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RE: Florida and Eastern Cottonmouths
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by thedude on February 23, 2007
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Thanks SkyChimp!
About the copperheads - "this century" I was referring to the 2000s! I am actually employed at the park as a Ranger Technician (since 2000, now in addition to my "real" job as a Environmental Scientist, I just can't stop working for the park - too much fun) and my fiance is a Law Enforcement Park Ranger. It is true that copperheads and canebrakes have been found in the park in the past but there have not been any found recently (this century, and btw the Rangers rarely have enough time to really be up to date on the current status of snakes, with the exception of a few). Also I have only found cottonmouths in the swamp at the east end of the resevoir (6 years looking in all areas of the park and both main resevoirs by foot and boat) - I even surveyed the Grafton Ponds a few times- none there, even though in the past it was full of them (most likely to do with amount of rain and the ponds being full longer). I would love to see either a cane or copper in the park - that would probably make my year! As far as cottonmouths outside of the park on the peninsula - never found any, even at Sandy Bottom where ONE was reported about two years ago (supposedly a photo exists, but I have not seen it). There is a massive wetland creation effort there that may make it more hospitable for cottons but I believe that unless you have suitable hibernacula you will not have any cottons (my cottons are using the same type hibernacula as the canebrakes in Savitzky's studies). Sandy Bottom is loaded with N. watersnakes though, which do really really well in disturbed/modified habitats. BTW have you been on Hampton Roads Center Parkway yet and see the clearcut on the NN side? That is going to be hell on the canebrakes there (that was where a bunch of hibernaculums reportably were)! I heard a rumor that VDGIF is basically writing off the canebrake population on the peninsula and focusing their conservation efforts on the southside.
Anyway my field work is over but I am recruiting a student to carry on and further the study. If you want to come on out when we are in the field just e-mail me! It great fun and we turn up a bunch of snakes! Besides I would like to meet you and talk snakes!
As far as Cottons in the Chick Res. I will probably check that out maybe during the VHS survey which this year is being held at the Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area which is just south of the res.
BTW if you are not already a member - join the Va Herp Soc (link on my profile). Its great and you meet many people from all over the state (academics, wildlife professionals, amatuers, enthusiests etc...)!
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RE: Florida and Eastern Cottonmouths
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by skyChimp on February 23, 2007
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By “east side” of the reservoir, do you mean on the golf course side? If so, it’s ironic, I’ve never seen one on that side. Though I do remember many years ago a blurb and a photo in the Daily Press about a large cotton found on the golf course.
The ones I’ve seen were mainly on the west side, near and above the swamp boardwalk. I’ve found them in the spring, summer and fall nestled in the tall grass. I like to gently lift the grass with my stick and see what’s under there. Occasionally, there will be a cotton. Some have been pretty big, though I’ve never seen one as big as in your photo.
I’ve never herped Grafton Ponds. However, I have heard a pretty reliable report of a cotton found in Marlbank in a low lying, flooded area near Harrod Lane. But it’s been awhile and I don’t know if that has been developed or not.
I have a friend who has informed me that he has found a few off of Semple Farm Road, and near Big Bethel Reservoir. Given the looks of Big Bethel Reservoir, I don’t have a hard time believing it.
I also received a report from a snake-loving boy scout that he saw one in the children’s fishing pond at Cheatem Annex, but I don’t know if he ID’d it correctly. The habitat is right, though.
I’ve heard of cottons on Ft. Eustis, too.
I’m 40 years old and have been living in Newport News for 38 of those years. I work for USAA in Norfolk, Virginia and my wife, for several years, worked for the city of NN and ran some programs for disabled and emotionally disturbed city residents at MidTown Center. She teaches special ed now.
My earliest memory of cottonmouths were two (they always come in pairs?) at the back end of an inlet on a pond on Etna Drive in Newport News. This was probably the very late 70s or early 80s. I was fishing and a older boy discovered them lying in grass. He showed them to me as I was standing very close to where they were lying. He tried to catch one but both went into the water. Years later, I saw one in the brackish creek that runs at the end of Lacon Drive in Newport News. A friend and I were heading up the creek in his jon boat and we saw one swimming. I tried to catch it with a paddle but no luck. Curiously, that same brackish creek runs directly behind the pond where I saw my first cotton. In the intervening years, I saw a few in the marshy/swampy areas off Lacon Drive near a cliff on the Warwick River locally known (at least back then) as Sandy Beach. Since then, almost all of my observations have been at the park, except for those I saw in Oyster Point. I think that’s because I know they are in the park and they are easiest to see there. The two I believe I saw on the Chick Reservoir may not amount to a “population.” Perhaps it was the same snake, a wayward individual – stranger things have happened. There is quality habitat there, though.
I’ve only seen a Canebrake on the peninsula once. It was crossing Hornsbyville Road in York County. This would have been in the early 90s. It was a VERY large snake. I was driving and made no attempt to interact with it. However, as an insurance adjuster, I’ve gotten occasional reports that Canebrakes have been seen in the junkyard area behind Coxton’s Body Shop on RT 17. Additionally, I’ve heard of Canebrakes in another auto storage area at the end of Production Drive. Who knows, maybe there is a disjunct population in that area.
As far as Copperheads go, I’ve seen the couple in Newport News I described earlier. I also hunt regularly Chick WMA. I’ve seen them there around the dove fields. The sorghum and such that they plant there attracts mice and some snakes.
One thing is certain, I see fewer large snakes on the peninsula than ever before, though in early 2000s I did catch three large Eastern Kingsnakes in one day on my property that was adjacent to Deer Park. The land around Sandy Botton is just being destroyed.
I plan to join Va Herp Soc. You know, for the longest time I thought I was the only one that had any interest in our local snakes. Most of my friends, and my parents especially, thought I was nuts. Only in the last few years since I’ve been keeping some captive bred snakes as pets, and since my son has shown interest in herping, did I discover there is a whole community out there with the same interests. It was too long ago that I learned the VA Herp Soc even existed. I’ll email you when I do that. I’d like to get together with anyone that likes wild snakes.
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