Welcome to the Visitor's Center at Brazos Bend State Park. That's me on a trail (03/29/2004). As I get more pictures, these pages expand. I've gotten enough images of snakes to collect them here.
Here are my other Brazos Bend
and/or critter pages:
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OR, FOR OTHER ANIMALS:
Alligators
at Brazos Bend State Park Introduction
Critters at Brazos
Bend State Park Page 1
Snakes-nonvenomous
1-------------------------------------------
Critters
at Brazos Bend State Park Page 3
Snakes-nonvenomous
2-------------------------------------------------Insects,
non-toxic
Snakes-nonvenomous
3------------------------------------------------Spiders
Snakes-venomous------------------------------------------------------Mammals
Birds-Waders----Birds-Raptors---------------------------------
Lizards!--Turtles!
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Welcome
to the Visitor's Center at Brazos Bend State Park. That's me on a trail
(03/29/2004). As I get more pictures, these pages expand. I've gotten enough
images of snakes to collect them here.
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COPPERHEAD-
May
05, 2002 Tuesday,
April 23, I got to the park around 8:00 am. I hadn't been on the trail
10 minutes (I started at the 40-Acre Lake parking lot), when I encountered
a copperhead stretched across the trail near Hoot's Hollow. I
was able to take a few pictures before it got bored with me and continued
across the trail.(COPPERHEAD, above) Notice the coloration
of the scales and the shape of the head. Also, the nostril is the small
opening at the tip of its nose. You might notice another opening between
the nostril and the eye. This pit is what gives "pit vipers" their name.
It's a heat sensor, and aids the snake in stalking food. Copperheads are
poisonous, and as stated in signs throughout Brazos Bend State Park, "POISONOUS
SNAKES EXIST IN THIS PARK". The snakes belong in the park. Humans
are only visitors there. Visitors should keep a close eye on their children
and pets while they are in the park, for this reason.
September
22, 2002Suppose
for a moment that you have just pulled into Brazos Bend State Park, and
as you enter the park, your brain registers the image of an upside-down
snake on the side of the road. You drive past, as your mind catalogs the
event. What do you do next?
Well....I
drove a second or two more, and then thought: "Interpretive Material!",
and I stopped the car (after, of course, being sure there was no one behind
me.) I then backed up, and passed the snake again. After retrieving
one of my Tallow-Whacking machetes from the rear of my car, I moved towards
the snake. After carefully prodding it over, I saw that it was a
Water Moccasin, or Cottonmouth (agkistrodon piscivorus), and that it was
dead. This was easily determined by noticing that it had already been found
by fire ants, and NOTHING will sit still while being attacked by fire ants.
This snake is one of 3 pit-vipers that used to be found in the park (the
Canebrake Rattlesnake is thought to be extinct in the park), and is
venomous. The head was intact, so I cut it off and slipped
it into a small plastic container (film case) that I had in my car for
just such an occassion. Then I put the case into my vest pocket (well THAT'S
what the pockets are FOR!).
Later
examination of the head while photographing it revealed a few things. The
image below shows a side view of the head as I hold it between my fingers.
(NOTE
THAT I USED EXTREME CARE WHILE HANDLING THIS SPECIMEN, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS
DEAD! ALSO NOTE THAT THIS SNAKE WAS ALREADY DEAD! I'D NEVER
CONSIDER KILLING *ANY* SNAKE IN THE PARK.)
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Pictures
below show: The extended fangs (MOUTHOPEN1); Closeup of both fangs (MOUTHOPEN2);
the right fang (RIGHTFANG1). As I was pushing on the fangs for these
pictures, I noticed fluid appearing on the fang. I assume that this was
venom I was forcing from the poison sac (RIGHTFANG2). THIS
IS WHY CARE IS NECESSARY WHEN HANDLING DEAD VENOMOUS SNAKES. The
teeth are like needles, and a slip on my part could cause an injection.
Some
sharper-eyed people may have noticed something odd in the first two pictures.
The left fang is is a double fang! This picture (LEFTFANG1) shows a closeup
of that structure. David, the park naturalist, says that from time to time,
the snake will grow a replacement fang. As this grows, it moves alongside
the previous one, until the older one finally drops off. If I'd thought
about it, I could have tried to force venom out, to see which fang it would
flow from. But...I didn't think about it, so it's unknown to me.
Oh, well, I can't think of *everything*. In any case, visitors to
this page can now say that they've actually seen pictures of a three-fanged
Water Moccasin!
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MOUTHOPEN1
MOUTHOPEN2
RIGHTFANG1
RIGHTFANG2
LEFTFANG1
After
all this, I began a treatment of the head which I hope will allow me to
strip the flesh off and maintain enough structure for me to rebuild the
skull--WITH the double fang. That will be an interesting display!
Please
note that like all animals in the park, the snakes, including the venomous
ones, are part of the ecology. They perform a function like *all* predators.
