Snake Encounter

Throughout the latter half of semester two, my Maine Fish and Wildlife students focus on herpetology, or the study of amphibians and reptiles. Along the way they learn to identify nearly all of our state's frogs (by sight and sound), salamanders, snakes and turtles. We then take advantage of the nicer weather in May and June to do some "field herping". On a recent trip outdoors, we encountered our first reptile of the year. A beautiful common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) was observed by my block 1 class along the railroad tracks.

A common garter snake rests along the railroad tracks behind T.A. 

While amphibians are pretty easily observed in the T.A. forest, reptiles tend to be a bit more rare. It is always exciting for a class to be able to observe a species in the wild that we have spent so much time learning about in the classroom. Garter snakes are our most common snake in Maine and can be found statewide. They typically emerge from hibernation in late March or April and immediately begin search for a mate. They are viviparous meaning they give birth to live young and after a short gestation can produce 40 or more offspring. They feed primarily on earthworms but will also prey upon other small invertebrates and amphibians. 

Snakes are often vilified and irrationally feared by the public. I often hear stories from students who have killed snakes they find around their properties. There are no venomous snakes currently found in Maine and they are much more afraid of people than we are of them. The ecological value of these amazing reptiles is a big emphasis during this unit. If you find a snake in your travels, take it as a sign of a healthy ecosystem and enjoy from a distance. 

Deer on the Move

There is plenty of evidence of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the T.A. Forest. Tracks, scat, and even a presumed roadkill carcass have all been found on trips outside with my students but until yesterday morning we had never gotten a deer on the game camera. This is partially due to the small number of deer who seem to occupy our fragmented piece of forest and the way in which our cameras are generally deployed. The majority of our game camera surveillance has been done up close on den sites, squirrel feeders, tree cavities, or nesting boxes. Over the past week, I have had a camera set up on an old logging trail. These types of openings are perfect places to find deer and other mammals seeking the path of least resistance as they travel through the forest. Just after sunrise an adult doe and her two yearling fawns wandered in front of the camera. It was still just a little too dark in the understory for the camera to capture color images.

A doe and her two yearling fawns wander through the T.A. Forest

The video captured after the initial image is particularly interesting. The deer are looking a bit shaggy this time of year as they begin to transition to their thinner summer coat. The second deer in line is undoubtedly a young buck. Watch for the beginning of its first set of antlers as it lowers its head. Like all members of the deer family, white-tails grow a new set of antlers every year. In fact, deer antler is one of the fasting growing tissues in the animal kingdom. Growth is now beginning to ramp up and will continue at a feverish pace through July. This yearling buck will be working on its first set of antlers, often simple spikes. 

Watch for the beginnings of antler growth in the second deer in line. 

Forest Wildflowers in Bloom

Despite the lack of April showers, May is producing its fair share of flowers. Spring wildflowers are currently in full bloom throughout the T.A. Forest and across New England. The trout lily (Erythronium americanum) is found throughout mixed deciduous forests in Maine. It blooms in early spring before the large trees have fully leafed out. If you miss it early in the year, it can be hard to locate later on as its leaves and blossoms quickly wither.

Trout lilies bloom along the forest floor behind T.A. 

The trout lily gets its common name due to the coloration of its leaves. The green/brown mottled pattern is said to resemble that of the brook trout (salvelinus fontinalis). Wether these plants make you reminisce of native brook trout on a fly rod or not, the healthy carpet of these wildflowers currently blooming along the eastern trail is a short lived treat you wont want to miss.

Another wildflower currently blooming in the T.A. Forest is the trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens L.) or simply "mayflower". Mayflowers are another common forest wildflower found from Maine to Florida. Unlike the trout lily, the mayflower's foliage persists throughout the year so they are a bit easier to locate during the growing season.

A mayflower in bloom along the Eastern Trail. 

As a wildlife teacher, I am constantly stressing to my students the importance of all members of the native plant and animal communities within our local ecosystem. Taking a moment to appreciate some of the beauty beneath our feet in the forest is one way to begin to foster an intrinsic value for all wildlife.