Western Fox Snake

Missouri is home to more than 50 types of snakes and one of my favorites is the Western Fox Snake. They are not common in Missouri, they occur in a few isolated populations and one such population is at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge. At the refuge their numbers seem to be secure if not abundant. I've found several specimens at various times of the year, usually basking or crossing the road. Although we did find one hanging out in a hemp plant on top of a creek bank. Dr. Mills was able to capture it and show it to his students. It behaved remarkably docile and allowed us to handle it without offering to bite. This is not true however of every fox snake you will encounter. I've found them to be rather nippy and irritable. I assume just like humans or other animals each individual will have their own unique temperament.

(Fox Snake hidden in a hemp plant)

(Dr. Mills showing his skill at capturing a wild snake without being bitten)

(Success)

 

(beautiful fox snake)

Western Fox Snakes like many other animals have gone through a name change. They were classified as Elaphe vulpina, now they are referred to as Pantherophis vulpina. They are closely related to rat snakes and corn snakes. As juvenile snakes they so closely resemble black rat snakes that I personally have a difficult time differentiating them.

 

(Western Fox Snake)

 

(Black Rat Snake)

As you can see by the above photos these snakes are very similar in appearance in the juvenile stage. It isn't until they reach the age of about 3 years that they begin taking on their adult color form.

 

 (Black Rat Snake adult (Pantheropis obsoletus)

While Western Fox Snakes are not especially common in Missouri, in much of their range they are considered abundant. In parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa and Indiana these snakes are secure in their population. In Missouri however they are protected as a threatened species. Missouri wildlife law states that an individual can own up to 5 reptiles or amphibians as long as they are not game species, venomous or protected. Fox snakes would be illegal to possess.

Habitat for this species varies considerably, they may be found in woodlands, prairies, hay fields or pastures. Squaw Creek is predominantly a wetland, they seem to thrive there in the wet prairies. Like other rat snakes they are opportunistic feeders, and will consume small rabbits, rodents, and birds. Like many snakes their diet as juvenile will vary some from the adult diet. They may feed on lizards, frogs and salamanders in addition to the rodents their adult counterparts seem to favor. 

Soon after coming out of winter hibernation males will seek females and mating will occur. 

 

Approximately a month after mating the female will seek a suitable site for her eggs. She may choose an old stump or hollow log, or even man made mulch piles and other man made litter. The temperature and moisture within the nest needs to be ideal to prevent dessication. In 2 months small, foot long, babies will emerge from the nest. The clutch may contain from 4 to 30 eggs depending upon the age and health of the mother. These juvenile snakes are perfectly equipped for life on their own and will receive no maternal care. Not all baby snakes survive to adulthood, in fact less than 10% survive the onslaught of predators. When you are a baby snake, everything wants to eat you, including foxes, skunks, other snakes, owls, hawks, eagles, coyotes, raccoons, and large bullfrogs. We all recognize that snakes are predators, they help keep rodent populations in check as well as controlling other small animal populations. They are key components in the habitats where they occur both as predator and prey. 

 

 

American 5-Lined Skink

Lizards are not real common in NW Missouri where I live. In fact we are pretty much limited to a few skinks and a racerunner. Typically the species that we see most frequently are the 5-lined skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus). They are commonly found under rocks, leaf litter, log piles or other refuges that make hiding easy. If water is nearby so much the better. In years of extreme drought like we've experienced the last couple of years they are much harder to find. While sweeping the porch off the other day a juvenile 5-lined skink darted out from under the welcome mat and disappeared in a crack in the foundation of the house. This caused my husband who was standing nearby to jump back a few feet as it startled him.....which made me laugh. This tiny lizard, barely 4 inches in length caused a grown man a moments fright. His excuse was he didn't know what it was. I think he thought it was going to go up his pant leg, which I must admit would have made me howl in laughter had it happened.  All that was seen was a streak of blue as it vanished. As juvenile lizards they have a gorgeous bright blue tail and bright highly visible stripes. As they age these stripes fade as does the blue tail. 

These skinks are relatively small for lizards and may reach lengths up to 8.5 inches from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail. Adult males are typically larger than females. Females usually retain some of the striped pattern from their juvenile stage, although it will be faded whereas males become almost uniform brown or olive-brown in color. Some individual males in certain populations may retain some visible stripes. The most distinctive feature of the male is his bright orange head during breeding season.

