So Far . . .

Many herpers, like bird-watchers, butterfly-chasers, and autograph-hounds, enjoy keeping a list of their sightings/finds/captures. Here is the record of what reptiles and amphibians I have seen in the field, including the date and state I saw my first(or the first one I can recall specifically). Those marked with an asterisk are so noted because I was unable, for reasons of time or situation, to make a positive ID. I will talk a little more about those species afterward.

Here you are:

Turtles

Common Snapping Turtle-- WI, 1980
Eastern Box Turtle-- OH, 2005
Ornate Box Turtle-- WI, 2005
Eastern Painted Turtle-- OH, 2005
Midland Painted Turtle-- WI, 1991
Eastern Spiny
Softshell Turtle-- WI, 1991


Lizards

Green Anole-- FL, 1988
Northern Fence Lizard-- KY, 1999


Snakes

Northern Water Snake-- WI, 1995
Lake Erie Water Snake* -- OH, 2004
Northern/Midland
Brown snake (intergrade)-- OH, 1999
Midland/Texas
Brown Snake (intergrade)-- WI, 2003
Eastern Garter Snake-- WI, 1990
Maritime Garter Snake-- ME, 1993
Chicago Garter Snake-- WI, 1990
Plains Garter Snake-- WI, 1981
Butler's Garter Snake-- WI, 2003
Northern Ribbon Snake-- OH, 2004
Northern Ringneck Snake-- OH, 2005
Smooth Green Snake-- OH, 2005
Western Fox Snake-- WI, 2005
Black Rat Snake*-- OH, 1994
Bullsnake*-- WI, 1992
Eastern Milk Snake-- WI, 1991
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake-- OH, 2005


Salamanders

Jefferson/Blue-spotted
Salamander hybrid-- OH, 2005
Northern Dusky Salamander*-- OH, 2005
Eastern Tiger Salamander-- WI, 1991
Redback Salamander-- OH, 2005
Southern Two-lined Salamander-- OH, 2005


Frogs/Toads

American Toad-- WI, 1980
Gray Treefrog-- OH, 2004
Western Chorus Frog-- OH, 2005
Blanchard's Cricket Frog--OH, 2005
Bullfrog-- OH, 1997
Green Frog-- OH, 2005
Wood Frog-- WI, 2005
Northern Leopard Frog-- WI, 1991
Pickerel Frog-- WI, 1991

I know that my list may seem impressive, but there are a lot of herpers who have much longer lists than this. Gives me some motivation.

Regarding the species on which I could not make an ID:

Lake Erie Water Snake: These might have been just regular old water snakes. They were seen on Marblehead, and I am not sure if any of the Lake Erie genes extend to the mainland. But for now . . .

Black Rat Snake: This is kind of a funny story. I was in a boat with the lovely Angela and her parents, my then in-laws-to-be. We were fishing at Lake Loramie State Park and having no luck whatsoever. We did see a lot of turtles on logs and snakes on the bank. We had found a new spot that looked promising and were dropping the anchor when I saw a rather large dark snake sunning itself on the bank. This was too much for me to resist. I peeled off my shirt, and advised my in-laws that I was about to slide in the water and see how close I could get to it.

You know those moments where you are mortified by someone else's behavior, but, because it is so far beyond anything you could ever have anticipated, you are helpless to stop them? This was one of those moments for my in-laws-- and probably Angie.

Anyway, over the side I went, and swam with Hiawatha-like stealth until I came within, no lie, like 18 inches. The snake was really dark but had hints of color along the side. I have seen similarly colored water snakes but the head just did not look like Natrix to me (at the time I was unaware that Black Rats lived in the area). I did not get hold of it because I was somewhat paralyzed by the fear that if I moved to grab it, the snake would bolt. I was further paralyzed by the fact that if it did not bolt, I would catch it, and a water snake that large would deliver quite a bite. The snake decided for me, and wandered off casually, not towards the water but back into the brush-- also uncharacteristic of the water snake. I swam back to the boat. Years later I informed my wife and extended family that it might have been a black rat snake. It was not until then that I was informed that had I picked the snake up, there would have been no boat waiting for me.

Bullsnake: I was camping in southwest WI with my brother Brian. We had stopped by Governor Dodge State Park specifically to hike for snakes. After about two hours we came to a hilly field with a kind of broad mowed path. Brian went down one side of the path, I took the other. Every herper knows that you are responsible, no matter what else is going on, to keep your eyes glued to the side of the path in front of you. I have no idea what Brian was looking at, but he nearly stepped on a snake. I got a glimpse of its tail as it fled. Best guess is bullsnake, although it could have been a hognose or maybe even a western fox.

Dusky Salamander: click here.

A quick rundown of the species I really would like to see and add to this list that live in my area: five-lined skink, northern copperhead, hognosed-snake, northern red-belly snake, timber rattlesnake, blue racer, Fowler's toad, spotted salamander, marbled salamander, red salamander, and the green salamander. Don't worry, if I see them, you'll hear about it.