Reptiles

A beautiful Ring-Necked Snake [Diadophis punctatus]. Perry County, Pa. 10-21-23

Black Racer [Coluber constrictor]. Carbon County, Pa. 5-57-23. It was quite a battle in the trees above me, lots of squealing and crashing and then a snake falling down the side of the tree with its prize, a poor Chipmunk, notice all the skin has been stripped from the tail, all that is left is the bone. What a surprise, I just knew it was a bird.

Eastern Painted Turtled [Chrysemys picta]. Carbon County, Pa. 5-25-23 [above and below]

Wood Turtle [Glyptemys insculpta]. Pa. 6-7-23

First Timber Rattlesnake of the year. 6-1-23 Dauphin County, Pa. [Crotalus horridus]

Dark phase Timer Rattlesnake catching some November sun. Dauphin county, Pa. 11-3-22 [Crotalus horridus]

A beautiful dark phase Timber Rattlesnake outside its den soaking in a warm November day [Crotalus horridus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 11-3-22

Timber Rattlesnake. [Crotalus horridus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-22-22

With temperatures hovering around 48 degrees I must confess Timber Rattlesnakes were the last thing on my mind during last evenings hike when coming out in the dark. I almost stepped on this beautiful yellow phase, I hadn't seen this color phase in a very long time. but I didn't think that I see one on October 22. That was a little too close for comfort, but it never got aggressive and just went on its way. It was wonderful to be able hear it as it made its way through the leaves and over logs along the ridge top in the dark. Thank goodness for spotlights as I would have stepped right on her. Crotalus horridus. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-22-22

Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-10-22

Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-3-22

Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-27-22

Eastern Garter Snake [Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis]. North Central, Pa. 6-26-22

Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horrridus]. North Central, Pa. 6-25-22

It's the same wherever you go, just a boy [most likely] out looking for a girl! Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horrridus]. North Central, Pa. 6-25-22

Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horrridus]. North Central, Pa. 6-25-22

Having just stopped to photograph some flowers along this stretch of road, and after taking a ride and on the return trip was surprised to find this Timber Rattlesnake in the same spot where I previously stopped. Having just made a kill of a Chipmunk, was in search of his prey [through scent], who was now dead on the road. It all must of just happened. I was looking forward to watching it find and eat its meal, when another vehicle approached from the opposite direction and scared the snake off the road into the high grass. I placed the still warm Chipmunk in the grass off the road in the area of the rattlesnake as I felt sure another vehicle would run it over. [Crotalus horridus] Dauphin County, Pa. 6-17-22. You would never know the life and death struggles that are playing out and happening just off the road where you are!

Wood Turtle [Glyptemys insculpta]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-9-22

The first Wood Turtle that I have seen in many years and it was at the same spot I saw the last one. That and the fact that it is the same color means it must be the same one! Just look at those incredible claws and notice all the dust on its carapace. [Glyptemys insculpta] Dauphin County, Pa. 6-9-22

Eastern Box Turtle [Terropene caroline carolina]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-31-22

Eastern Box Turtle [Terropene caroline carolina]. Notice the right hind foot is deformed from some old injury. But was moving just fine and looking great. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-31-22.

Common Snapping Turtle [Chelydra serpentina], covered in coal silt. Schuylkill County, Pa.5-22-21

This young [less than a year old] Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus] is making a quick getaway. Pa. 5-13-21.

With a shinny new skin this just shed tiny Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus] looks to be doing very well. At just 12 inches this rattlesnake was live born last fall and now looks to be well on its way to an exciting long life. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-18-21.

Yesterday while looking for Marbled Salamanders [didn't find any],in a dry vernal pool,I found a recently killed and half eaten yellow phase Timber Rattlesnake.It was one big rattlesnake,and after seeing lots of downing feathers around I feel it was Red Tailed Hawk.That is just a guess and I say that because I know a man who witnessed a battle between a Red Tailed Hawk and a large Timber Rattlesnake [he got great pictures and will try and get permission to post them in the future] not all that long ago in the same area.The hawk would spread its wings and get the snake to strike at its wings and when it would strike it would,with its large and powerful beak,peck at the head of the rattler and as the rattler would tire the hawk would gain the upper hand and eventually the snake was over come.I have also heard of rattlers who were able to get a coil over the head of the hawk and strangle and kill it.It's a hard world out there and every day all around us there are battles going on for survival,battles that we never see or know of.Dauphin County,Pa.9-6-20

Juvenile Water Snake [Nerodia sipedon].Schuylkill County,Pa.6-13-20.

Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County,Pa.5-23-20

Showing the same Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus].Better lighting showing it's beautiful coloration.Dauphin County,Pa.5-23-20

My first Timber Rattlesnake of the year.[Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County,Pa.5-23-20

Eastern Box Turtle,empty carapace [Terrapene carolina carolina].Pa.1-13-20

Eastern Box Turtle [Terrapene carolina].Dauphin County,Pa.7-3-19

First Eastern Box Turtle of the year [Terrapene carolina].Dauphin County,Pa.6-6-19

Eastern Box Turtle [Terrapene carolina].Dauphin County,Pa.8-4-18

Yellow phase Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County,Pa.7-19-18

Yellow phase Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County,Pa,7-19-18.The biggest Timber Rattlesnake That I seen in a long time,and she is a beauty!

Dark phase Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County,Pa.7-13-18.Watch as he "puffs" himself up to try and look bigger.

Dark phase Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County.Pa.7-13-18

After a slow start to seeing them,this is the third Timber Rattlesnake seen in two weeks [Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County,Pa.7-13-18

A tiny Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus],10".Dauphin County,Pa.7-5-18.Born last fall [2017]

The tiniest Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus] that I have ever seen,about 10 inches.Dauphin county,Pa.7-5-18

Dark phaseTimber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County,Pa.6-20-18

My first Timber Rattlesnake of the year [Crotalus horridus].Dauphin County,Pa.6-20-18

Eastern Box Turtle [Terrapene carolina].Dauphin County,Pa.6-11-18

My first Spotted Turtle [Clemmys guttata].Perry County,2-21-18.Just out of hibernation [the depression bhind the turtle]

Eastern Bow turtle with an unusual deformed carapace,[Terrapene carolina].Perry County,10-6-17

Eastern Box Turtle [Terrapene carolina],taking a snooze,Perry County,10-1-17

A beautiful Northern Redbelly snake [Storeia occipitomaculata].Dauphin County,9-18-17

Black Rat Snake [Pantherophis obsoleta].Dauphin County,8-13-17

Eastern Box Turtle [Terrapene carolina].Perry County,6-30-17

Eastern Hog Nosed Snake [Heterodon platirlinos].Dauphin County,6-25-17

Wood Turtle [Glyptemys insculpta].Dauphin County,6-8-17

I wonder if this could possible be the same Timber Rattlesnake [Crottalus horridus] seen at the exact same spot,only much bigger now.First three pictures are from 3-23-12.And the last three pictures are from this year 4-11-17.Dauphin County.

First Timber Rattlesnake of the year [Crottalus horridus].Dauphin county,4-11-17

Red-bellied Snake [Storeria occipitomaculata].Coos county,N.H.,9-7-16

Black Rat Snake [Elaphe obsoleta].Schuylkill county,5-20-14

Black Rat snake [Elaphe obsoleta].Dauphin county,7-7-10

Timber Rattlesnake [Crottalus horridus],yellow phase.Dauphin county,7-20-16

Timber Rattlesnake [Crotalus horridus],yellow phase.Dauphin county,7-20-16

Timber Rattlesnake, [three] [Crotalus horridus],two yellow phase & one dark phase.Dauphin county,7-20-16

Timber Rattlesnake[Crotalus horridus].Dauphin county,7-11-16

Common Garter Snake[Thamnophis sirtalis].Coos county,N.H. 9-1-15

Painted Turtle[Chrysemys picta].Centre county,7-3-16

Eight Timber Rattlesnakes[Crotalus horridus].All in one location,five dark phase & three yellow phase.Dauphin county,6-27-16

Northern Red-bellied snake[Storeria occipitomaculata]Dauphin county,6-27-16

Timber rattlesnakes[Crotalus horridus].Tioga&Dauphin counties.

Juvenile Black Rat snake[Elaphe obsoleta].Schuylkill county,6-21-13

Snapping Turtle[Chelydra serpentina].Schuylkill county,May 2, 2015

Snapping Turtle[Chelydra serpentina]taken by Magen Bowman.Schuylkill county, April 2015.I wonder if both of these turtles are coming out of hibernation?

Wood Turtle[Clemmys insculpta].Dauphin county,6-9-09

Wood Turtle[Clemmys insculpta].Dauphin county,7-16-10

Wood Turtle[Clemmys insculpta].Schuylkill county,6-27-14

Eastern Box turtle[Terrapene carolina]with injury to carapace that healed.Dauphin county,6-4-10

Common Garter Snakes[Thamnophis sirtalis]in a larch tree.Boundary pond,Coos county,N.H. 9-12-11

Wood Turtle[Clemmys insculpta].Dauphin county,7-16-10

Timber Rattlesnake[Crotalus horridus].Tioga county,6-10-11