Southern Illinois snake migration, fall 2009

Every spring and fall I try to make it down to the Shawnee National Forest in the extreme south of Illinois to watch the snake migrations. This year was no exception.

The most popular herping area is a stretch of gravel road, roughly two miles, that the snake must move across to get from their hibernacula to the habitat they live in during the summer. I did spend a day walking this road and the adjacent bluffs, but the full moon and a cold front pushed most of the snakes under cover where they were inaccessible. Areas in the surrounding habitat was much more productive, and I came away with roughly 30 species of reptile and amphibian seen.

I wasn't feeling particularly inspired in the photography area, but I did shoot a handful of the critters we found.

Rattlesnakes were the most common find. We saw four.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/...fe53a97b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/...3b71a9e6_o.jpg

in habitat

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/...e5287bfa_o.jpg

a different snake

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/...394aaeb8_o.jpg

in habitat

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/...5084d986_o.jpg

yet another. This one was just a baby, maybe a year or two old. Notice the last rattle segment is still the "button" that they are born with. This normally breaks off within a few years because the snake grows another rattle segment with each shed. If rattles didn't break off regularly, old rattlesnakes might have rattles thirty or forty links long.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3511/...400a1a36_o.jpg

under roofing tin, as found.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/...eaf078e5_o.jpg

The final rattlesnake.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/...1b46e2e0_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2467/...146cba62_o.jpg

size reference. The snake hook is 40 inches long, I think.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/...bc1ef584_o.jpg

rough green snake from snake road.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/...8f4080d1_o.jpg

as found.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/...394593e9_o.jpg

bird voiced treefrog

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/...9a3616ec_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/...62718553_o.jpg

eastern box turtle

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/...433bf53a_o.jpg

grey tree frog

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/...8b7a5bf6_o.jpg

shawnee kingsnake, lampropeltis getula holbrooki X nigra

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/...9ccde324_o.jpg

Hope you enjoyed the critters from this year!

Woah!

They're awesome!

Were you still 4inches - a foot away from the rattlesnakes? Or did you use a different lens?

Though, I assume they only attack if provoked?

Fantastic captures on all of these!!!...nice job!

Sistrurus catenatus catenatus!!!! Awesome Erik, I love to see that they still have a strong hold!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by paulnj

Sistrurus catenatus catenatus!!!! Awesome Erik, I love to see that they still have a strong hold!

---

They are indeed holding on, but that's this post!

http://forums.photographyreview.com/...ad.php?t=55422

These big boys are Crotalus Horridus, the timber rattlesnake. These make the 'saugas look like guppies.

Erik - it sounds and looks like you have a very productive time in S. Illinois!

Excellent series. Thanks for sharing these with us.

Very nice finds and pics.

and wow thats a large (timber) rattle snake.

Wonderful series Erik, thanks!

great series, one that i'd have to have a sizable lens to shoot with! congrats on your featured photo!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by michael buchanan

great series, one that i'd have to have a sizable lens to shoot with! congrats on your featured photo!

---

Thanks!

That shot with the ZD 50-200 (100-400) SWD and 25mm tube...so yeah, good, long lens. Working distance is about three feet and change.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sushigaijin

They are indeed holding on, but that's this post!

http://forums.photographyreview.com/...ad.php?t=55422

These big boys are Crotalus Horridus, the timber rattlesnake. These make the 'saugas look like guppies.

---

Boy do I feel stupid :D

The timber I see in NJ are much darker usually.