Snakes of Georgia - Forestry Natural Resources and Wildlife - Lecture Slides, Slides of Wildlife Ecology

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Snakes of Georgia Docsity.com NON-VENOMOUS SNAKES Docsity.com Eastern Racer • Adults are black in color • Seen in open pine forests, forest edges, old fields, pastures, and meadows • Uses keen eyesight and speed to prey on smaller mammals and reptiles Docsity.com Ringneck Snake • Identified by the white ring around the neck and the yellow to red pattern on the belly • Preys on earthworms, small snakes, lizards, and other small reptiles • Is an uncommon snake because of their illusiveness Docsity.com Eastern Indigo Snake • Is listed as a threatened species by the GA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Glossy blue-black color • Uses powerful jaws to kill prey • Isolated to the southeastern corner of Georgia and Florida Docsity.com Coachwhip • Noted for its tanned leather color and long slender body • Up to 102”(8’ 6”) • May be one of America’s fastest snakes • Preys on grasshoppers, cicadas, lizards, snakes, and small mammals Docsity.com Mud Snake • Glossy black with red spots on the belly that extends up to the sides • Found south of the fall line • Preyed on by King snakes, Cottonmouths, and alligators Docsity.com Rainbow Snake • Lives near sources of water where it burrows and stays out of sight • Likes to feed on the American Eel, but is hunted by raccoons, other snakes, and Alligators • Similar to the mud snake because of the hard, sharp scale on the tail Docsity.com Corn Snake • Can be found all over the state, but prefers upland pine forest • Hunts at night for rodents and small mammals • Most commonly seen at night on roads Docsity.com FUN FACT • The longest-lived snake on record was a 44 year-old African Ball Python. Docsity.com Eastern King Snake • One of the most encountered snakes in Georgia • Characterized by the black and yellow bands • Many Varieties • Most famous for their ability to kill and eat venomous snakes Docsity.com Brown Water Snake • The best catfisher that you will ever meet. • Likes to hang around on tree limbs along rivers and streams, up to ten feet high • Is brown with black squares on its back • Common south of the fall line Docsity.com Common Garter Snake • Found in wet and damp areas, not necessarily close to water • Brownish black with yellow stripes • Gives birth to live young • Feeds on frogs, lizards, salamanders, and fish Docsity.com Florida Green Water Snake • Relatively aggressive snake when agitated • Greenish when in adult stages • Live in the most southern part of Georgia and all of Florida • Up to 74” long Docsity.com Brown Water Snake • Active during the day • Feeds on frogs and fish that live in the emerging vegetation near the waters edge • Aggressive snake when startled. Unwelcome guest when falls into boat Docsity.com Midland Water Snake • Fat bodied like other water snakes • Often killed because of slight resemblance to the moccasin • Up to five feet long • Belly can be white with black markings or red with black markings Docsity.com Rough Green Snake • Commonly known as the garden snake • Mild mannered graceful snake that is beneficial because of its hunting of insects and small mammals. • Up to 102” long Docsity.com Ribbon Snake • Named for its long slender body and the colorful stripes down the side of the body • Found near the edges of stream, ponds, and marches • Eats salamanders and frogs • Common snake in Georgia Docsity.com Brown Snake • Small grey-brown with distinctive black border • Large numbers congregate and hibernate together. • Feeds on earthworms, slugs, and snails Docsity.com Southeastern Crowned snake • Reddish brown with black band that extends to the corner of the mouth • Live in flat pine woods and oak forest where soil is damp • Feeds on worms, slugs, and insect larva that it finds while burrowing in decayed logs Docsity.com Smooth Earth Snake • Very plain snake that is light brown • Lives in Deciduous forest and surrounding ecotone • Stays under rocks and likes to congregate with other small snakes Docsity.com Rough Earth Snake • Small snake with rough scales • Only seen when digging in the rich soils that it habitats • Eats worms and whatever else it can find in the dirt Docsity.com Cool Picture ¢ Snake with a catfish en = Sy ras “ =~ =! = 5 a be ~ — —— - E 4 ot og ¥ - Copperhead • Pit viper, light brown body with 15-18 hour glass dark brown bands • Found in bottomland hardwood forest and piedmont pine forest • Preys on a wide variety of insects, reptiles and small mammals Docsity.com Cottonmouth • A stout bodied dark colored snake with a large white color mouth. • Swims with its head out of water • Preys on sirens, lizards, frogs, fish, and snakes • Up to 74” long Docsity.com FUN FACT • The fierce snake, or inland taipan, is the world's most venomous snake; its toxin is more than 50 times as potent as an Indian cobra's! Docsity.com Pigmy Rattlesnake • Called the “ground rattler” because it can only be heard from a few feet away • Perhaps one of the more dangerous snakes because of its small size and quiet rattle • Eats lizards, small snakes, and mice Docsity.com A Little Snake Humor • The Bunny and the Snake Once upon a time (allegedly), in a nice little forest, there lived an orphaned bunny and an orphaned snake. By a surprising coincidence, both were blind from birth. • One day the bunny was hopping through the forest, and the snake was slithering through the forest, when the bunny tripped over the snake and fell down. This, of course, knocked the snake about quite a bit. • "Oh, my," said the bunny, "I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I've been blind since birth, so I can't see where I'm going. In fact, since I'm also an orphan, I don't know what I am." Docsity.com Humor Continued • It's quite OK," replied the snake. "Actually, my story is much the same as yours. I, too, have been blind since birth, and also never knew my mother. Tell you what, maybe I could slither all over you, and work out what you are, so, at least you'll have that going for you." • "Oh, that would be wonderful, " replied the bunny. • So the snake slithered all over the bunny, and said, "Well, you're covered with soft fur, you have really long ears; your nose twitches; and you have a soft, cottony tail. I'd say that you must be a bunny rabbit." • "Oh, thank you, thank you, " cried the bunny in obvious excitement. The bunny suggested to the snake, "Maybe I could feel you all over with my paw, and help you the same way you've helped me!" • So the bunny felt the snake all over, and remarked, "Well, you're smooth and slippery, and you have a forked tongue and no backbone. I'd say you must be French." Docsity.com