1 Topic by Canoeman

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Topic: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

I am writing because I have recently encountered two species of snakes that this website does not list as being in Arkansas, one of which it specifically states does NOT exist in Arkansas. I am an avid canoeist and river guide who leads a lot of trips on Arkansas rivers. I am also very familiar with many species of snakes and have written an extensive safety section on Southwest Paddler (http://southwestpaddler.com/) that includes information regarding venomous and non-venomous snakes, snake bites and snake bite treatment. Some of my information came from Dr. David T. Roberts, who is the curator of snakes at the Dallas (Texas) Zoo and is recognized as one of the leading herpetologists in the world.

Several times over the past three years I have personally witnessed and photographed black kingsnakes in the immediate vicinity of the Buffalo National River. My first sighting was at the Carver Campground in 2007, where I took several photos of an adult black kingsnake crawling across the river access road and then climbing and moving through trees. More recently, I removed a younger black kingsnake from the middle of the road in the Tyler Bend Campground. This was not a juvenile snake, but it was also shorter than the 6-7 footer I saw at Carver in 2007, being about 4-4.5 feet in length. This last black kingsnake was observed on May 20, 2010.

The following day I photographed a juvenile Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake swimming across the river (see attached photo.) I am trying to find my photos of the black kingsnake from 2007, and did not have my camera with me at the time I saw the one this year.

I can attest to the fact that both these species definitely exist in Arkansas because I have seen and photographed them.

2 Reply by Canoeman

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

I found two good photos of the black kingsnake from 2007 and am attaching them.

3 Reply by two_crotalus

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

i believe the "massassauga" pic is actually a great plains ratsnake, and the black kingsnake pic is actually a texas rat snake.

4 Reply by two_crotalus

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

Texas ratsnake- http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/Snake/Pa … sObsoletus
black kingsnake- http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/s … 0030-1.jpg   notice the slight speckled pattern

massassauga- http://www.oksnakes.org/index.cfm?snake … &all=0   Notice it does not have the dark crossbar on the tip of its nose. which leads me to believe it was either a great plains rat snake

5 Reply by Canoeman

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

two_crotalus wrote:

Texas ratsnake- http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/Snake/Pa … sObsoletus
black kingsnake- http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/s … 0030-1.jpg   notice the slight speckled pattern

massassauga- http://www.oksnakes.org/index.cfm?snake … &all=0   Notice it does not have the dark crossbar on the tip of its nose. which leads me to believe it was either a great plains rat snake

You may be correct. My only photo of the snake last month was from a fast-moving canoe, and I did not have time to get a second shot. In the full size version the shot is slightly blurred due to the fast-moving and slightly bumpy water upon which I was riding.

A park ranger at the Buffalo National River, who claimed to be a herper himself, clearly stated that the black snake in 2007 was a black kingsnake, and he was adamant about not harming it, though nobody in our group would have harmed ANY snake. I did not notice any speckled coloration other than on its belly. The top and sides of the body were jet black and shiny. Those were the same characteristics I noticed on the black snake I saw this year on the Buffalo.

Thank you for your input. I will continue to research these two snakes.

6 Reply by prof.dave (edited by prof.dave 2010-06-18 09:02 am)

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

The black kingsnake  also has vertical stripes along the sides of it's mouth-the same as speckled kings.
Prairie kingsnakes are sometimes nearly black but they don't have the mouth stripes or the speckles along the sides.

"...be as wise as serpents..."  Matthew 10:16
"...I just thought that should be brung out"  ~Goober (on 'The Andy Griffith Show')

7 Reply by Mulebrother

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

Yep, i'd say GP rat snake on the one in the water.  The conspicous lack of a rattle would rule out rattlesnake of any species.

and the 'black king' is definitely a black rat.  I've found some speckeled kings with very small spots that look pretty black from a distance, but you wont find a 'true' black kingsnake unless you drive about 300 miles east into kentucky.   

Never amazes me how many times you get to correct a park ranger or other 'snake expert' when they mis ID something.  Have a watch at that show 'billy the exterminator'...that guy mis ID's stuff constantly.

Government is not the solution Government is the PROBLEM...Ronald Reagan

8 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

I will second the comments of others, GP rat and black/texas/western rat (chicken snake).

To add to the Black Kingsnake stuff. One name that can be given to those snakes is a the name Common Kingsnake. The speckled vs. black are very closely related and in some peoples eyes just a color variant of the same thing.

9 Reply by everythingoutdoors

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

ksuglennj wrote:

I will second the comments of others, GP rat and black/texas/western rat (chicken snake).

To add to the Black Kingsnake stuff. One name that can be given to those snakes is a the name Common Kingsnake. The speckled vs. black are very closely related and in some peoples eyes just a color variant of the same thing.


I will third the comments of others, i guess. The only thing i would add is that Glenn is a big stinky head.

who dares, wins

10 Reply by Van

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

I will third the comments of others, i guess.

4th

The only thing i would add is that Glenn is a big stinky head.

2nd- HAHA

Van's Website

11 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Snake species not listed as being in Arkansas

Van wrote:

The only thing i would add is that Glenn is a big stinky head.

2nd- HAHA

You two can suck it.