SE NPS - May 2002

Southeast Coastal Network National Parks - May 2002

After graduating from Davidson College in May 2002 I immediately took a technician position at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory working under, Dr. Whit Gibbons. My primary focus as a technician was to conduct herpetological surveys at several National Parks within the Southeast Coastal Network, replacing former technician (and Davidson alum) Shane Lindsay. Shane was planning to leave SREL in June so we immediately took off on a whirlwind tour of the National Parks so that Shane could teach me as much as possible before he left. Although it was a ton of driving we had some good times and found some cool herps on the trip.

Deciding to do the bulk of the driving right off, we took of for Florida, with the plan of driving down and working our way up the coast and home. Our first stop was Fort Matanzas National Monument south of Jacksonville, FL. Most of this park is a small dredge-spoil island. As Diamondback rattlesnakes have been foudn there, I went in with high hopes. Unfortunately, the weather was hot and dry and all we found on the island were gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), lizards, a great-horned owl, and a diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) shell. I was amazed how prevalent tortoises were on the island, they were everywhere!!!

Next, we drove north to the Jacksonville area. We met up with some local Jacksonville herpers to begin sampling at Timicuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. The first log we flipped by the parkling lot concealed a big scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea) . A lifer for me and a great start to the trip!

Next we stopped at a temporary wetland, which was very low due to dry conditions. Under a board at the wetland edge, we found a Southern Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) and a Pine-Woods Snake (Rhadinaea flavilata), another lifer for me!

I found this Florida Banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata pictraventris) at the base of a shrub in the drying wetland.

After only one afternoon at Timicuan we were forced to head north. Our next stop was Fort Frederica National Monument, on Saint Simon's Island. Although the park area was small, we had good luck during our short stay (even given the 90 degree temps). Our first find was another scarlet snake under a board-pile. Unfortunately it escaped down a hole before we could grab it. Our next finds were a pair of racers (Coluber constrictor), found in a refuse area along with numerous lizards and squirrel treefrogs. As we were leaving the refuse area we were called over by a grounds-keeper who pointed out a large yellow rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) stretched across the trail. SCORE!!!!

Having had good luck with snakes, we were discussed the dirth of amphibians while walking thought manicured lawns, studed with old live-oaks. As if on cue a large and splendid barking treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) dropped at my feet from high in a live-oak. Another lifer!!!

That evening I found this squirrel treefrog at the motel where we were staying.

After only a few hours at fort Frederica, time forced us to head north to the three North Carolina Parks we were targeting. We initially headed north and hit Cape Hatteras National Seashore for a while. I had hoped for outer banks kingsnakes but of course they were conspicuously absent. Needless to say, we did find some good stuff. Our first stop was a nearly dry wetland. Setting turtle traps took some serious negotiating.

Exlploring, however, revealed several cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) and a couple of racers (Coluber consrtictor)

Ampibians were also prevelant. These narrowmouth toads (Gastrophryne carolinensis) and metamorphing leopard frogs (Rana utricularia) and green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) ere found at the wetland edge.

The following morning we checked trutle traps, reavealing numerours large sliders (Trachemys scripta) and a couple of snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina)

A board in the dunes yielded this young eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)

This ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus) was found at the edge of the salt marsh. It had a very large meal which it soon disgorged. A green treefrog (Hyla cinerea). On our way out we found the highlight (an heartbreaker) of the trip, a nearly 5 foot corn snake (Elaphe gutata) on Bodie island, unfortunatly hit by the car in front of us. A great find but certainly a shame to see such a great snake die in your hands.

Our next stop was at Cape Lookout National Seashore. We took an NPS boat out to Shackleford Bank but unfortunatly by the time we got out there it was upwards of 90 degrees and most herps were well hidden. We get to enjoy the feral ponies at a watering hole being closley followed by a snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). This guy's shell was very deformed and looked like he had been stomped by a pony at least once.

We moved on to our final stop, Moore's Creek National Battlefield, near Wilmington, NC. Although we only stayed long enough for shane to show me around (it's a very small park), we did turn up three racers (Coluber constrictor), and a nice little rough earth snake (Virginia striatula), another lifer for me and a nice finish to a long trip.

A long trip with WAY too much driving and hot temps, but a good time all the same.

Species List:
Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) - ~20
Malaclemys terrapin (Diamondback Terrapin) - 2 DOR
Trachemys scripta (Slider) - TMTC
Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle) - 3
Kinosternon subrubrum (Eastern Mud Turtle) - 1

Rhadinaea flavilata (Pine Woods Snake) - 1
Coluber constrictor (Black Racer) - 10
Cemophora coccinea (Scarlet Snake) - 2
Thamnophis sauritus (Ribbon Snake) - 1
Diadophis punctatus (Southern Ringneck Snake) - 1
Elaphe obsoleta (Yellow Rat Snake) - 1
Elaphe guuttata (Corn Snake) - 1 DOR
Nerodia fasciata (Banded Watersnake) - 1
Agkistrodon piscivorus (Cottonmouth) - 3
Masticophis flagellum (Coachwhip) - 1 DOR
Virgina straitula (Rough Earth Snake) - 1

Eumeces laticeps (Broad-Headed Skink) - TMTC
Eumeces inexpectatus (Southeastern Five-lined Skink) - several
Anolis carolinensis (Green Anole) - several
Anolis sagrei (Brown Anole) - (introduced) - several
Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink) - several
Cnemidophorus sexlineatus (Six-Lined Racerunner) - TMTC
Sceloporus undulatus ( Fence Lizard) - several
Ophisaurus ventralis (Eastern Glass Lizard) - 2

Bufo terrestris (Southern Toad) - TMTC
Bufo woodhousii (Fowler's Toad) - TMTC
Gastrophryne carolinensis (Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toad) - several
Hyla cinerea (Green Treefrog) - TMTC
Hyla squirella (Squirrel Treefrog) - several
Hyla gratiosa (Barking Treefrog) - 1
Rana spenocephala (Southern Leopard Frog) - TMTC
Rana clamitans (Bronze Frog) - several