Snake

Guest - Oct 05, 2006 11:09 PM EDT
Hi, I am the Naturalist for Latodami Environmental Education Center located in North Park. The snake photographed at the Nature Center pond is a northern water snake, Nerodia sipedon. These are the most common water snake in the area and can reach lengths of up to 40 inches, although we find they range closer to 36 full grown here. They feed primarily on small vertebrates, such as fish, frogs and tadpoles, and small mammals. They are not venonmous, but do have mild anticoagulant in their saliva which helps them to track their prey. We do get bitten every once in a while when handling them, but it is nothing to be concerned about. Nice picture.

Guest - Apr 22, 2006 12:32 PM EDT
Alandra, I forgot your question about size, it looked to be around 5 ft.

Guest - Apr 22, 2006 12:17 PM EDT
Thanks for the interest and comments Alandra and Karen. I did google the Rat Snake when I posted the photos but wasn't sure about it. It does look like the Gray Rat Snake. From what you said Karen, it wouldn't be a problem for the goose but in a way a help...I hope.

Guest - Apr 22, 2006 10:41 AM EDT
I think this is a rat snake. It looks very well fed. They usually feed on rodents and will climb trees looking for nestlings. Goose young would be too big, but their nests might attract rats and mice, hence the snake.

Guest - Apr 22, 2006 04:56 AM EDT
what you say, Mary, does make sense, about thinking the people there would know, being a Nature Centre. Am glad you are going to check back there. How large is the snake? - it's hard to tell from the pic (it looks huuge to me, but am also afraid of them : ) - maybe it's not as big as it appears to be. It would be awful if the snake got the baby goslings once they hatch, if they hatch. I don't know if the parent geese would be any match for a large snake, to fight it off I mean.

Guest - Apr 22, 2006 12:12 AM EDT
Thanks for looking and commenting Alex and Alandra. This area is located at a nature center so I would think that they are aware of the snake/dangers. I thought the same thing tho about the eggs and thought about scaring the snake so it would move away, but I'm afraid of snakes. There was no one around to tell but will check back again. I noticed pieces of fruit placed in the brush on the ground and something that looked like a snake but had legs slithered into the water, it happened so fast and when I turned around, that's when I noticed the snake. At first glance I thought it was bark. In fact I was looking for it's head and thought I was seeing the tail. Didn't know I got the head until I viewed the photo on the computer.I will be going back tho. Thanks for your concerns, which were also mine.Here is the web site that tells about the center. http://www.latodami.org/trails.html

Guest - Apr 21, 2006 09:02 PM EDT
wonder if the snake is waiting to get at the goose eggs? Looks like a snake that might be from another country, unless am mistaking the size. maybe someone abandoned the snake. maybe the wildlife people should be called, to protect the geese etc?

Guest - Apr 21, 2006 08:00 PM EDT
Great shot Mary,I don't know what kind of snake it is,but he sure blends in there pretty well. You have a good eye to spot him.