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Re: OT, snake ID
- To: LisaBirder@aol.com, carolinabirds@duke.edu (CAROLINA BIRDS)
- Subject: Re: OT, snake ID
- From: "BILL HILTON JR. (Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History)"<hilton@hiltonpond.org>
- Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2000 15:49:50 -0400
- In-Reply-To: <f3.2ec4158.26fd03d5@aol.com>
- References: <f3.2ec4158.26fd03d5@aol.com>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
LISA . . .
This, undoubtedly, was an aptly named Redbelly Snake (Storeria
occipitomaculata), a close relative of the more commonly seen Dekay's
or Brown Snake (S. dekayi). It occurs across the eastern U.S.
Despite the fears of your product manager, a Redbelly Snake couldn't
bite you if it wanted to. (It will make short work of earthworms and
slugs, however.)
The odor you smelled was a musk that many kinds of snakes produce,
likely as a deterrent to predators.
Cheers,
BILL
**********
>Hi there,
>
>I'm sorry for this OT post, but I know there are some snake-saavy
>people on the list. :-)
>
>This morning as I was crossing the parking lot from the office
>mailbox, I saw what I thought was a piece of dark colored string on
>the asphalt. As I got closer, I though it was a dead snake. Turned
>out to be a live snake.
>
>He was very little, only about 8 inches, I'd say. he could fit
>curled up in my palm. I of course had to bring him inside to show my
>coworkers. They were less than impressed. I forget sometimes that
>not everyone likes snakes as much as I do. Our product manager
>wouldn't come out of the bathroom until I put the snake out. <g>
>
>Anyway, I have never seen such a snake before. He was dark grayish
>black, with a kind of reddish mark just behind the head. But what
>was most notable was his belly. It was bright orange-red, very
>vibrant.
>
>He was very docile, happy to explore my hands and fingers with the
>sweet little tonuge flicking in and out. Never showed any agression,
>although he did make a funny smell when I first picked him up. Like
>wet dog.
>
>He really was a cute little snake! Any ideas on his species?
>
>Lisa G.
>lisabirder@aol.com
>Cary, NC
--
P.S. The website for Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
now has a search engine that is accessible from the main Table of
Contents page.
**********
BILL HILTON JR., "The Piedmont Naturalist"
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road
York, South Carolina 29745
USA
e-mail: <hilton@hiltonpond.org>
Voice: (803) 684-5852
eFax: (503) 218-0845
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit research and education organization, so all in-kind or
monetary gifts to Operation RubyThroat and the Center are
tax-deductible. Please visit our websites:
Hilton Pond: <http://www.hiltonpond.org>
Operation RubyThroat: <http://www.rubythroat.org>
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to
watch the sunset."
BHjr.
**********