Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: snake monitoring

NOT my hand, I can assure you! Taken in a local park when we were snake monitoring on May 30th. Rules (from higher up) were changed this year - including not needing to wear plastic gloves, which surprised me. Pretty much impossible to get even one photo, as a standing rule is to handle the snakes (never by ME!) absolutely only as long as it takes to measure them. Common but localized populations; least abundant among the three Thamnophis species. Adults: 45 cm - 107 cm. Watch where you step : ) I don't know about you, but my knees always go weak when I unexpectedly come across one of these when I'm on a walk! Unfortunately, some snakes are killed by bicycles on the bike paths within the park.

A Red-sided Garter Snake being held so that it could be measured, marked and recorded. These really are attractive snakes - and those are words coming from someone with a fear of snakes, LOL! The Wandering Garter Snakes are a different matter - I just cannot get comfortable with those AT ALL, especially the larger, fat females - ugh! We saw about 57 snakes yesterday, a mixture of both species of Garter Snake. For anyone who has never tried to photograph a snake, you (or at least I) have to take lots of shots in the hope of getting one half decent image. These reptiles do not like being held and they writhe and twist. Every once in a while, one will be a bit calmer, thank goodness.