Field Herping in Georgia

Which is to say I was cutting the grass when I found this little one. It is a baby Eastern Box Turtle. It was hiding in a small pile of pine needles on my patio. I went to rake the needles onto the lawn to suck them up with the mower, and I saw a little plastron there as it was upside down. Probably a fortuitous event for him/her that I did or who knows what horrible fate might have befallen the little darling. Makes me think of the mower scene from "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" This is the first one I 've found. It's fairly uncommon as they spend a lot of their early life hiding under leaf litter and vegetation.
[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3831fdde.jpg[/IMG]
You can see from this next pictures their pretty small, about the size of a half dollar, which makes them really vulnerable to predation. That is why they spend so much time hidden.
[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psdff5275d.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for looking.

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

Which is to say I was cutting the grass when I found this little one. It is a baby Eastern Box Turtle. It was hiding in a small pile of pine needles on my patio. I went to rake the needles onto the lawn to suck them up with the mower, and I saw a little plastron there as it was upside down. Probably a fortuitous event for him/her that I did or who knows what horrible fate might have befallen the little darling. Makes me think of the mower scene from "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" This is the first one I 've found. It's fairly uncommon as they spend a lot of their early life hiding under leaf litter and vegetation.
[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3831fdde.jpg[/IMG]
You can see from this next pictures their pretty small, about the size of a half dollar, which makes them really vulnerable to predation. That is why they spend so much time hidden.
[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psdff5275d.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for looking.

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Are you in South Georgia? I live in NE Georgia and have never been lucky enough to see one here!
Thanks for sharing!

I'm in the Lawrenceville/Suwanee area. Like I said, I did a little reading and it seems pretty uncommon to find a baby because they spend much of the first year or two staying hidden. However, I think Deborah on this forum found one in her yard last year.

That's very lucky you noticed the little guy. He or she is adorable!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

I'm in the Lawrenceville/Suwanee area. Like I said, I did a little reading and it seems pretty uncommon to find a baby because they spend much of the first year or two staying hidden. However, I think Deborah on this forum found one in her yard last year.

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I live near Deborah. I'm in The Auburn/Dacula area. Right on the Gwinnett County / Barrow county line.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

I'm in the Lawrenceville/Suwanee area. Like I said, I did a little reading and it seems pretty uncommon to find a baby because they spend much of the first year or two staying hidden. However, I think Deborah on this forum found one in her yard last year.

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I did I find a baby last year right under my squash plant ;)

I live in the country I have woods and a creek so it's a good area for them and I guess if they are hungry there is my garden ;)


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Well, I thought since I found another yard critter I would just add it to my own thread. Found this guy lurking in the flower bed today. Though I did find a shed in the backyard last year, this is the first Eastern King I've come across in the flesh since I moved to Georgia. When I picked him up, he flattened his head and recoiled a bit, and then rattled his tail against my arm. Lots of posturing but no strike. After a minute or two he just settled down and was fine. Can't keep him so I just shot a couple pics and sent him on his way but in a little more snake friendly area of the burbs (more cover).

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4447e6c5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psc741cc82.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for looking.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

Well, I thought since I found another yard critter I would just add it to my own thread. Found this guy lurking in the flower bed today. Though I did find a shed in the backyard last year, this is the first Eastern King I've come across in the flesh since I moved to Georgia. When I picked him up, he flattened his head and recoiled a bit, and then rattled his tail against my arm. Lots of posturing but no strike. After a minute or two he just settled down and was fine. Can't keep him so I just shot a couple pics and sent him on his way but in a little more snake friendly area of the burbs (more cover).

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4447e6c5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psc741cc82.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for looking.

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Awesome! Thanks for sharing!!

I was going to pick up some carry-out but unfortunately I forgot my phone or I would have pics to share. Never the less, I was driving along and here was a snapping turtle on a busy road. It was on the other side of the boulevard and from the looks of things, its fate was almost certainly one in which it wouldn't reach the other side unharmed. So I turned around, hit the hazards, and moved the turtle off the road. Got quite a few looks while I was carrying it to safety as it was a pretty good size bugger. The carapace was about 14" long and I'd guess he/she weighed somewhere between 10 and 15 pounds.

