Snake Collection

[tyrantuladub]

So I've had a passion for snakes for as long as I can remember. I was never able to acquire any of my own until very recently. I also enjoy catching snakes from around my house and houses of friends and family. I have more than what is pictured, but I really wanted to show this little one off.

0.0.1 Clonophis kirtlandii - Kirtland's Snake



I found this little guy the other day at my cousin's place, such a beautiful little snake. Super friendly as well, it almost seems that this snake enjoys being handled. This is the first one I've ever seen, and I hope to spot a few more.

 

[Galluch13]

Nice find! When I was younger I was always catching garter snakes, some have amazing patterns. I wish they looked like that around here.

 

[tyrantuladub]

Thanks! Yeah, these guys have a pretty limited distribution throughout my area and the surrounding four states. I'd like to find a few more and do some captive breeding. Not more than a few though, don't wanna decimate a wild population.

 

[loxoscelesfear]

Seen a few Kirtland's in my time. They used to be abundant in vacant lots in downtown Indianapolis. Not anymore though. They supposedly spend a great deal of time in abandoned crayfish burrows.

 

[Shrike]

Beautiful snake, and one that few people are familiar with. We regularly turned these up under cover objects when I was in grad school in Indiana. I had to have permits to handle them since the study site was in a national wildlife refuge and they are state endangered. I see you're already sensitive to the issue of over collecting, but you still might want to look into Ohio's rules and regulations regarding collecting/breeding/selling native reptiles and amphibians:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Default.aspx?tabid=15493

With isolated populations inhabiting fragmented parcels of habitat, the loss of one snake of breeding size can still have an impact on the long term viability of the species--the whole death of a thousand cuts concept. You're probably not the only person that has coveted one of these beauties.

 

[tyrantuladub]

Thanks! Yeah, I need to apply for a license asap. However, they're not listed as endangered in the state of Ohio. I can also see what you mean about effecting a breeding population, especially considering how sparsely distributed these guys are. I didn't even know that they were in my county, let alone about 10 minutes from my house.

I haven't really seen much of anything in any crayfish burrows on my critter hunts as of late, in fact I haven't even seen many Garter Snakes around and the yard is usually crawling with them. This little one sure does seem to enjoy burrowing in the cocofiber though, and for something that's supposed to be pretty reclusive I see it out quite a bit. A very curious little snake, and a great hand snake as well.

 

[cantthinkofone]

If you are under 18 you cannot lawfully own a propagation liscense in the state of Ohio. That being said the snake cannot technically lawfully be under your care. Once again that being said most people I know in Ohio department of Agroculture dont care. Lastly though if you got a jerk representative inspecting the approval o the liscense then you could face small fines and rarely confiscation. I wish I had snakes near me

 

[Shrike]

I wish I had snakes near me

Good news...you do!

 

[cantthinkofone]

Not in the middle of my city. I live in a concrete jungle an sadly the only snakes are at two turtles and reptile shows.

 

[Shrike]

Not in the middle of my city. I live in a concrete jungle an sadly the only snakes are at two turtles and reptile shows.

You never know. There are many species (Northern brown snakes, garter snakes, common water snakes, etc) that can survive in surprising places.

I guess the term "near" is what you make it of it. I'm not familiar with Akron so I'm relying on googlemaps, but what about the Mogadore Reservoir , Munro Falls Metro Park, or Portage Lakes State Park. Or better yet, how about Cuyahoga National Park? I'm willing to bet a few snakes live there:

http://www.nps.gov/cuva/naturescience/upload/NPS_CUVA_Letterhead_Reptiles List 2009.pdf

I've found black racers, black rat snakes, worm snakes, garter snakes, ribbon snakes, water snakes, rough green snakes, ringneck snakes, and Eastern hognose snakes, all within 30 minutes of downtown Washington, DC. Go find some snakes!

 

[cantthinkofone]

Well I'm not exactly smack dab Akron. I'm in C falls (cuyahoga falls). Taking from those parks is a "federal crime" so that's a no go

 

[Shell]

Well I'm not exactly smack dab Akron. I'm in C falls (cuyahoga falls). Taking from those parks is a "federal crime" so that's a no go

Shrike was talking about going out, finding snakes, and taking pics, not actually collecting the snakes themselves. Go out on a field trip, search, and take pics. It's a great time, and you'll begin to see the diversity of the wildlife "near" you.

 

[Shrike]

Well I'm not exactly smack dab Akron. I'm in C falls (cuyahoga falls). Taking from those parks is a "federal crime" so that's a no go

Right on Shelley

I don't advocate collecting (for reasons stated above), merely appreciating, but that's just me. My point is simply that there are definitely snakes "near" you. All you have to do is find them.