in this state.... ONE!!!

Deer are a product of developing, you can't hunt them near homes! The state made a mistake by stopping people from shooting so many males IMHO. I think you should be able to kill as many deer as you want for a few years, but after every buck you need to kill a doe ;)