I love the spring season because there is so much reptile activity. Once the hotter days of Summer roll around they just spend alot of time under cover and out of site. Next time I'll have pics, I promise.

Good job moving that snapper. We occasionally get them here, we used to put them in the bed of my dad's truck and take them home, as we have a nice large swampy pond about 1000 feet from our house. I swear I've put 10 in there over the years.

Also, it may just be me, but are you doing the "rock" symbol when you're holding that snake?? :)

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Originally Posted by Montypython696

Good job moving that snapper. We occasionally get them here, we used to put them in the bed of my dad's truck and take them home, as we have a nice large swampy pond about 1000 feet from our house. I swear I've put 10 in there over the years.

Also, it may just be me, but are you doing the "rock" symbol when you're holding that snake?? :)

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Thanks. Yeah, I noticed the way my hand was positioned after I posted it. Wasn't really trying to do the "rock" symbol as much as I was trying not to pinch him between my fingers but hold him in a position to take the pic.

I took the kids around the yard and we are 1 for 3. We found 2 unidentifed baby water snakes together but i managed not to catch either. But in the end we found the green tree snake.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/15/uguqujur.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/15/a5yrypyg.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firemaniv

I took the kids around the yard and we are 1 for 3. We found 2 unidentifed baby water snakes together but i managed not to catch either. But in the end we found the green tree snake.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/15/uguqujur.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/15/a5yrypyg.jpg

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You gonna keep him?

No will let him go. I think i read that they can be hard to keep and and are very easliy stressed.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firemaniv

No will let him go. I think i read that they can be hard to keep and and are very easliy stressed.

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Yea, I don't blame you. Set him free to catch another day.
We were on a job today in a subdivision in Lilburn, GA and some of the guys with me spotted a king snake that they said was around 5' long. I rushed to catch it to get some quick pictures, but it had escaped before I could get there. Oh well, maybe I will see it again and most definitely post picture on this thread!
Gotta love herping in GA!!

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Originally Posted by Morris Reese

Yea, I don't blame you. Set him free to catch another day.
We were on a job today in a subdivision in Lilburn, GA and some of the guys with me spotted a king snake that they said was around 5' long. I rushed to catch it to get some quick pictures, but it had escaped before I could get there. Oh well, maybe I will see it again and most definitely post picture on this thread!
Gotta love herping in GA!!

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That would have been a good find. Everyone i know seems to find snakes all the time but most are scared of them. I try to go herping some and do not have any luck at all. Lol i live on the st marys river in Camden Co and have some land. I need to get out in the woods and hunt but the woods are pretty thick here and the flying insects are bad. Some try tote you off.

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I'm the same way. It's always the ones that are scared of the snakes that see them the most. I guess with the fear of them they tend to look harder than we do!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firemaniv

I took the kids around the yard and we are 1 for 3. We found 2 unidentifed baby water snakes together but i managed not to catch either. But in the end we found the green tree snake.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/15/uguqujur.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/15/a5yrypyg.jpg

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Nice find on the green snake. I've only seen one since I moved to Georgia but they are very camouflaged so not much of a surprise there.

My dachshund needed to go out and he found himself a herptalogical speciman. Unfortunately once she shut herself in, she was pretty reluctant to come out again. I sat there for 15 minutes before I was able to get the picture with her nose in it. I went back up and watched from the house and it still took her another 10 minutes to feel comfortable enough to move.

All in all though it has been a fairly good couple of weeks around here from a reptile stand point. Two box turtles (one baby), an Eastern Kingsnake, a Brown Snake, and a decent size Snapping turtle. I live in a regular old subdivision so that's not too shabby.