Mating takes place in early spring, usually in April. The female will lay eggs in May or June. She will choose a nesting site with appropriate moisture and seclusion. This will typically be inside rotting logs or under log piles or stones.  She will remain with the eggs, guarding them from potential predators.This increases the survival rate of her offspring, even though it may put her in some increased danger of predation. Several days after the eggs hatch she will leave the young and they will remain on their own armed with all the survival skills they need. Providing predators do not capture them they will live several years.

Males can be very aggressive when defending their territories. They will chase other males off or stand their ground and fight. It is not uncommon to see males with battle wounds from tangling with other more aggressive males. While males are intolerant of other males within their territory, they do tolerate females and juveniles and show no aggression towards them. I recently spotted a skink under a piece of tin at our farm. Its skin looked rather odd and I could not decide if it was injured, covered in fungus or trying to shed. I shared the photos with several experts and all agreed that it was shedding. Like snakes and other reptiles skinks will shed their skin. Shedding depends on how much they are eating and growing, as well as on whether or not they have incurred some sort of injury that damaged the skin.

5-Lined skinks range throughout eastern United States and are very common in Missouri. They require no special conservation status. In Canada they are classified as endangered and it is illegal to own one. In Missouri you can own one as a pet and they are relatively easy to care for, although somewhat secretive. They feed on a wide variety of insects and spiders. 

They are also preyed upon by a wide variety of predators, including skunks, snakes, raccoons, birds, turtles, shrews, domestic cats and many others. These small lizards are an important component in the food chain where they occur, whether as prey or predator.

(5-Lined skink feeding on daddy longlegs (harvestman))

These fast moving lizards are sometimes difficult to see, but with patience and perseverance you will be rewarded with being able watch one carrying out its daily habits. Whether it is stalking food, chasing off a potential threat or pursuing a female to mate with these lizards or interesting and fun to watch. While it is legal in Missouri to make a pet out of one of these lizards, try to refrain from taking one home and instead leave it be and enjoy the knowledge that they are intriguing and unique inhabitants to the ecosystem where they occur.

Snake Fungal Disease: The White-Nose Syndrome for Reptiles? By: Matt Miller

This milk snake captured in New York shows signs of fungal and bacterial infections. Could this become a major risk to snake populations across the United States? Photo: D.E. Green, USGS National Wildlife Health Center

By Matt Miller, senior science writer

 While studying timber rattlesnake movement patterns and habitat use in Vermont, researchers made a surprising discovery: snakes covered in lesions, particularly around their faces.

Called snake fungal disease, it’s a disease showing up with increasing frequency in snakes around the eastern and midwestern United States. Conservationists fear it could pose a similar threat to snakes as white-nose syndrome in bats. That’s a scary comparison: white-nose syndrome was first documented in 2007 in New York and has since spread widely, killing millions of bats as far west as Oklahoma. It has recently been raging through caves in the Smoky Mountains and has been verified in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park. So far, despite many efforts at controlling the spread, the disease rages on. Could snakes face a similar menace?

Timber rattlesnakes don’t move as widely as bats, but they do share some habits. They too hibernate underground in communal dens—often with other snake species. During hibernation, immune systems are suppressed. This combination can create a fertile ground for fungal disease growth and spread.“There has been a lot of money spent on white-nose syndrome, and a lot of educational outreach, but so far they’ve been unable to stop the spread in bats,” says Emily Boedecker, acting state director for The Nature Conservancy in Vermont. “Snakes are even less appreciated by the public than bats.  An emerging disease is a significant concern.” The research partnership between the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Orianne Society and The Nature Conservancy captured snakes to monitor their movements through radio telemetry. But they also weighed and measured snakes, and assessed their health. That’s when researchers found snake fungal disease. It has never been documented in Vermont before, but now it was turning up on numerous snakes.

Snake fungal disease has been documented sporadically in the past, but it began showing up with increasing frequency beginning in 2006. While it has been known to cause mortality, the effects on snake populations is yet unknown – in large part due to the secretive nature of snakes.

“We have more questions than answers,” says Dr. Chris Jenkins, executive director of the Orianne Society. “We don’t know if it’s a big deal yet, but we need to look into it closely.”

Jenkins notes that the disease does not appear to be spreading like white-nose syndrome; it is appearing in different parts of the country at the same time. It’s possible that snake fungal disease is not new but is only now being recognized. “Maybe we just weren’t looking for it,” he says.

When they emerge from hibernation, timber rattlesnakes bask in the sun, which appears to help control the lesions.

Another possibility is that the disease has always been present, but now has been exacerbated by a change in environmental conditions, including climate change.

