Wild T. radix Ranch Guest

[guidofatherof5]

I think this was a weeding out year. The weak/young and aged probably didn't fair to well. I didn't see near the number of snakes this year that I usually see.
Those that are out there are survivors.

[guidofatherof5]

While walking back from the shed last night I saw that my kids had set a grain shovel up against a tree and it had fallen down. It was laying in the tall grass and would have made a great hide so I turned it over. 5 radixes scattered quickly into the grass. Nice to see that large a group after the year we've had here.

[snake man]

Thats amazes me, this year I have seen 5 in total.

[guidofatherof5]

While out looking for slugs I found these little 2012 scrubs. I brought them in, got a photo and returned them to their wild hide.
Nice to find some new blood out there.

[Invisible Snake]

Hey at this time of year shouldn't they be in or around their brumation dens? Maybe they plan on brumating in your basement

[guidofatherof5]

I'm hoping they have a place picked out. We were at 80° today and will have a mild week before it turns cold for the weekend.
I've never seen any first year snakes at my den or in my basement.
Since my old girl Ally(dog) passed away there are plenty of mole burrows to use for brumation.

[ConcinusMan]

Hey at this time of year shouldn't they be in or around their brumation dens? Maybe they plan on brumating in your basement

I don't know about radixes but with many, if not all subspecies of T. sirtalis, first year offspring are absent from the dens where the adults stay. It's still a mystery as to where they go. Now, as far as T. s. concinnus' go, there really is no main centralized den. The geography where they live just doesn't provide that. They stay in small groups in various protected (from the elements) hides usually inside or under rotting stumps, logs, etc. across a usually heavily wooded area where they can up to 3 feet underground while staying above the groundwater line.

[guidofatherof5]

Went out to do some spring yard work and spotted this male T.radix warming up along the house foundation. This is the first snake sighted in 2013.

[rickymar81]

That's a good looking male!

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks. He seems to be waiting for something
I should take him down to the snake room and put him in with my largest group of adult females. He'd think he died and went to Thamnophis heaven.