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psb6f22970.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...pseef22841.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for looking

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

My dachshund needed to go out and he found himself a herptalogical speciman. Unfortunately once she shut herself in, she was pretty reluctant to come out again. I sat there for 15 minutes before I was able to get the picture with her nose in it. I went back up and watched from the house and it still took her another 10 minutes to feel comfortable enough to move.

All in all though it has been a fairly good couple of weeks around here from a reptile stand point. Two box turtles (one baby), an Eastern Kingsnake, a Brown Snake, and a decent size Snapping turtle. I live in a regular old subdivision so that's not too shabby.

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psb6f22970.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...pseef22841.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for looking

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You wouldn't happen to live in the Sav area would you? The houses in your other pics look like the Georgetown area that i used to live in.

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Originally Posted by Firemaniv

You wouldn't happen to live in the Sav area would you? The houses in your other pics look like the Georgetown area that i used to live in.

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Actually I live around the Lawrenceville Suwanee area. Like I said, I am right is the burbs.

I have a few people that i know that have moved to that area. I lived in fairburn and worked for clayton co fire for 3 years before moving back home. My wife misses the atl area, i liked it but dont miss it.

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It's always neat to see these guys in nature.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/27/ege5ypuq.jpg

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Originally Posted by Morris Reese

It's always neat to see these guys in nature.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/27/ege5ypuq.jpg

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Nice find. Were you able to get a look at its eyes to see if it was male or female? The males eyes are blood red while the females can be anything from a light pink to a coral.

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

Nice find. Were you able to get a look at its eyes to see if it was male or female? The males eyes are blood red while the females can be anything from a light pink to a coral.

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I didn't get a picture before he fled into his home, but HE had those red male eyes!

It's just been a good day for me here in Georgia! Got a chance to see 2 beauties!!!!http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/hy7e5apa.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/ba5a7y3y.jpg

SCORRRRREEEEEEEE TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!
i have never caught one of these and have wanted to see one FOREVER. The kids and i were on the way home and took the drirt road way. I caught up to a little old lady out for a drive at the beginning and thought well i will not see anything now but she let me pass right away and half way down the herp trail i spotted the king crossing the road. I got out and was doing the king/coral saying like crazy to figure out what it was. The lady caught up and saw me with the snake, bet she thinks i am crazy. I did not have any container so i drove home with 2 bouncing kids and jolding the snake in one hand.

I check on the snake webpage for univeristy of ga and by discription its a king!!!!!🐍😄😄😄😄😄😄😄🐍
Look @ that face
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/6yguvysy.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/be5a9are.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/atyvu4e6.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Morris Reese

It's just been a good day for me here in Georgia! Got a chance to see 2 beauties!!!!http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/hy7e5apa.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/ba5a7y3y.jpg

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Weren't you just saying that you never seem to find anything cool and then Bamm you go hit a double. Nice

Yep! Never give up!

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Originally Posted by Morris Reese

!!!!http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/hy7e5apa.jpg

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Eastern king? Did you pick it up and if so how was it's attitude?
Awesome find with both.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firemaniv

SCORRRRREEEEEEEE TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!
i have never caught one of these and have wanted to see one FOREVER. The kids and i were on the way home and took the drirt road way. I caught up to a little old lady out for a drive at the beginning and thought well i will not see anything now but she let me pass right away and half way down the herp trail i spotted the king crossing the road. I got out and was doing the king/coral saying like crazy to figure out what it was. The lady caught up and saw me with the snake, bet she thinks i am crazy. I did not have any container so i drove home with 2 bouncing kids and jolding the snake in one hand.

I check on the snake webpage for univeristy of ga and by discription its a king!!!!!
Look @ that face
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/6yguvysy.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/be5a9are.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/atyvu4e6.jpg

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That is a sweet find. Were abouts are you in Georgia. Not too many coral snakes unless your down in the very southern portion. Just remember to look at the head and start at the tip. Black-Yellow-Black means no touchie.

I was very surprised by his attitude! I thought for a minute that someone's pet had got loose! He was very calm and docile. He didn't mind a little attention, but I did not overdo it either!

