Isle Royale Forums

I’m a snake fan. Have been since I was a kid. I saw some pics (from johnhens, I think) that showed a leucistic grater snake from the island. I seem to recall from my Forestry days that all the garter snakes there were supposed to be melanistic (black).

I’m always up for a good critter hunt….any areas seem to have more than others?

No fellow snake fans, hunh?!

Okay, I'll bite.

We were sitting at North Lake Desor, eating our dinner, my son barefoot on the rocks, when he just about jumped through the trees, or into the lake. A garter snake was crawling towards his feet. I grew up around water moccasins, so I understand what aggressive means when describing a snake, and this garter snake was aggressive. It just wouldn't stop coming to us. No, a better way to say it would be that it just didn't care that we were there, that we were just in its way. The rocks were warm from the sun. We got a good laugh out of it, some entertainment.

“Okay, I’ll bite.”

Heh!

Every snake I’ve ever encountered has tried to put as much distance between itself and me, as quickly as possible. Probably because most of the time, I’ve been chasing after them.

Never encountered a water moccasin tho. I’m a northern boy with very little down south herpin’ experience.

Cool story!

Another Heh!

My daughter and I saw 2 garter snakes on the trail going from McCargo to E. Chickenbone. Last year, we saw several on the trail from Siskiwit to Feldtmann Lake. One had recently eaten judging by the large bulge it contained. The snakes all were small (under a foot) and were mostly black with some green. They were inches away from being stepped on.

This Picture is from McCargoe Cove. This snake wanted to get up on shore and sun on the warm rocks. Not the best picture, and that water was cold.

I've seen them all over... the below picture was taken on the trail between Three Mile and Daisy Farm.

I just got back and lost count at the number of snakes we saw, somewhere between 20 and 30, all over the island. I only saw the normal variety, no interesting color forms.

Don_P wrote:I've seen them all over... the below picture was taken on the trail between Three Mile and Daisy Farm.

WHAT KIND OF SNAKE IS THIS????????????

rainelde wrote: WHAT KIND OF SNAKE IS THIS????????????

Looks sort of like a black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) See:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_rat_snake or http://www.nps.gov/archive/isro/NR_Prof ... ke_jpg.htm

actually I'm pretty sure it is just a color form of the common garter snake.

The Coggster wrote:actually I'm pretty sure it is just a color form of the common garter snake.

Probably true. It is the most common species. I find it hard to distinguish in this photo. From the above or below it might be easier.