When I saw that the mercury was supposed to hit 60 on Jan. 31st I made plans to take a drive to Snake Road and spend the day flipping rocks and logs. When I got there at 9:20 the wind was howling and it was only 49 and very cloudy. I was pretty sure I was in for a long day of disappointment. I got my first glimpse of hope about 20 minutes later when I spotted a large bullfrog sitting on a log, but by the time I reached for my camera I heard the "plop" of defeat and watched the ripples disappear. I pressed on and on and on for what seemed like forever without so much as a glimpse of life, except for the large group of vultures overhead. Almost an hour later my luck started to change. I started flipping zig-zag salamanders under numerous flat rocks at the base of a bluff
I even spotted a cave salamander poking his head out, but he was really shy
By 11:30 I had decided to hike back to my car and drive to the south end to have more time to look around before I had to be home. Well I'm glad that I decided to hike back then because I averted a tragedy. About half-way back down the road I stepped off to let a passing car go by only to notice a twig in the road begin to move....SNAKE!! I got the driver to stop her car and grabbed the snake before it got run over. I shared a laugh with the driver and opened my hand back up to see this...
I actually drew a blank and jotted down red top/yellow bottom in my notebook...it is only the second Smooth Earthsnake that I've ever seen. One more green frog was spotted before I got back to the car. By now it was 57 and the clouds were almost gone. I had a good feeling about what would be waiting for me at the south end. I had about an hour to explore the Otter Pond trail and it was just a smorgasbord of herps! Under each rock was a surprise with green frogs, leopard frogs, cricket frogs, and cave salamanders. A few shots of some of the finds....Cricket Frog
Leopard Frog
Bronze Frog
Cave Salamander
I then finished my day by trying to count how many Cave Salamnders I could see in the infamous "Grotto"...well after 27 I decided that I had probably found all of them that didn't make a break for it. Here is an in situ shot of what awaited me in the grotto...
and a shot of some of the crevice action
All in all it was a great hike and a well spent 5 hours on a beautiful January day. The snake sighting was the icing on the cake for me, and a sure sign of all the fun to come in a few weeks time
January snake! and a whole lotta sallies!
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: January snake! and a whole lotta sallies!
Fantastic! All of these sally pics are making me jealous. I've never gone herping in the winter before, but it looks like it's prime time to find salamanders! Maybe that's why I never seem to find any?
I might have to go out tomorrow night to see what I can find. Is it productive to look for salamanders at night? It will be dark by the time I get off work and in the woods
I might have to go out tomorrow night to see what I can find. Is it productive to look for salamanders at night? It will be dark by the time I get off work and in the woods
Re: January snake! and a whole lotta sallies!
honestly, I hardly ever get a chance to go out herping at night, but the sounds at night are full go for amphibians. We ahve had some 45-50 degree evenings here in S. Illinois...pretty perfect really
Re: January snake! and a whole lotta sallies!
That's a big Earth Snake, I've seen them towards the South Entrance at the Road a few times.
- Marty Whalin
- Posts: 43
- Joined: June 29th, 2010, 11:31 pm
- Location: Hint: It used to be the heart of town.
Re: January snake! and a whole lotta sallies!
Very nice, Jeremy! I'm incredibly jealous of anyone who lives within a tank of gas of that place.
Marty
Marty
Re: January snake! and a whole lotta sallies!
The size really threw me off at first...he/she was every bit of 10+ inches. The first thought I had was red-bellied snake, but then I picked it up and saw yellow. The only other one I have seen was barely 6 inches long.justinm wrote:That's a big Earth Snake, I've seen them towards the South Entrance at the Road a few times.
Thanks Marty! Any time you are ready to come back down let me know. We are buying a house, so I don't think we will be leaving the area anytime soonMarty Whalin wrote:Very nice, Jeremy! I'm incredibly jealous of anyone who lives within a tank of gas of that place.
Marty
- Brian Willey
- Posts: 100
- Joined: June 21st, 2010, 6:32 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Re: January snake! and a whole lotta sallies!
Wow an Earth Snake is quite surprising in January, not a species I'd expect to find in the middle of winter!