From the Contact Station

Slithering Snakes!

The beginning of warmer weather has resulted in the emergence of our refuge snakes.  They have been spotted sunning near the blind and, unfortunately for a few, in the deadly jaws of Great Blue Herons.  We have three snake species on the Refuge: Red-spotted (Common) Garter Snake, Northwestern Garter Snake and the Rubber Boa. All snakes are an important part of the natural food chain, eating a variety of prey, from mice and birds to frogs and insects. Besides their ecological value, snakes offer the careful wildlife viewer a chance to watch one of nature’s most efficient predators. These snakes are almost always found near water, especially in the summer, including wetlands, bogs, ponds, lakes, springs, creeks, and rivers. They are good swimmers and can hunt both on and below the water surface. Snakes have forked tongues that deposit air molecules on receptors in the mouth; thus, snakes “taste” the air, which helps them locate prey and sense their way in the dark. Last year I watched one near the bridge to the Kiwa trail as it carefully eased into the water and snatched a young bull frog.  At the same time, they are also preyed upon by our coyotes, raccoons, weasels, great blue herons, hawks, eagles, and owls.

Males snakes tend to emerge out of their dens first, and as soon as the females begin coming out, they surround them. Female garter snakes produce a sex-specific pheromone that attracts male snakes in droves, sometimes leading to the formation of “mating balls” of up to 20-30 males per female. Garter snakes and rubber boas are ovoviviparous, they bear live young from eggs retained in the body until hatching.

The Northwestern Garter Snake, Thamnophis ordinoides, prefers coastal and mountain forest habitats. However, it is commonly found in suburban areas and city parks. It’s more slender than other garter snakes, reaching 2 feet at maturity. It is dark above and has stripes of varying colors, often red and orange.

The Red-spotted (Common) Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, is a beautiful animal.  In western Washington, red blotches may or may not be present and the stripe coloration may be yellow, green, turquoise or blue with a grayish-blue underside. It grows to 2 to 3 feet. It is found from coastal and mountain forests to sagebrush deserts, usually close to water or wet meadows. Next to the Northwestern Garter Snake, this species is the most frequently encountered snake.

Our Rubber Boa, Charina bottaeis, is a member of the same family as the world’s largest snakes, including the boa constrictor, python, and anaconda. However, our local species only measures 14 to 30 inches. It is olive-green, reddish-brown, or tan to chocolate-brown. It looks rubbery and has a short, broad snout and a short, blunt tail, giving it a two-headed appearance. The rubber boa is found in damp wooded areas, large grassy areas, and moist sandy areas along rocky streams, being particularly fond of rotting stumps and logs. Although seldom encountered, this snake can be common in appropriate habitat.

Although these snakes are harmless, you should never pick up one of our refuge snakes.  It is not good for them.  Watch them from a respectful distance.  And as the road begins to warm, keep an eye out for snakes sunning on or crossing the roads.  Give them time to move out of the way.

-Susan Setterberg, Board President and Contact Station Volunteer

Photo: Red-spotted (Common) Garter Snake- Friends of Ridgefield NWR