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West Virginia Species?

patm1313

patm1313

Pyromaniac
I'm going down to West Virginia over the July 4th weekend, and figured that since I'm going to be camping and rafting/kayaking down there, and will be outdoors a lot, that I might as well do some herping. There's plenty of opportunities, and the best place to find snakes is in between the rocks that run along the river that I will be paddling.

So here's my question, What are the main species of snakes down there? I know to watch out for those eastern rattlers, they love the rocky parts of WV. But aside from that, is there anything worth herping for? Also, are there any other venomous snakes outside of the eastern rattler that I should be aware of?
 
Looking at that list, I would like to find a black ratsnake, a corn or two (hopefully), a smooth greensnake, and a few others. I'll have my new Nikon D40 when I go, so I'll be sure to take some pictures and post them up after I get back.
 
patm1313 said:
Looking at that list, I would like to find a black ratsnake, a corn or two (hopefully), a smooth greensnake, and a few others. I'll have my new Nikon D40 when I go, so I'll be sure to take some pictures and post them up after I get back.
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You need pictures of a Copperhead. IMO, one of the most gorgeous North American snakes to be found in the wild. Simply BEAUTIFUL!!

Oh yea...they are venomous and quite potentially dangerous to humans. A bite would suck, and they don't have rattles. Take pics with a long lens...
 
tyflier said:
You need pictures of a Copperhead. IMO, one of the most gorgeous North American snakes to be found in the wild. Simply BEAUTIFUL!!

Oh yea...they are venomous and quite potentially dangerous to humans. A bite would suck, and they don't have rattles. Take pics with a long lens...
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Just to give you perspective on their beauty...

I would trade finding Sidewinders for Copperheads any day of the week. Sidewinders are cool and gorgeous...but NOTHING compares to the natural beauty of a clean Copperhead...
 
Take a snake hook with you...Please... Them naughty snakes love fingers.....And take a mirror to reflect light into darker spots......... And some pics for us guys who dream of finding something 'interesting'
 
Definitely watch for the copperheads. They are gorgeously dangerous. :) I've never even seen a hognose around in WV (I live right across the Ohio River), but I've never really gone looking for them either. I've seen plenty of black racers and black rat snakes though - even heard a few rattlesnakes when I was younger.
 
Copperheads are indeed beautiful! Just don't expect a warm welcome!!!

normal_copper.JPG
 
tyflier said:
You need pictures of a Copperhead. IMO, one of the most gorgeous North American snakes to be found in the wild. Simply BEAUTIFUL!!

Oh yea...they are venomous and quite potentially dangerous to humans. A bite would suck, and they don't have rattles. Take pics with a long lens...
Click to expand...

Lol, my hillbilly roots make me immune to all kinds of venom. :sidestep:

I will try to get some pictures of them, but I'm not going too far out of my way, as a bite would really suck...
 
snakewispera snr said:
Take a snake hook with you...Please... Them naughty snakes love fingers.....And take a mirror to reflect light into darker spots......... And some pics for us guys who dream of finding something 'interesting'
Click to expand...

My arm = Snake Hook

I think a twig would do the job, and I don't plan to go to close to anything that could be too bad (ie. rattlers, copperheads, etc.)

Nanci said:
Maybe you'll find a hognose!
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I hope I do, I never see any of them up here in PA.

Voodoo said:
Definitely watch for the copperheads. They are gorgeously dangerous. :) I've never even seen a hognose around in WV (I live right across the Ohio River), but I've never really gone looking for them either. I've seen plenty of black racers and black rat snakes though - even heard a few rattlesnakes when I was younger.
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I'ss be on the lookouts for copperheads, though they are said to try to keep their distance from humans. I have seen Hogs in WV, but they can be few and far at times...

Goldtop said:
Copperheads are indeed beautiful! Just don't expect a warm welcome!!!

normal_copper.JPG
Click to expand...

Wow, that copperhead is beautiful! I'll keep my distance from them.
 
Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do, but:
My arm = Snake Hook

I think a twig would do the job, and I don't plan to go to close to anything that could be too bad (ie. rattlers, copperheads, etc.)
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This is gonna get you killed in the field. Hope for the best, expect the worst, and you usually end up somewhere in the middle. Get yourself a reliable LONG snakehook. Chances are good that you will come across a timber rattler or copperhead in the road, and you will want it moved to avoid it getting killed. A "twig" ain't gonna cut it.

I carry a 40" snake hook with me everytime I go cruising. I can't stand seeing a beautiful rattler sitting in the road waiting to get killed, and I doubt you could stand it either. Get yourself a long hook, and make life easier and safer for both you and the snakes...A good one should run you around $30...
 
And when you are turning things over. the fingers on the end of your snake hook will be the first thing that gets bit.....There is a protocol to observe when hots are in the equation, worked out over many other peoples mistakes....
 
and to quote something YOU posted in another thread....

To be honest, I wouldn't even suggest catching wild snakes, even to release them right away. They have parasites, and bites from a wild snakes are ten times more likeley to get infected. I would keep you distance and just look and take pictures.
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So yes...a snake hook is in order.
 
tyflier said:
Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do, but:

This is gonna get you killed in the field. Hope for the best, expect the worst, and you usually end up somewhere in the middle. Get yourself a reliable LONG snakehook. Chances are good that you will come across a timber rattler or copperhead in the road, and you will want it moved to avoid it getting killed. A "twig" ain't gonna cut it.
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I was kidding, and I'm not planning to cuddling with any rattler or copperhead. :uhoh: But I will look into a snake hook, I think my local pet shop has them for very little.
 
Drewby07 said:
and to quote something YOU posted in another thread....

So yes...a snake hook is in order.
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I don't plan to catch any snakes, and for that matter even touch them. I'm not going out searching for snakes to catch and release, but instead to take pictures.
 
patm1313 said:
I don't plan to catch any snakes, and for that matter even touch them. I'm not going out searching for snakes to catch and release, but instead to take pictures.
Click to expand...

If you find a snake in the road, are you comfortable with leaving it there, knowing that it has a decent chance of being run over and killed? It's OK if you are, it's a personal choice. I'm not, so I carry a hook.

Having a hook in your posession and knowing how to properly use it will give you the ability to move even deadly snakes off the road to safety with little risk to yourself. There is always a risk with venomous snakes, and you need to set yourself a comfort zone...a line you don't cross...and be careful. But if you practice with some of your larger colubrids, you'll at least get an idea of what can be expected.

I certainly don't "play" with rattlesnakes, by any means. I move them off the road and have my girlfriend take some pictures along the way. I hold that 40" hook striaght out with my 3' long arm and move slowly. I figure if I ever become "unafraid", it's time to move on...;)

For the record, I also use my hooks for removing any road kill I see to prevent another animal being killed while trying to eat it...
 
Why wouldn't you want to catch any non-venomous snakes you find? That's the best way to get nice pictures of them.
 
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