I am in Camden county and my back yard is the St Marys river, the GA/ fl border. Jacksonville fl is 30 min south.

That is cool that the king was docile. Glad you got to pick it up to check it out. I dont know if i have ever caught one or even seen one that i can remember. I think all the black snakes that i saw as a kid were actually indigos. Which i had known that as a kid.

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I am up in Gwinnett County. We found this one about 5 miles from Stone Mountain.

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Originally Posted by Firemaniv

I am in Camden county and my back yard is the St Marys river, the GA/ fl border. Jacksonville fl is 30 min south.

That is cool that the king was docile. Glad you got to pick it up to check it out. I dont know if i have ever caught one or even seen one that i can remember. I think all the black snakes that i saw as a kid were actually indigos. Wish i had known that as a kid.

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Missed one and caught one at the pond today. This water snake was not happy. He was let go back in the pond. We also found a little turtle but forgot to get some pics.
My cell decided not to take the best pics either.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/18/7adutumu.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/18/azy8y2un.jpg

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Hanging out by the pool and a box turtle wandered by.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/04/3e2ynyre.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/04/pupu9ade.jpg

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Originally Posted by Firemaniv

Hanging out by the pool and a box turtle wandered by.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/04/3e2ynyre.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/04/pupu9ade.jpg

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Really cool. Thanks for sharing. Did you get a chance to check if it was a male or female?

No, i dont know how to tell and i was busy letting the kids see the turtle. I think it lives in a hole in some bushes and was going to an area near in the emu pen that has some grasses etc that it eats.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firemaniv

No, i dont know how to tell and i was busy letting the kids see the turtle. I think it lives in a hole in some bushes and was going to an area near in the emu pen that has some grasses etc that it eats.

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The males will have blood red eyes. The females will be anything from a light pink to a coral color.

OK here is a first. My father and a friend are shooting off the dock and before they started, this was stretched out catching some rays. First find of the year and in February lol. It is barely in the 60's and windy.

Juvie yellow rat. He has not tried to musk or bite.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...6151d4cc02.jpg
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...40d5f468b8.jpg

Wow! I can't believe that he wasn't hibernating. Nice find. I haven't come across one of those yet. All I have found are the Black Rat Snakes.

I have seen black rats around but have mainly yellows around the house. The weather where I live has been cold at night and most of the time warming to the low 60's in the day. I think so far we have only had a handful of actual cold days with some getting below freezing at night.

This little guy was sitting in my driveway today when I pulled in and it didn't even move.

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psb068tc3d.jpg[/IMG]

I'm not sure what kind of lizard it is, but I do know it is not a Skink or an Anole.

Something in the Sceloporus genus. Folks call them fence or scrub lizards around here.

I agree with John. That's a fence lizard.

My captain at work found a garter yesterday that fit in the palm of my hand. Today they had a rat snake. I found this guy crossing my road today.
It has been a slow year for field herping for me.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...43865e7fcc.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...7c1046f527.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...2ce41d1ad8.jpg

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That's a nice find especially getting late in the season. Thanks for the pics

My buddy found this and sent me the picture. It is a yellow rat snake obviously. Yellow Rat snakes are basically a striped snake, as is most of this one. Most other rat snakes are patterned similar to a corn snake or milk snake but in the case of the black rat it becomes difficult to see the pattern as it becomes darker. What I find interesting in this instance is where the body is bulged from whatever animal it had recently dipatched, you can clearly see the distinct pattern markings of a typical rat snake and not just the stripes.

[IMG]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psbllmxgj1.jpg[/IMG]

Wow nobody has found anything in a while, or posted it.

I had the kids come inside the other day and say they found a snake skin. I told them to find the snake. They did within 5 minutes. They found a young banded water snake in the grass.

I caught the snake and asked where the skin was. My son pointed towards it. I then realized he had found the shed from my 6+ ft bredli that I tossed out with the substrate! It was very funny that the kids managed to and happened to find the water snake.

The snake was released into our pond.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...17223473e3.jpg

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