Afternoon found us heading east to a set of railroad tracks we like to work.  The tracks bisect a swampy, wooded tract of land, and the herps are usually abundant.  Racerunners, Fence Lizards and Fivelined Skinks all put in appearances; cast off railroad ties are good habitat for these lizards.  We also found an adult Central Newt under a tie, unusual since these creatures usually return to the water after spending a year or more on land as an Eft.  Perhaps the unusually dry autumn was to blame - all of the shallow ponds near this newt were bone dry.  At any rate, this newt was not the best of shape, and I hoped for its sake that a good October rain was not long in coming.

Between the rails we found at least three serpent skeletons, along with shells and skeletons of Box Turtles, Sliders, Mud and Musk Turtles.  Turtles get stuck between the rails during their travels, and the frequent and fast trains that pass through here take their toll.  Should you ever find a live turtle between the rails, do it a favor and release it to one side or the other.

Jim located a small adult Cottonmouth near our turn-around spot, and Jeff came up with a yearling Copperbelly nearby.  Laura found a neonate Worm Snake, so tiny that Jim used an acorn cup as a cover to take pictures!  Tracey found a neonate Cottonmouth, a very pretty one.

Tracey had a harrowing episode on the walk back.  Turning over a parallel series of short ties, he reached out to the farthest tie to steady himself, and put his hand down on the dorsum of a large Cottonmouth stretched out across the tie.  Needless to say he was quite shaken upon returning to earth some distance away, while the snake merely coiled and rattled its tail at him.

Now Tracey is no fool, traipsing about the countryside with reckless abandon.  He is careful and alert in the field, but this snake blended in perfectly with the railroad tie and the surrounding leaves and dark earth.  We try to keep them to a minimum, but there are always risks out in the field.  I hope I never find myself writing an episode about a venomous snakebite.

It was now past five o'clock, and the light and temperature were starting to fade.  Back at the vehicles we bid goodbye to Glen and Stacey, who were heading back home.  The rest of us headed west for a hot supper at Dolly's in Vienna.  Afterwards, it was time for Jeff and the Scharosch family to start the long trip home.  It was great to get out in the field with them and I hope we have more opportunities in the future.