They are harmless to humans when left alone (to their PREY, on the other
hand, they are BIG TROUBLE). Care should be taken while walking in
*any* wild area for a number of reasons. The great majority of the
snakes in the park are non-venomous. The presence of these-and any other-reptiles
in the park should be no cause for alarm. Brazos Bend State Park
is an amazing and unique natural resource and an area with an uncommonly
varied number of animal and plant species. On a single good day at
the park, it is possible to see as many wild creatures as most people
would see in a year...or even in a lifetime. On the other hand, if
the interpreters (like me) at the park do what they hope to do, then
visitors who leave the park will see more wildlife everywhere.
Because they'll start to notice it!
October 06, 2002Here's an update on my amazing "three-fanged" water moccasin! (See THREE FANGS BEFORE, below) My plan was to clean the flesh from the skull, and see if I could make an informative display. I was successful in cleaning the bones. Perhaps too successful. (see WHERE'S THE MANUAL, below) NOW, what?
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3 FANGS BEFORE
WHERE'S THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL?
November
02, 2003Time
and again, those who spend time at Brazos Bend State Park are surprised
by what animals may or may not do, or by where animals may or may not be.
Yesterday, one of the park volunteers was walking by the garden that is
right outside the entrance to the Visitor Center/Nature Center, when she
noticed a snake among the plants. It was a Coral Snake! Actually, a Texas
Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius tenere). These snakes are among the venomous
varieties that may be found at the park. As with most wild creatures, they
are not dangerous if left alone. However, as with many other wild
creatures (like the Puss Caterpillar, or Hornets, or raccoons, squirrels,
or deer), it can be dangerous if provoked.
the
picture below (BEAUTIFUL) shows our very attractive visitor, as I saw it
in one of our terrariums.
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BEAUTIFUL!
After
today, it will be released in a secluded section of the park, to live free
once again. Coral Snakes like to eat small lizards, amphibians, and other
snakes. Unlike the snakes that we do keep in the VC/NC, Coral Snakes
don't do well in captivity. In the picture below (RED TOUCH YELLOW) you
will see the color scheme that will warn you that this is the venomous
Coral Snake. The bands of yellow touch directly on the bands of red. The
black "patches" in the red bands help distinguish it from the Eastern Coral
Snake. Note also in the picture of its head (CORAL SNAKE HEAD, below)
that the head is very small, and the eyes aren't very prominant. Do not
be misled by the apparent size of this creature. Regardless of the size
of its head, like *any* snake, the Coral Snake can open its mouth wide,
and the poison it produces is a potent neurotoxin (Coral Snakes are in
the same family as Cobras and Mambas). Compare the color scheme with
that of a Mexican Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum annulata) (see RED
TOUCH BLACK, below); one of many non-venomous snakes species that mimic
the Coral Snake's color scheme. This particular snake is not native to
our vicinity, though. Notice that the bands of red touch directly on the
bands of black (unlike the Coral Snake, where red touches yellow). This
is true for all of the various species of non-venomous King and Milk snakes
that have this similar color pattern. A look at the Milk Snake's
head (see MILK SNAKE HEAD, below) will show that the head is a bit larger
in relation to the body, and the eyes are much more prominent, than with
the Coral Snake. Also notice that I am holding the Milk Snake (yes,
that's
my left hand), and definitely *not* the Coral Snake. Both
snakes are beautiful, aren't they? Yes, they are. Both eat small reptiles,
including snakes, as well as other small animals; although the Milk Snake
will also take rodents, while evidently the Coral Snake does not.
Finally,
here
(flv video 552 kb) is a short video clip of the Milk Snake exploring
my hand. This snake has been with the park at least for the two years I've
been there, and is obviously used to being handled. The image below (MILK
SNAKE VIDEO) is a single frame from the beginning of the clip. Incidentally,
the Mexican Milk Snake is not found in our park (its range is more
Central Texas), but is kept there to show an example of this mimicry. Animals
will sometimes try to emulate the shape and/or color of a similar species
that is more dangerous; so that predators may leave them alone.
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RED
TOUCH YELLOW CORAL SNAKE HEAD
RED TOUCH BLACK MILK SNAKE HEAD
MILK SNAKE VIDEO
February
8, 2004
Today's weather was grey and overcast. So, today's RICKUBISCAM is a picture
taken LAST week, on February first. The weather was much nicer, and
this Water Moccasin (or Cottonmouth) decided to come out of his winter
den and enjoy some sun. Note the pronounced triangular shape of the
head, and the dark stripe on the side of the head, which extends through
the eye. The picture below (ONLY DANGEROUS) shows the entire snake. Isn't
it a great speciman? I've been watching this snake for about a month and
a half. It appears to be wintering in this log. On slightly cooler days,
I've been able to make the snake out, hidden deep in the shadows,
with my binoculars. On *really* cold days, I don't see it at all.
I'll have a bit more to say about these snakes sometime in the future.
But not today.
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ONLY DANGEROUS IF YOU BOTHER IT
February
15, 2004Today's
weather was bright, and cold (mid 30's to mid 40's). I didn't see much
when I was on the trails before lunchtime, but I heard, later in the afternoon,
about two interesting items. The first was a large alligator with a nutria
in its mouth on the island in Elm Lake across from the area between piers
2 and 3.
