Woods & Bog Near Santuit Pond

Today while walking around the Cranberry Bogs near Santuit Pond I found a Green Frog.  It was a female (males have an ear drum that is twice the size of their eye).  It was croaking and stood perfectly still for many pictures.

Later while back in the woods we saw a juvenile Wood Frog that was hopping along.  It took a little while to catch, but once we did it hung out with me on my finger for a few shots.

Wood Frog at Ryder Conservation

While hiking through the Ryder Conservation Area, my friend Jack saw something hopping along the trail and he said it was a toad.  I tried to grab it and it hopped further down into the woods.  It kept going really far down, but I finally found the chance to grab it.  I walked back up to the trail and figured out that it was a Wood Frog.  I could tell because it had a white lip and smooth mucous-covered skin and had webbed rear feet.  Also judging by the hopping distance....frogs jump further than toads.

Painted Turtle at Brewster Herring Run

I was going down a giant rock at the Brewster Herring Run and I looked across the pond and I saw a painted turtle.  I originally thought it was a Red-Bellied Cooter but because of its smooth shell I realized it was a Painted Turtle.

Caught my first Black Racer!

I caught my first Black Racer on April 19, 2014.  First sighted activity at approximately 11:30 am.  It was 59 degrees and sunny.  I later caught this specimen measured between 55 - 60 inches at approximately 3:30 pm.  I believe he is male.  See the video of this beautiful snake.

Fear of Snakes and Snake Facts

Hey my name is Ben Nash and I would like to tell you about snakes. I'm ten years old and I've loved reptiles and amphibians my whole life . The first amphibian I caught was a frog and soon I liked salamanders I caught tons of salamanders and frogs. Then one day me and my dad went on a nature

trail.

I heard rustling and then I looked down and saw a snake I yelled to my dad, while he was taking pictures further away I said “ I see a snake !” then dad said “ grab it!” it headed toward a tree it curled up in a striking position then I grabbed it and it actually didn’t bite me and it was an amazing beautiful garter snake. Most people think snakes are slimy but that is actually just the reflection of there scales on the sun Also sometimes people are scared of snakes because of religion like the devil being in the form of a snake. But snakes are actually very docile.

They have only bitten me a few times and that is because I disturbed them. Only a few snakes in my opinion are mean like the diamond back rattle snake or a black mamba , I think it is maybe because of a memory maybe some one threw a snake on you or just a bad experience with one. Sometimes it could be because your parents said to not touch them or they didn't want you to go near them. That certainly isn't my dad , but my mom not so much any way back to you.

If you want to try to hold one first just look at it realize that its not going to hurt you , then once you get the courage at your own pace just touch it the snake might flinch but it doesn’t mean it will bight you . Then when you think you can and pick it up do it at your own pace pick it up and try not to get scared . Then try to keep holding for a few days then you should be comfortable with it. Soon you might really like snakes.

Some people are scared if its venomous ,you can tell if its venomous if its eyes are slit and if there not usually its not venomous and if they open there mouth a lot then it probably is.

I'm going to tell you about catching snakes if you try to catch them in the day look under logs and rocks they can be in trees and leave litter. And catching snakes at night is very different its almost like a midnight stroll but with looking at the ground and trees there are some snakes that are diurnal (sleep at the same time as humans)so you would have to look under some logs but not as much as the day.

The snake tools that you would need is snake hook (pet smart or a pet store ) a pillow case and boots and a flash light .

The whole world is filled with snakes there is at least one snake in every country and state except Antarctica. You can find snakes In your backyard and in the forest . Catching snakes takes patience I caught my first snake when I was eight and I was searching for years . Snakes come in lots of different sizes the thread snake is the smallest snake in the world and the anaconda is the heaviest . The ball python is a very popular snake to breed . snakes are a predator but they have predators too ,birds ,racoons ,and squirrels try to eat them . Venomous snakes bite there pray and pump in venom and then the animal dies and the snake consumes it . Nonvenomous snakes bite there pray rap around it very fast and slowly consume it .

There are snakes that make great pets like the corn snake , garter snake , rat snake , and ball python . For an adult corn snake you would need a ten gallon tank a heat light beading fake plants and a hide and water . Constrictor snakes grab there pray rap around it squeeze it until it suffocate and then slowly consumes it . Snakes that you would see in the desert are rattle snakes sidewinders and whip snake . Snakes that would be in rivers would be cotton mouths northern water snakes garter snakes . snakes are born in clutches of eggs , but some types of snakes are born live like a garter snake .

snakes have no arms or legs so they have to use muscles to move around . They shift sides with there muscles from side to side pushing which accelerates the snake forward .   

the red milk snake is usually a juvenile and the brown one is mostly the adult

Link to Cape Cod National Seashore PDF on Snakes on Cape Cod

CCNSGuidetoSnakes.pdf