In Vermont, researchers found that the timber rattlesnake population had relatively low genetic diversity, not surprising given its isolation. “Low genetic diversity and a fungal disease is a combination I find very disconcerting,” says Doug Blodgett, a wildlife biologist for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.

 Biologist Doug Blodgett captures a timber rattlesnake in Vermont. While the research is aimed at tracking snake movements for conservation purposes, it also assesses snake health. Photo: Matt Miller/TNC

 

The problem with wildlife diseases – indeed, any threats to wildlife – is that they are not considered serious threats until it’s too late. It is difficult to predict what will be a minor issue and what will devastate millions of animals – as has turned out to be the case with white-nose syndrome, and fungal diseases impacting amphibians.

While snake fungal disease was not a focus of the Vermont research, it may be one of the most important findings. Hopefully this time conservationists can gather necessary information and develop strategies to stop the disease before it devastates snake populations.

“We know so little about this disease, but now we know it’s here and we can start addressing the issue,” says Blodgett. “We know we can’t ignore it. The past should teach us that.”

Matt Miller is a senior science writer for the Conservancy. He writes features and blogs about the conservation research being conducted by the Conservancy’s 550 scientists. Matt previously worked for nearly 11 years as director of communications for the Conservancy’s Idaho program. He has served on the national board of directors of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and has published widely on conservation, nature and outdoor sports. He has held two Coda fellowships, assisting conservation programs in Colombia and Micronesia. An avid naturalist and outdoorsman, Matt has traveled the world in search of wildlife and stories.

- See more at: http://blog.nature.org/science/2013/06/11/snake-fungal-disease-the-white-nose-syndrome-for-reptiles/#sthash.jt9LtP7q.dpuf

 

Matt Miller is a senior science writer for the Conservancy. He writes features and blogs about the conservation research being conducted by the Conservancy’s 550 scientists. Matt previously worked for nearly 11 years as director of communications for the Conservancy’s Idaho program. He has served on the national board of directors of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and has published widely on conservation, nature and outdoor sports. He has held two Coda fellowships, assisting conservation programs in Colombia and Micronesia. An avid naturalist and outdoorsman, Matt has traveled the world in search of wildlife and stories.

- See more at: http://blog.nature.org/science/2013/06/11/snake-fungal-disease-the-white-nose-syndrome-for-reptiles/#sthash.jt9LtP7q.dpuf

Matt Miller is a senior science writer for the Conservancy. He writes features and blogs about the conservation research being conducted by the Conservancy’s 550 scientists. Matt previously worked for nearly 11 years as director of communications for the Conservancy’s Idaho program. He has served on the national board of directors of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and has published widely on conservation, nature and outdoor sports. He has held two Coda fellowships, assisting conservation programs in Colombia and Micronesia. An avid naturalist and outdoorsman, Matt has traveled the world in search of wildlife and stories.

- See more at: http://blog.nature.org/science/2013/06/11/snake-fungal-disease-the-white-nose-syndrome-for-reptiles/#sthash.jt9LtP7q.dpuf

Silence of Rattlesnake Researchers: Snakes, Culture and Conservation

After an extended hiatus from posting on this blog we are finally back and honored to be able feature articles written by Nature Conservancy Senior Science Writer, Matt Miller. Thank you Matt again for offering your talents for our use.

Wildlife biologist Doug Blodgett is mum about the locations of rattlesnakes:

 to protect the snakes from people. Photo: Matt Miller/TNC

By Matt Miller, senior science writer

Here’s what you quickly learn about rattlesnake researchers: They’re fearless, but pay obsessive attention to safety. They watch their step. And they keep their mouths shut.

In fact, when I joined snake researchers in the field in Vermont, I was practically sworn to secrecy. They asked that I promise not to reveal specific locations where snakes were found, or use any photos with revealing landmarks. Snake researchers are silent.

For good reason: they do not want their research to endanger the rattlesnakes they’re trying to conserve.

Snakes should fear us more than we fear them. Snake researchers know this. They were far more anxious about people discovering their research sites than they were about handling venomous snakes.

It’s no secret that people have strong (and some have argued innate) feelings about snakes. Some take those feelings and act on them. There are those who hate snakes and round them up, shoot them, spray gasoline down their dens. There are others who love snakes, who want to interact with them, who want them as pets, who want to play Croc Hunter.

Both the snake haters and the snake lovers can harm reptile populations, including Vermont’s endangered timber rattlesnakes.

That’s why the researchers I recently accompanied – part of a project between the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Orianne Society and The Nature Conservancy—were so secretive. They knew that some people would follow them to research sites, causing potential havoc for vulnerable timber rattlers.

