And where would you go to shed your skin

Thursday, June 25 2009 - Vermont

Last year I found three snake skins in the compost bin. Last night I found three snakes and one new skin. They didn’t like me taking their picture and I didn’t get it focused well, but at least I was kind and put the compost into the other bin.

Note: In my comments I misidentified these as Ribbon snakes. (I won't quit the day job!) They are plain old Garter snakes. Thanks to Jim Andrews,  from the VT Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Project for the correction. The Ribbon has more of a mahogony head and if I was one to pick up snakes, I would find a mahogony stripe on the lower part of its side. Plus they are pretty rare in VT.

three snakes one skin

#1 Deirdre on 6.25.2009 at 3:40 PM

That you had the presence of mind to get any picture is amazing. I found one of those little tiny snakes with a orange/yellow ring around its neck under one of my potted tomato plants.

I wonder where reptile skins fit into the compost world.

#2 Julie on 6.25.2009 at 3:51 PM

They didn't mind the first time I opened the bin. As you know, I open it *very* carefully for this very reason. But then I came back and opened it again and took not one but 2 pics wti hthe flash. They started lumbering around thanks to the paparazzi-like behavior. A little privacy, PLEASE!

#3 Bill McCarthy on 6.25.2009 at 11:33 PM

So the garter or ribbon snakes ? Totally non venemous, so a bit like a legless lizard ??

#4 Julie on 6.26.2009 at 9:15 AM

I sure hope there aren't any venemous snakes in my back yard. It's not like I live in wild Australia or something! :)

The only venemous snake in VT is the Timber Rattler. Here's the list (it's short) of VT snakes: community.middlebury.edu/.../~herpatlas

Mine (my little pets) are Ribbon Snakes.

#5 Bill McCarthy on 6.26.2009 at 9:52 AM

Oh I thought the lack of focus was nervousness ;) If I saw your racers or rat snakes *here*, I'd know I'd be more than just a bit nervous. We've got it a bit easier I guess. When I see a snake here I know it's deadly, whether it's deadly, very deadly or extremely deadly is just academic.

There, you guys have to identify them first (and hope they haven't hitched a ride from interstate <g>). So much easier if presumed guilty ;)

#6 Julie on 6.26.2009 at 11:57 AM

I hope I don't ever meet up with any of the other VT snakes at least as a surprise. They are big and scary looking. I don't care how harmless they are. Ribbon snakes are more my speed. :)

#7 Hurtownia Tkanin on 7.29.2009 at 3:04 AM

Animals could find so strange ways to do... the "things" they do :) Around my neighbourhood (that is within radius of about 400 kilometres) a puma has been seen several times in forests, parks and on fields. Last time they tried to catch this animal big hunting was organized but they could not find it. I think those people who live around close puma's neighbourhood could live in fear because recently this animal attacked few chickens and bite to death two dogs. Sometimes I find this unbelievable. Not mentioning a python found on one of my close-by housing estates...