Fall Snake Migrations

[jdmidwest]

There is a little factory on the other side of that hill that makes things that go bang. Was out with one of my customers in one of the hollows checking out a powder magazine a few years back when he warned me to watch when I got out of the truck. There are lots of rattlers in the area for some reason. Must be the karst. I have been tempted to look for mushrooms in that area but there are too many snakes to deal with. A couple of other friends own a farm nearby and have found several rattlers in the yard of that place also.

Is that a scarlet kingsnake or a milk snake? I did not know either existed in this part of the world.

[Tim Smith]

There is a little factory on the other side of that hill that makes things that go bang. Was out with one of my customers in one of the hollows checking out a powder magazine a few years back when he warned me to watch when I got out of the truck. There are lots of rattlers in the area for some reason. Must be the karst. I have been tempted to look for mushrooms in that area but there are too many snakes to deal with. A couple of other friends own a farm nearby and have found several rattlers in the yard of that place also.

Is that a scarlet kingsnake or a milk snake? I did not know either existed in this part of the world.

Lampropeltis triangulum syspila; red milk snake. Scarlet snake has a black cross bar near the eyes.

[gotmuddy]

I have always loved snakes, thanks for the pics and link.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm another who votes keep the location a secret.

[Gilly]

I have always loved snakes, thanks for the pics and link.

Not me...hate 'em. Stepped on a pair of moccasins when I was a little kid. Thank goodness it was cool and they were lethargic. I just remember my Mom freaking out and my dad cool as a cucumber picking me up, setting me off to the side and then killing the snakes. Little kid dreams left me with an intense dislike of snakes. My kids and grandkids have no fear of them......definitely not an inherited trait.