Why Did The Snapping Turtle Cross The Road?

To get to the pond in the field on the other side.

We were driving north on a rural road in Wilkes County, Georgia, when we saw a turtle crossing the road. Even at a distance, it was easy to identify it as a Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Even if turtles are moving in the right direction, we do like to make sure they are well off the pavement before we leave.

A not-too-distant view. A handsome young turtle, with a carapace about 10-12 inches long, making its way purposefully across the road.

Even closer, but not too close.

Its head. Obviously it's very alert.

An interesting iris. Do all turtles have this type of iris?

Strong claws…

And a dragon-like tail. Quite prehistoric.

We talked with it about moving off the road so that it wouldn’t be run over. This one didn’t think it needed any help, thank you. And it was very agile. When we tried to encourage it off the pavement, it swung around surprisingly fast to face what it perceived as a threat.

'Ok, I'm leaving now'

Although I’ve seen several Snapping Turtles at fairly close range, I’d never noticed that the back end of the Snapping Turtle’s carapace was distinctly ‘serrated’

Enough of humans. It’s off into the grass towards the fence.

And further still

Almost to the fence.

Looking for a way through the shrubs along the fence.

And through the fence to ‘freedom’
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Identification and Distribution:
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Herpetology Program: Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina).

Afternoon Of The Skinks…

We went to Fort Yargo State Park to photograph some wildflowers and, in the course of our walk, encountered two skinks.

The first encounter began when something with a tail appeared to slide behind a pine tree. All I saw was what looked like the tip of a tail and it didn’t go far. It was just behind the trunk or it had gone up the tree. I thought it was a snake so we circled around the tree in the hope that we could identify it and get some photographs. But it turned out that I’d seen a lizard. W found it on the tree trunk about four feet above the ground.

*****

This looks like it’s a female. The body is distended as if it’s carrying eggs.

The second encounter was at the end of a pedestrian bridge that crosses a small inlet on the lake. It’s not uncommon to encounter skinks sunning themselves but it’s difficult to photograph them. I’m not sure this lizard was paying attention because I had stepped onto the decking before it moved.

It scampered down the rail support and stopped. I don’t think it really wanted to leave its sunny spot. The ‘lines’ are evident in this photograph.

It dropped down onto the ground but, after I moved to get a photograph from a different angle, it scampered under the bridge out of sight.

These were quite large skinks; I suspect they are Five-lined Skinks (Eumeces fasciatus). It’s always a treat to see these lizards although it’s surprising to see two in one day.
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Identification resource:
- Lizards of Georgia and South Carolina: Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)

Related post:
- Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus)

Stowaway

As we were driving down to Lake Oconee last week, I suddenly realized that a young anole was clinging to the outside of the windshield. We were using a vehicle we don’t usually use – to tow the pontoon boat. Since it sits in the same place for long periods of time, anoles will sun themselves on it and, occasionally, will take up residence in crevices. Guess this one had crawled into the grill behind the wipers. I usually have my camera at the ready when we’re traveling and this was no exception. I didn’t really expect to get any photos but…

I managed to get a silhouette of it as we drove down the road.

I was struck by its sharp claws which are quite clear in this enlargement. I’d never seen their claws up close. These explain why it can travel up vertical surfaces so easily. Very impressive.

I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to see it in the sun. But we turned a corner and there it was lit up. It looks cold but, perhaps, its also a little bewildered by hurtling down the road at 55 mph.
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Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus)

At least I think it is. These lizards abound at Fort Yargo State Park where I see them frequently along the shore line south of the Fishing Area (segment 13). Usually they are warming themselves in a sunny spot in the early morning. We play a game of peek-a-boo. I try and sneak close to get a photo and they scamper around the opposite of a tree trunk or under the decking of a bridge.

There are two species in this area that have distinct lines: the Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus) and the Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus). The adult Five-lined Skink tends to have a larger head, lose the distinct light lines on its back and the bright blue tail color. The adult Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus) has a smaller head and tends to retain the distinct lines on its body and its blue tail. I think this is a Southeastern Five-lined Skink.

Do you agree?

This lizard let me get fairly close before the game began.

An enlargement of the previous photo.
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Identification resources:
University of Georgia at Athens: Lizards of Georgia and South Carolina
- Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus)
- Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)

And There It Was… Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoleta)

Note: Bernard Brown at Philly Herping has kindly corrected my identification. Please see his comment below which provides excellent characteristics to differentiate between the Eastern Kingsnake and the Black Rat Snake. Thanks Bernard. I've included links to both the Rat snake - this link shows the Black, Gray, and Yellow Rat snakes - and the Eastern Kingsnake so that you can compare photos of these snakes. Luckily, the snake, correctly identified, was still nonvenomous; neither it nor I came to any harm.

Meanwhile, visit House of Herps #7 to read about other herp adventures.

We don’t see many snakes these days – not even as road kill. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for snakes this year. It was mid afternoon; about 3:20 pm on a Friday afternoon. I’d stopped along the trail just after it left the dam (segment 4) to rest. A couple of runners came by. I set off again and wasn’t really paying attention. I came around a turn in the trail that was obscured by a tree. And there it was… A Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoleta); a non-venomous snake found throughout Georgia.

Obviously I startled it; even from a distance, you can see the ripples of the tensed muscles in its body. It was a blessing that it froze since I was startled as well. Luckily I was walking, not running – the encounter might have been quite different if I’d been running. My major concern at that moment, however, was whether my camera was ready. Since this section of trail doesn’t offer a lot of photo ops I wasn’t paying attention to camera settings. So the fact that it froze allowed me to get these photos.

I edged slowly off to the left so that it could make a break for it if it wanted to. But it stayed in the same place.
You can see the its white belly and the patchy white scale pattern on its back.

A close up of its head.

Please may I go? By this time, it wanted to leave. It made a move but was still concerned by my presence.

It’s leaving. It was only when it started to leave that it began probing the air with its tongue. It also ‘rattled’ its tail silently, kicking up a small dust cloud as it moved along. It headed off down the slope towards the lake shore, probably to get a drink.
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Identification resources:
Snakes of Georgia and South Carolina
- Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoleta)
- Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)

Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulates)

I went by the Nature Center a week or so ago to see how the construction was progressing. I’d promised myself I would walk out to the point (Segment 10-11). I row past here regularly but had never walked the path. As I made my way along the path, something scampered from the path into the leaves. I thought that was the end of it but…
There at the base of the tree was an Eastern Fence Lizard that must have been basking on the path in the early morning sun. Rather than disappear into the leaves, it had started up the tree trunk. It was probably the flash of its blue belly that drew my attention.

Otherwise it blended perfectly into the tree trunk less than a foot above the ground. I stood still for a long time.

It became more comfortable or, perhaps, less threatened by my presence and moved around the trunk of the tree.

Apparently defying gravity, it posed upside-down.
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Identification resources:
- Lizards of Georgia and South Carolina: Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulates)