Rough Greensnakes: almost impossible to see when climbing in vines or bushes, but they stand out when cruising along the base of the bluffs. #roughgreensnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Stephen Barten
@stephenbarten.bsky.social
Veterinarian (retired), naturalist, wildlife photographer, field herper, habitat restoration volunteer, prescribed burn crew, bluebird monitor, frog monitor, bumblebee monitor. NE Illinois. All images on this page are mine.
Peek in all of the cracks! This one was deep in a narrow crevice in the bluffs. Timber Rattlesnake #8, Jackson Co, IL, early October #timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
We saw 54 cottonmouths on an epic 5-hour hike in Jackson County, IL, in early October (plus a ridiculous number of timber rattlesnakes and a couple copperheads). A few were big and chunky like this one, but most were colorful neonates or yearlings. #cottonmouth #fieldherping #insituherps
Looking back at that Copperhead we spotted resting at eye level in a tree next to the trail. Jackson County, IL, early October #copperhead #fieldherping #insituherps
The LAST thing I expected to find at Snake Road: an Eastern Woordrat deep in a crevice
Somebody's been hitting the fermented fruit #raccoon #backyardwildlife #trailcam #trailcamera
While we were looking for salamanders in a southern IL cypress wetland, this old, melanistic Red-eared Slider came strolling through the woods. #redearedslider #fieldherping
This Slimy Salamander from southern IL is a member of the family Plethodontidae, the lungless salamanders. Adults completely lack lungs and get their oxygen across their wet skin. #slimysalamander #fieldherping
Spotted Salamander from southern IL, a different species from the Tiger Salamanders we have around Barrington, IL. #spottedsalamander #salamander #fieldherping
An encounter with an Illinois Red-bellied Mudsnake is always special. #redbelliedmudsnake #mudsnake #fieldherping
This Plain-bellied Waternake was resting upside down under a log in Southern IL. It slowly righted itself after being exposed, like a hog-nosed snake recovering from playing dead. #plainbelliedwatersnake #watersnake #fieldherping
Flipping logs for salamanders sometimes reveals other cool critters, like this huge Georgia Wolf Spider. Southern IL #wolfspider #fieldherping
We came across this Cottonmouth eating a smaller Cottonmouth. The little one had ahold of the bigger one's lower jaw. Some have suggested that the smaller snake is a Copperhead, but the pigment on the lower jaw and belly pattern suggest Cottonmouth. #cottonmouth #filedherping #insituherps
Photographing brightly colored neonate cottonmouths in the rain - what could be better? #cottonmouth #fieldherping #insituherps
Look before you step Cottonmouth, far southern IL (there are no cottonmouths in the Chicago area!) #cottonmouth #fieldherping #insituherps
🎶 Up, up, and away… Cottonmouth in far southern IL looking for its den (There are no cottonmouths in the Chicago area!) #cottonmouth #fieldherping #insituherps
Sometimes they hide where you’re not expecting them to be. (For my non-herper friends, this was in far southern IL. Copperheads are not found in the Chicago area!) #easterncopperhead #copperhead #fieldherping #insituherps
Timber rattlesnake #6 was resting on an angled shelf just below knee height. #timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
A twofer: Timber Rattlesnakes #9 and 10 checking me out as I check them out. #timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
The spider and the fly. Oh, there's also a snake hiding in the picture. Timber Rattlesnake #7 #timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
I heard a rattle that sounded like it was coming from right at my feet. Looked down, nothing there. Looked to the left, nothing. Looked farther and saw this guy 20 feet away. The bluff wall funneled the sound, making it seem closer than it was. Timber #5 #timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Timber Rattlesnake portrait from southern IL last weekend. This was #3. #timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Check the cracks with a flashlight: just a glimpse but it was the first Timber of the day and a big one! #timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Rough Greensnake from southern IL, different from the Smooth Greensnake we have in northern IL. Note the longitudinal ridge or "keel" on each scale on this one; the Smooths don't have that. Both are primarily insectivorous, but this one is more arboreal. #roughgreensnake #fieldherping #insituherping
