Hey guys. I spent the weekend in the mountains of Virginia and Maryland. I found a lot of cool stuff. I never really got pictures of most of it though. I just wasn't in the mood to try to get pictures of Salamanders and Ringnecks as they wouldn't sit still. I got pictures of the good stuff, though, and I have a question. I was in an open area on top of a mountain and under the third rock I flipped was this guy:
Smooth Greensnake by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
Smooth Greensnake by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
Sooo.... I was super excited. I never even expected to find a Smooth Greensnake. I think that was the find of the trip for me.
My Question: How rare are these guys? I know they're common in Michigan and Wisconsin but how common are they in Virginia and the Northeast? I think in the last year I've seen 2 people post them here. Does no one ever look for them? It didn't seem too difficult at all to find it. Was I just extremely lucky?
The next notable find was a slimy salamander. These are pretty common to most people but salamanders just don't live around my house and at the local parks. Any salamander is cool for me. Slimy Salamander (lifer):
Slimy Salamander by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
I got a double flip and with it another lifer:
Slimy and Marbled Salamander by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
Marbled Salamander by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
The next day I started flipping in Western Maryland. I found a huge Ringneck just crawling around in the rocks but the thing wouldn't stop moving.
The real excitement was a little baby Timber found under a rock:
Rattlesnake with Ringneck by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
I didn't notice the Ringneck for quite a while. I was too busy staring at my first Timber.
Timber Rattlesnake by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
Timber by JakeSchneider., on Flickr
I'll definitely be heading back there this fall. For now it's back to normal.
Results from Weekend in the Mountains
Moderator: Scott Waters
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- Mike VanValen
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Re: Results from Weekned in the Mountains
Smooth Greens are usually considered "more common than we think" due to their secretive nature, but in certain areas (such as New England) they are declining due to habitat loss and heavy pesticide use. I'd imagine in those mountains they are fairly common.
- Kyle from Carolina
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Re: Results from Weekend in the Mountains
Don't know about the rest of their new england range, but the smooth greens were abundant at high elevations in Northeastern West Virginia, fairly close to MD. I imagine the habitat might be similar. Still pretty awesome though. That timber is pretty young...I bet it hasn't moved all too far from where it was born last fall, it would be worth checking that area again during the shoulder seasons, you might see more.
- ZantiMissKnit
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Re: Results from Weekend in the Mountains
I have heard of smooth greens being more common in elevated areas as well, although the only smooth green I have found in Massachusetts was a DOR in a spot that has an elevation of 144 ft. The only others I have seen were in the mountains of PA.
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Re: Results from Weekend in the Mountains
I'll certainly be heading back there this Fall and probably again before then. It'd be awesome to find a whole pile of them like I see occasionally posted here.Kyle from Carolina wrote: That timber is pretty young...I bet it hasn't moved all too far from where it was born last fall, it would be worth checking that area again during the shoulder seasons, you might see more.
When I saw the Smooth Green, I thought I had found the best thing ever. So they're actually common at high elevations? Still really cool though.