The
picture below (SIX COPPERHEADS) is a picture of the other interesting item,
and to further clarify what the caption says, it's a good illustration
of "Why We Don't Put Our Fingers and Hands into Places We Can't See."
This item, relayed to me by David-and discovered by Rich and Sandy Jesperson
and Carol Ramseyer I believe- was a group of six young copperhead snakes
under a log.
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SIX COPPERHEADS
TWO ON THE LEFT
CENTER TWO
WE'RE JUST BUDDIES! REALLY! TWO ON UPPER RIGHT
After
looking at the alligator with its nutria, I went and looked for the log,
which turned out to be less than 5 minutes' walk from one of our parking
areas. CAREFULLY lifting the log (so I wouldn't disturb, or crush
the snakes), I was very happy to see what I show in the pictures above.
They follow in sequence in the RICKUBISCAM image from lower left to upper
right, diagonally. Note the extra little friend, a toad, lying next
to the center, extended snake (WE'RE JUST BUDDIES, above). The toad, like
the snakes, was seeking shelter from the cool weather, and is obviously
alive. I estimate the snakes to have been between 8 and 10 inches long.
Since they are all curled-and I did this quickly to avoid disturbing the
snakes enough to make them move; and also before any park visitors might
come along-there was no way I could measure them. My usual use of a quarter,
or any other method of measurement that would require me to put my hand
near the snakes was not an option.
Now,
remember this lesson. You can never be certain of what is under any large
object you might find in the woods. It could be one snake,
which may or may not be venomous, or it could be SIX snakes, which may
or may not be venomous. In this case-copperheads-they were all venemous,
and if someone reached under this log to lift it, they could have been
bitten at least six times (more, if any of the snakes struck more than
once). If you must move something, then use something that won't be injured
if it is bitten or stung. Remember that in a State Park, it is against
the law to disturb or harass the wildlife (this includes snakes). This
is also why it is best to stay on the trails at all times. So, if you are
using a State Park as you should, then this situation shouldn't even occur.
09/03/2006--I
had just started around the 40 Acre Lake Trail when I encountered a small
Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix). I'd heard
it move through the leaves, and when it stopped, I started taking pictures
of it. The first image below shows the snake looking up at me. (Also see
ONE and TWO, below. They are both are from the same image). In image TWO,
the two heat-sensitive pits (which define the pit-vipers) are clearly visible.
The elliptical pupils are also visible. As I bent towards the snake (but
not very close at all), it struck at me!
Since
the snake was acting so nervous, I decided to try to herd it off the trail.
Knowing that it would strike at least once more, I shot a short video clip
with my still camera as I moved the stick closer to it. Images THREE and
FOUR below are single frames from this clip. The camera shoots video at
24 frames per second, non-interleaved. Even at that speed, the snake's
strike is blurred. The links to the video clip is below. First is the clip
at actual speed. The other two clips are parts of the same clip digitally
slowed down to .2 normal speed. (I'm assuming this is less than half normal
speed).
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OLD
RICKUBISCAM
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
DEFENSIVE
STRIKES ACTUAL SPEED 2.5MB DEFENSIVE
STRIKES .2 SPEED A 1.8MB DEFENSIVE
STRIKES .2 SPEED B 3.1MB
To my
surprise, the Copperhead would not back down from me, but continued facing
me. This illustrates an important point. Most animals are content to be
left alone. Any animals enountered on the various trails (like snakes or
alligators but also including deer or raccoons or other "cute" animals)
are generally on their way somewhere when they are discovered. If left
alone, they will generally continue on their way. Sometimes a reptile will
pause to rest. If it is not ready to move, or, if it feels threatened;
then the animal may go into a defensive mode. In this case, it will face
the enemy (which could be *you*, if you are bothering the creature); and
turn its defensive weapons towards the threat (you). Worst cases can be
fangs, teeth, or claws. Aside from the "hard" weapons mentioned above,
there can also be various musks, urine, fecal matter, vomit, or various
other chemical weapons--this, of course, depends on the animal. The point
here is that it's just best to leave the animals alone. In any case, these
weapons are intended to deter an attack.
The
only reason *I* was moving the snake was because it was obviously already
stressed, and I wanted it further away from the trail (and potential interaction
with park visitors. I finally persuaded it to move on, and I took
a few more photos. Images SIX, SEVEN, and EIGHT, below, are three cropped
versions of the same image. While the snake has relaxed its body, you can
see it's still watching me. Remember--I
WORK FOR THE PARK. Do NOT molest, or catch, or kill ANY snakes at the park.
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SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
If you'd like to know more about the park follow these links:
Brazos Bend State Park The main page.
Brazos
Bend State Park Volunteer's Page The
volunteer's main page.
Go back to my home page, Welcome
to rickubis.com
Go
back to the RICKUBISCAM page.
Go
back to the See the World
page.