Snakes Think It's Winter

Although the temperature has been in the mid to upper 70Fs during this last week, at least one snake thinks it is winter. Over the last week, the Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) in the image has been sunning outside the den by #2 on the boardwalk. This is a den that at least three cottonmouths use every winter. We're betting that the first one to the den gets their choice of either the top or bottom bunk.

Knowing that Mr. Cottonmouth was out, motivated us to wear our snake boots when we stepped out to post boundary signs along the swamp's edge. Although we covered many miles of property boundary lines, we did not spy any snakes. We did flush an American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) and some White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We also, much to our dismay, saw plenty of fresh signs that feral hogs (Sus scrofa) have been feeding and wallowing on the sanctuary.