Hogging the Spotlight

The dog days of summer are beginning to wind down as autumn inches ever closer, and that means that one of the best times of the year for snake movement is approaching. But even the end of August and early September can be productive, as many species of snake give birth or hatch out. I made a trip down to a truly awesome location on private property on a beautiful evening this week. I've mentioned this area in previous posts including Hognose Snakes in Southeast Michigan. The family that lives on this property have an ecological treasure, as many species that are not common in southeast Michigan exist here. Even the Eastern Box Turtle is found here in small numbers, a true rarity for the fragmented landscape of this area.

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This area is truly unique for southeast Michigan and is reminiscent of the Oak Openings region of northwestern Ohio which features a mosaic of oak-pine forest, oak savannahs, and wet prairies. Because these two areas are only separated by a half hour drive, it is likely that this was once a large stretch of contiguous habitat stretching from the Lake Erie coast of Michigan through to the Toledo area. The sandy soils and abundance of toads makes this area a hotbed for hogs, and on this evening I was rewarded with this tiny neonate.

 Eastern Hognose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos

Cute would be a perfectly acceptable scientific term to describe neonate hognose snakes, this individual was likely a few weeks old and no more than five inches in length. Like the Northern Pine Snake, female hogs seek out open sandy areas as potential nest sites in early to mid June. Using their upturned snout, they excavate a nest over the course of a few days and lay a clutch of eggs deep in the nest and then leave. The young hatch out in late August or early September, but this year's batch was out early likely because of the record breaking temperatures this summer. Like any other hogs I've seen, this youngster was not shy about being theatrical.

After a short photo session, this little guy was let on his way back to the open sandy field he was found in. I'm hoping that I can score one or two more hognose snakes before the season ends and should have a good shot as they get moving in mid September. Until then, happy herping!

Hunting Hogs

The Eastern Hognose Snake is a challenging species to find in the field, and is my personal nemesis. Before last October, I had only seen one in my lifetime. Then I cashed in on one at Snake Road last fall and then finally got one in Michigan earlier this spring. Hognose snakes are a tough species to figure out, as they are likely found throughout the lower peninsula where good habitat exists. I had always associated them to be in the western and northern reaches of the state, but recently I've found that they can be found even in suburban southeast Michigan as I found my first one in Michigan since I was a kid less than ten miles from my house earlier in the spring. Last Friday, I had an open afternoon and decided to head down to an area I frequent in hopes of finding some snakes on the move. I've seen quite a few species in the area including Blue Racers, Northern Ribbon Snakes, and Northern Red-bellied Snakes, so I was hoping I could score on of these species driving roads like this one.

After cruising a few Eastern Garter Snakes, I went past a snake on the edge of the road that had some wild patterning on it. I didn't get a great look at it, but had no idea what it was based on the brief glimpse I had gotten. So I backed up and looked over to see this flattened on the side of the road.

A DOR Hog, right there. I'd been herping this area for a few years now and have suspected that Hogs were in the area, but hadn't seen a clear sign of one until this day. It was a beautiful yellow/orange color and had likely been hit an hour or two before I arrived. The snake was in decent shape, so I bagged it up and brought it back to my place where it is now a part of the herp collection at CMU's Museum of Natural History. I was a little discouraged after finding the snake, but it was a bittersweet feeling to know that hogs were definitely in the area. I decided to keep driving roads in hopes of finding some more snakes on the road. A large Blue Racer crossed the road about 30 yards in front of me, but I wasn't able to get to it in time. Later on in the afternoon, I turned down a road I've been down many times and noticed a fat snake moving across the road.

 

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than to be good at something. In this case, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I couldn't believe that right there in front of my car was a live hog, less than an hour after seeing a DOR. I jumped out as quickly as I could and ran over to begin snapping some shots, the snake lived up to its reputation and put on quite a show.

Eastern Hognose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos

pissed off...

dead...

This snake was an awesome surprise and one of my favorite finds of the year. Hognose snakes are an awesome species, and I wish I got to see them more often. But seeing two live and one dead in Michigan this year is pretty good in my book. It seems that this species is almost impossible to target, and they just sort of show up randomly from time to time. Perhaps I should take up birding in good areas without looking for them, then more would show up I'm sure. That's all of now. Until next time, happy herping!

Hog Wild

Of all the unlisted species of snake that inhabit Michigan, there is one that has been my nemesis for many years. It is a snake that is supposed to be found statewide where sandy soil and toads are found. The species I'm referring to is the Eastern Hognose Snake, a robust Colubrid that puts on quite a show when encountered. Though it is said to be found statewide, it is mostly likely isolated to spotty locations in the thumb & southeast Michigan, and is more widespread on the western side of the state. I saw one up near Sleeping Bear Dunes when I was a kid, but since that time I have been unable to track down a live on here in the Wolverine state, but I did get lucky and find this one in Illinois last fall.

Eastern Hognose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos

Recently I was told about a pocket of habitat on private property in southeast Michigan where a family sees hogs frequently. I was perplexed, as the area is less than ten miles from my house and has literally been under my nose all this time. They agreed to let me visit the property several times if I would agree to take their kids out once or twice to see some stuff. On a warm, muggy morning I decided to swing by their place and check it out for the second time. My first visit yielded Wood Frogs and a quick glimpse of a Blue Racer.

The majority of the property and surrounding areas is similar to the photo above, basically relict oak savannah that has been developed. The soil here is extremely sandy, with scattered grasses and shrubs, and a small creek and wetland nearby. After walking for about fifteen minutes, a splash of color caught my eye.

The splash of color was accompanied by a short, high-pitched hiss that brought my eyes to this awesome snake. It immediately flattened its neck out like a cobra and continued to hiss in textbook form, its easy to see why some rural folk refer to these snakes as puff adders.

Eastern Hognose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos

The Eastern Hognose Snake gets its name from the upturned rostral scale on the end of the snout which is uses to help burrow into loose, sandy soil. Hognose snakes are also known for their incredible defensive strategy, if the animal is touched it will flip on its back, writhe about, open its mouth and play dead. This snake was kind enough to put on a show for me as well.

I was elated to finally find one of these snakes in Michigan after such a long hiatus. And it was a great way to close my spring here in Michigan in the final weeks before I move to New Jersey for the summer. That's all for now. Until next time, happy herping!