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Western North Carolina

Posted: July 3rd, 2011, 11:56 am
by myles456
Hello everybody I've lurked for a while and figured I might as well join. I'm a noob at field herping and photography so excuse my bad pictures (my current herp camera is a lavender point-and-shoot my mom bought for general family use). I have been meaning to go herping forever, but during school I don't have much time and this is the first summer I have a license and/or a vehicle. Being a poor high schooler, funds are extremely limited and with gas being so expensive I have to limit myself to nearby areas. Road cruising doesn't happen except on the way to a herping site and back. I also suck at amphibian ID, so feel free to correct me at any time.

Here are some finds from the past few months (mainly three days this week).

Eastern Fence Lizards
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Slimy Salamander lifer (I know, I live in the Appalachians!)
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Desmognathus?
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Northern Water Snake baby
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I've seen numerous N. sipedon at a particular site, but all adolescent and not much thicker than my finger. I maintain that I have been cursed by the snake gods, to forever find juveniles. I hardly ever find adult anything without legs.

Ringneck Snake
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Box Turtle
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Finally, an adult of good size for this particular species.
Queen Snake
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Black Rat Snake
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This was a really cool find and a really sucky find for me at the same time. First, I love rat snakes, and this girl sure put on a show for me. S-shaped defensive position, pretty good rattlesnake impersonation (besides her being a nearly all black colubrid), musking (surprisingly less offensive than the other species' musk with which I am familiar). She took a particular dislike to my camera, perhaps because it is purple, and each time she lunged at it her whole body came off the ground and moved about 6 inches towards the "predator". Now, this was bad because it was another adolescent, once again. She still had some of her juvenile markings. Also, this was by far the meanest rat snake I've ever caught. She must have bitten me 10 times at least (including one on my belly, as I happened to be shirtless), with several of those involving chewing. She never did calm down, every time she seemed to relax she tried to bite my face off the next instant. When I gave up and let her go, she calmly slithered off rattling her tail and making her head triangle shaped. She was still an awesome snake.

Re: Western North Carolina

Posted: July 3rd, 2011, 12:04 pm
by Grass709
love the angry rat snake, their pose always makes for a good photo.

Re: Western North Carolina

Posted: July 3rd, 2011, 12:23 pm
by dthor68
Nice finds Myles. I love western NC, live in western SC. Great place for salamanders. You are no longer a noob when you get bit on the stomach by a Rat Snake. You are now an advanced amateur!

Re: Western North Carolina

Posted: July 3rd, 2011, 12:41 pm
by Paul White
as I happened to be shirtless
put some clothes on ya hippy :lol: Love the rat snake, those're neat animals.

Re: Western North Carolina

Posted: July 3rd, 2011, 6:38 pm
by myles456
Well, now that I am officially an advanced amateur, maybe some big adult snakes!

Yes, my standard herping uniform is cargo shorts and vibrams (sin shirt). Allows for versatility. Hiking, wading for Nerodia, running from wild beasts, etc.

Re: Western North Carolina

Posted: July 4th, 2011, 11:50 am
by Steve Atkins
welcome to the forum, nice to see somebody else from WNC here.

I've been bit by a lot of snakes, but never in the belly :lol: Were all those finds in Henderson County? I love the Queen snake, I haven't found one this year yet

Re: Western North Carolina

Posted: July 4th, 2011, 2:26 pm
by myles456
The fence lizards were in Henderson County, the Queen snake in Transylvania, and the rest are ambiguous as I was at a place right on the Henderson/Transylvania line, but looking at a map I am leaning toward saying that everything was in Transylvania. I have found a river site with an abundance of northern water snakes, queen snakes, and garter snakes in Henderson County, just don't have good pics yet :thumb:

Re: Western North Carolina

Posted: March 8th, 2021, 6:13 pm
by CodyHarwood
Hey. I’m looking to start herping this spring. Very new to the whole scene, but I’m also in the Henderson county area. Do you know any good flipping places, or places with good activity?