Snakes on the Road!

I was out birding this afternoon with Sharon Milnar (a birdwatcher visiting from Delaware) when I spotted what I thought was a snake on Polk County 68.  I pulled off onto the shoulder, stopped the car and hopped out, fully expecting to find a flattened carcass.

 

I certainly didn't expect to see a snake basking on the county road today.  The temperature when I got up this morning was around 25-degrees F.  Apparently the road held enough heat to lure this one out from its burrow.

As I approached, the snake moved its head - it was very much alive!

I calmly walked up to it and tried to coax it back off the road.  It didn't budge.  My sweet talking clearly fell on deaf ears.  And yes, I know snakes have limited hearing capability - they don't have external ears. 

Then I gave it a gentle nudge with my boot.

Why not just pick it up? Long story:  When I was a kid, my brother tossed a garter snake at me.  I didn't see it coming, but I managed to catch it.  The terrified serpent did not appreciate my kindness.  It bit me - then "musked" me - emitting a foul-smelling white liquid (the consistency of old cottage cheese) from its rear end.

Intellectually I know garter snakes are harmless, but I just haven't spent much time 'getting over' my childhood trauma.  That's why I don't pick up snakes.

I nudged this snake again and again - until it finally slithered off into the ditch.

Sharon and I hopped back in the car and headed west on 180th Street.  We didn't get very far before I spotted another snake on the side of the road.

This one didn't take kindly to my advances.  It curled up into a ball, raised its head, opened its mouth wide enough to show a pink lining.  It flicked its forked red tongue (with black tips) and hissed at me.  Clearly agitated, it launched itself towards me, biting at my boot!

Message received.  I immediately backed off.

I was pretty sure it was a garter snake, but I had no clue which species.  So I pulled out my trusty Canon point and shoot camera and snapped a few photos.  Then the snake took the hint and headed back toward the prairie.

When I got home, I pulled out my snake ID books.  Based on the vertical black lines on the yellow upper lip, I narrowed it down to a Plains Garter Snake.

This species prefers grassland habitats near water where it feeds on slugs, salamanders and earthworms.  It has been spotted taking prey as large as rodents, meadowlarks and bank swallows.  They over-winter by hibernating, but it's not unusual to spot these cold-tolerant reptiles on a warm winter day, sunning themselves along side the road.

If you see one...

An October Moth

Erannis tiliaria                 

After a week of unseasonably warm weather (in the 90s), the thermometer has synched with the season.  Frost this morning.   We have a wood stove - today will be the first time I've fired it up. As I headed out the sliding glass door in my living room and headed towards the woodshed, I noticed a pale, small (~1.5 inches) moth clinging to the door frame.  I didn't expect to see a moth so late in the year.  I took a quick, close look, but I didn't have a clue what species it was. It was chilly and I didn't put on a jacket.  So I continued on my way to the woodshed, picked out a couple of logs and headed back inside to get the fire started.  When the heat from the wood stove took the chill out of the air in the house, I picked up my little point-and-shoot camera.  It would only take a minute to get a picture.  That's all it I need to find out the name of my "October" moth.     No, I'm not an entomologist, but I know what they need for an identification.  I downloaded two photos from my camera - and sent them to my favorite insect ID webpage: BugGuide.net.

The answer arrived in my mailbox at 8pm:  it's a cold season, or "winter" moth - a geometrid known as a Linden Looper.   My October moth was doing exactly what the books say it should do.  Adults emerge in the fall and live to breed.  The small (1.5 inch) caterpillars are known as inchworms or loopers because of the way move.  The larvae hatch out in early spring and feed on leaves.  Their favorite trees?  Basswood (also known as linden).  But they don't appear to be picky.  They'll feed on aspen, elm, ash oak, maple, American hornbeam, hickory, apples and cherries too.

After a month or so of eating and moving from leaf to leaf on nearly invisible wisps of web, they burrow into the ground and pupate.  The adults emerge in October.  The wingless females emit pheromones that attract the winged males.  After mating, the females crawl up tree trunks and lay their eggs in crevices and under bark.

They over-winter as eggs.

Ever wonder what chickadees and nuthatches are doing when you see them inspecting tree bark?  They're going after these and other insect eggs.

Linden loopers are known to be irruptive - with population booms and busts.  And yes, they will defoliate trees.  But if you see them in your yard, don't panic and pull out the spray can - birds will take care of them for free.  These caterpillars are baby food for birds.  The moths are food for birds too - the late migrants and year-round residents.