Georgia 2024 — greenwoodwildlife.com

Georgia Trip Report 2024

March

I had a slow start to the year for herping in 2024 after coming off some exciting trips at the end of 2023. Once the first hints of spring were made evident, I couldn’t help but take a quick trip down to the southeast where the conditions would prove far more promising for herping. I packed up the car and rocketed down I-95 all the way to south Georgia. I was most interested in exploring the Okefenokee Swamp for the first time ever. This location stands out as an immense swath of federally protected land in Georgia. While Okefenokee was at one point decimated by the lumber industry, it was granted federal protection in the early 20th century and now is a safehaven for unique flora and fauna.

Scarlet king snake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)

Scarlet king snake 1 (Lampropeltis elapsoides)

Scarlet king snake 2 (Lampropeltis elapsoides)

Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

Okefenokee Swamp has a long history of interest from recreational field herpers. With the right amount of luck and knowledge you are able to encounter some spectacular snake species such as the scarlet king snake and the timber rattlesnake.

Florida green water snake (Nerodia floridana)

Eastern mud snake (Farancia abacura)

The main goal of the trip was to try to observe any species of the Liodytes genus. Although this didn’t pan out, I was fortunate to encounter an eastern mud snake and a uniquely colored gray rat snake. Additionally, I found a Florida green water snake crossing the road, an uncommon site in the state boundaries of Georgia.

Gray rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)

After quickly exploring the Okefenokee Swamp and surrounding and habitat in the immediate area, I decided to head to a region I would describe as the land of tin in Georgia. Many generations of field herpers have taken this regular pilgrimage to this region in search of dilapidated structures which are so regularly occupied by attractive snake species. The treasure map that I devised through the course of the winter allowed me to uncover many noteworthy finds. I ended up turning up 2 diamondback rattlesnakes, 3 eastern king snakes and a gray rat snake. I also had the miraculous luck of enountering 2 eastern indigo snakes while searching for more garbage to flip.

Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

Eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula)

Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

Eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula)

Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi)

We failed to outrun the storms one night and ended up getting caught in rain that was neither conducive for reptile movement nor amphibian movement. Amongst the few amphibians that were brave enough to cross in less than ideal circumstances were the southern cricket frog and the coastal plain dwarf salamander- two species I hadn’t yet observed.

Coastal plain dwarf salamander (Eurycea quadridigitata)

Southern cricket frog (Acris gryllus)

At the beginning of April I accepted a position working with the Orianne Society to conduct research on spotted turtles. I began my stay at the Orianne Preserve which is situated in south central Georgia- what most people would consider the middle of nowhere. Accepting this position and moving to the northeast also meant that I would have better chances of observing many of the interesting species endemic to the southeast.

Eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula)

Striped swamp snake (Liodytes alleni)

Hooded pitcher plant

Eastern diamondback rattlesnake

Eastern mud snake (Farancia abacura)

Eastern coachwhip and eastern king snake

Eastern mud snake (Farancia abacura)

Scarlet king snake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)

Green water snake (Nerodia cyclopion)

April

Three lined salamander (Eurycea guttolineata)

Anerythristic eastern mud snake

White ibis

Eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula)

Pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)

Young American alligators with a watchful mother

Prothonotary warbler

Barking tree frog (Hyla gratiosa)

Aoelian sand dune decorated with blooming lupine

Green tree frog (Hyla cinerea)

Eastern mud snake (Farancia abacura)

Eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula)

Pair of copulating mud snakes found in the knees of a cypress tree.

Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Two lifers in one night: Liodytes rigida and Liodytes pygaea

Eastern mud snake (Farancia abacura)

G-wagon and the prophetical milk snake

Black king snake (Lampropeltis getula)

NW Georgia Weekend Trip

Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Green salamander (Aneides aeneus)

Eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

Pigeon mountain salamander (Plethodon petraeus)

Cave salamander (Eurcycea lucifuga)

Eastern mud snake (Farancia abacura)

Plain belly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)

Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Red headed woodpecker

Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Northern dwarf siren (Pseudobranchus striatus)

May 2024

Rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma)

Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)

Eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

County record rainbow snake found dead on a riverbank

River frog (Lithobates heckscheri)

Juvenile gopher tortoise (tennis ball sized)

Spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera)

Southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus)

River frog tadpole (Lithobates heckscheri)

Eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)

Insitu southern hog

While I had previously observed a number of eastern hognose snakes in several different states, I hadn’t yet encountered a southern hog. After finishing up a rainy day at work, the sun came back out and I knew that I would have to take advantage of the opportune conditions. I set out hiking some pristine sandscrub habitat in southeast GA with the intent of finding a coral snake. I weaved through a complex of turkey oak and saw palmetto until I caught a glimpse of a southern hog stretched out at the base of a turkey oak tree. This adult male apparently found the conditions favorable for an evening jaunt and I snapped a few quick pictures before sending him back on his way.

Scarlet king snake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)

Loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor)

Dusky pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)

Mole skink (Plestiodon egregius)

Chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia)

Oak toad (Anaxyrus quercicus)

Scarlet king snake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)

Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti)

Eastern coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

Pine woods tree frog (Hyla femoralis)

Hooded warbler

Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

Bird-voiced tree frog (Hyla avivoca)

Barking tree frog pair (Hyla gratiosa)

Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Hercules beetle

Rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma)

Eastern mud snake (Farancia abacura)

Rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma)

Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)

Dusky pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)

June 2024

Eastern mud snake (Farancia abacura)

Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)

Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Hercules beetle

Dusky pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)

Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

Suwanee Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis)

Suwanee Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis)

Gray rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)

July 2024

Greater siren (Siren lacertina)

Oak toad (Anaxyrus quercicus)

Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

Eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula)

Squirrel treefrog (Hyla squirrella)

Little grass frog (Pseudacris ocularis)

Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi)

Before concluding my time with the Orianne Society in south Georgia I decided to make a rocket run trip to Alabama. The main target of this trip was to see the red hills salamanader. This species is the only representative of the monotypic genus: Phaeognathus. They reside only in the unique redhills region of southwest Alabama. They boast an atypically long and slender body plan as compared to other terrestrial salamanders of the region. It is most common to come across these salamanders at night with their heads at the end of their burrow waiting in an ambush position.