Our
Observations on Snakes
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Some
characteristics of snake behavior are
accurate the majority of the time.
What throws a curve in this behavior
is the fact the creeks in
the
preserve
are mostly
spring fed with
cool
water. So, things often run on a cycle
different than expected. When the air
temperature
gets above
65 F
in the
spring, snakes
come out in a hurry. Rat snakes and
ribbon
snakes
come out first. Racers, Coachwhips,
and the venomous snakes
seem
to come out when
it gets above
75 F. When it gets above 90 F, most of
the snakes go nocturnal.
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Broad
Banded Water Snakes:
They stay around water. They come out
to warm up and rest. They can get to
be at least five ft. in length. We
have seen
them most often in mid-morning,
always
near water. The bands can be bold or
kind of dull.
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Diamondback
Water Snakes:
They hunt in the water and prefer the
water. They come out to warm
themselves and digest meals. You can
find
them just
laying on the bank, or laying
out
on logs, always around water. They can
be large, at least six ft. in length.
There is no Texas snake
that is as
big around as
they can be(circumference). They seem
to get active
right
at dark.
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Rat
Snakes:
These guys can climb and move
quick. They like brush piles, wood
piles, and piles of anything to hide
and semi-open country
to
hunt.
They can glide from tree to tree
by
using limbs to get to bird nests, with
ease. They can get long, over six ft.
and have a variety of color
forms, but with
generally the same shaped top and side
blotches. They are
most
often seen from dawn up to about noon.
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Racers
and Coachwhips:
These snakes like more open country.
They are not fond of brush piles. Knee
high grasses/weeds with shrubs seems
to be the
favorite hunting territory.
They
like it warm and are out in mid-day to
mid evening. They are the fastest
moving snakes we have seen.
They cruise around, head
slightly raised, looking for skinks,
lizards,
and
frogs. One of the
racers was at least
seven ft. in
length. The coachwhips seem to be
around five ft. These snakes run away
when you get close, at a high speed.
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Ribbon
Snakes:
There are several sub-species of
these. We have seen the base color
from a dull grey-green to almost a
flourescent green.
They are the best frog hunters we have
seen.
They can move very fast if needed and
have no problem with water. They seem
to like to
cruise around
on banks of creeks, hunting. They are
about three ft. maximum in
length,
but around two ft. is a lot more
common. They can
be skinny or a
little heavy.
We have also seen them a long way from
any water. Try to check for the white
spot on the
top
of the head and
a white spot in front of the eye.
This seems
to be there, regardless of base color.
We have found them at all times of the
day, until the
summer heat moves in.
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Texas
Brown Snake:
These are usually short, about 18
inches maximum. Some are shorter and
fat, others are longer and skinny.
They hide
under leaf
litter and rock piles.
They
can get mad if you try to pick them
up, and will strike at you. They can
be seen anytime.
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