Vermont paid a bounty on timber rattlesnakes until 1981, so there are still those who not only kill snakes, but consider it something of a civic duty.

And while it may seem difficult to believe for those who consider pets to be cuddly animals like guinea pigs and golden retrievers, there are those who want to own rattlesnakes. Some individuals follow researchers to snake hibernation sites, record the location using GPS and then sell the coordinates to reptile pet enthusiasts. (For an excellent account of the scope of global reptile trafficking, I recommend Bryan Christy’s book, The Lizard King).

“Rattlesnakes live for 20 to 40 years, and have low reproductive rates,” says Chris Jenkins, executive director of the Orianne Society, an organization devoted to reptile conservation. “Removing or killing adults is one of the very worst things you can do to a population.”

But some want to interact with snakes for less nefarious purposes. They are fascinated by these creatures and just want to see them (and sometimes, handle them). “Many people want to go to a hibernation site just to interact with snakes,” says wildlife biologist Doug Blodgett with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. “But those interactions can harm snakes and put people at risk.”

Towards a New Relationship with Rattlesnakes

                                                        Give rattlesnakes some space, for your safety and theirs. 

                                                                                   Photo: Matt Miller/TNC

It might seem difficult to override our feelings about snakes. As Edward O. Wilson, David Quammen and others have written, many infants will shriek in terror when shown a snake. Youngsters don’t have such automatic reactions when shown more dangerous objects, like guns or poison. Kids have to be taught to avoid these things. With snakes, there’s an inborn fear—likely from humanity’s time on the savanna when stepping on a venomous snake would have very bad consequences.

The cultural hatred of snakes can run deep. Consider rattlesnake roundups,  where people capture snakes (often by using gasoline fumes to flush them out of their dens) and then hold “family events.” Rattlers are subject to all manner of cruelty at these events.

But education can make a difference: in Georgia, the Orianne Society replaced a traditional rattlesnake roundup with an educational festival about snakes. It has been better attended than the previous event.

In Vermont, there are still those who would kill all rattlesnakes given the chance. As I rode through a small town with Blodgett, a large pickup pulled up next to us and hissed “SNAKE!” out the window, this despite Blodgett’s secrecy about the project. Some local residents believe the researchers are stocking snakes, a fairly common conspiracy theory wherever rattlesnakes are found.

Still, most people recognize timber rattlesnakes as an important part of the Appalachian Mountains. They are happy to know the rattlers are out there but don’t need interactions.

But what if a rattlesnake ends up in your backyard? The research partners have been handing out refrigerator magnets and brochures that list licensed snake researchers who will come and safely remove any rattlesnakes.

“It’s making a difference,” says Blodgett. “People know who to call when they have a rattlesnake too close.”

Most people will hike by timber rattlesnakes without even knowing they’re nearby. In fact, even snake researchers often have difficulty finding the snakes, even those with radio transmitters.

If you do see a rattlesnake while out hiking, consider yourself lucky, and enjoy the encounter from a distance. And consider this: While habitat loss, disease and climate change certainly pose risks to timber rattlesnakes, they also continue to be threatened by human ignorance.

So give snakes plenty of space. After facing too many years of relentless persecution and bad human behavior, they deserve it.

Matt Miller is a senior science writer for the Conservancy. He writes features and blogs about the conservation research being conducted by the Conservancy’s 550 scientists. Matt previously worked for nearly 11 years as director of communications for the Conservancy’s Idaho program. He has served on the national board of directors of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and has published widely on conservation, nature and outdoor sports. He has held two Coda fellowships, assisting conservation programs in Colombia and Micronesia. An avid naturalist and outdoorsman, Matt has traveled the world in search of wildlife and stories.

- See more at: http://blog.nature.org/science/2013/06/12/silence-of-the-rattlesnake-researchers-snakes-culture-and-conservation/#sthash.saxCUflq.dpuf

Matt Miller is a senior science writer for the Conservancy. He writes features and blogs about the conservation research being conducted by the Conservancy’s 550 scientists. Matt previously worked for nearly 11 years as director of communications for the Conservancy’s Idaho program. He has served on the national board of directors of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and has published widely on conservation, nature and outdoor sports. He has held two Coda fellowships, assisting conservation programs in Colombia and Micronesia. An avid naturalist and outdoorsman, Matt has traveled the world in search of wildlife and stories.

- See more at: http://blog.nature.org/science/2013/06/12/silence-of-the-rattlesnake-researchers-snakes-culture-and-conservation/#sthash.saxCUflq.dpuf