Sure It's Hot, Just Ask The Snake

[CharlieJ]

Sure It's Hot, Just Ask The Snake
By Ken Bailey
Outdoors Editor

HOPE (July 20): I knew it would happen. As soon as you find yourself complaining about the rain and the cold, the weather gods crank up the temperature and the humidity — all at the same time.

Within a day or so, we went from complaining about the cold to complaining about the heat, which is quite a normal activity here in Maine. I've been known to mutter while feeding the wood furnace in January and debate the merits of fans over an air conditioner in July. You just can't make a Mainer happy.

The heat affects everything in nature; even our approach to fishing.

The only critter I observed in the past few days that was not uncomfortable was a garter snake that has taken up residence in my wife's flower garden. Nearly every day, as the sun baked the rock wall, this common Maine reptile could be seen soaking up the rays on a flat rock right next to the daylilies.

The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), according to "Maine Amphibians and Reptiles," is capable of flourishing in all but the most urbanized landscapes and is the most abundant reptile in the region.

The garter snake's pattern and coloration vary widely even within the state.

"Typically, this snake has three yellowish or brownish strips on its dorsum (upper part of the body)," describes the book. "Between the center stripe and the lateral stripes are two rows of alternating black spots. The center stripe may be so dark or obscure that in some individuals the spots are the dominant feature of the snake's appearance."

Earthworms are the main fare for the garter snake, which explains why it likes the garden so much. Even though worms constitute around 80 percent of the snake's diet, many other animals are also consumed, depending on availability, such as amphibians, fish, carrion, leeches, insects, small birds, rodents, reptiles and crayfish.

Garter snakes reach sexual maturity at a length of around 20 inches for females and 16 inches for males. They breed soon after leaving their state of hibernation, which can range from mid-March to May, sometimes extending into the fall. The females give birth to 14-40 young, depending on the size and age of the female.

That's enough information on the sex life of a snake.

Other snakes found in Maine include: the eastern racer; ringneck snake; milk snake; smooth green snake; northern water snake; brown snake; redbelly snake; and ribbon snake. Although there are no documented records of the existence of timber rattlesnakes in Maine since the mid-19th century, there is a remote possibility that some may exist.

If you have never seen or picked up a copy of "Maine Amphibians and Reptiles," you should grab a copy today. This book, published in 1999 by the University of Maine Press, extensively covers the variety of salamanders, toads, frogs, turtles and snakes found in Maine, along with 56 drawings and a 16-page gallery of photographs.

One feature I especially like about this book is the inclusion of a CD, narrated and produced by well-known naturalist Lang Elliott, which will make it easy to learn to identify all the frogs and toads by their songs. The CD also includes a long unnarrated series of frog choruses.

If you have ever wondered which frog was making all that noise, you can now find out. Check it out.

Warm weather fishing

This started out as a fishing column, but, as often happens, I was sidetracked.

Bass, both large and smallmouth, look for cooler water, sufficient oxygen and plenty of food when the water heats up. Recent surface temperatures on some Midcoast lakes and ponds have approached the mid-80s, forcing many fish into deeper haunts.

A lake trout may consider 70 to 80 feet deep; while a trophy-sized smallmouth may drop off to water that is 20 to 40 feet deep in some lakes.

Largemouth, on the other hand, may move to an area where the water is 8 to 15 feet deep.

Over the past weekend, with air temperatures pushing 90 degrees, anglers trolling for trout on Megunticook Lake were still able to find fish. The action was not as fast and furious as it had been a few weeks ago, but quality fish were found at depths ranging from 25 to 35 five feet. Live bait, spoons and streamers produced fish.

You can be like the snake and just lie around and soak up the sun's rays, or you can get going early in the morning or in the evening and catch some fish. The warm weather has also seemed to cut down on the number of mosquitoes, which is all the more reason to go fishing.

Don't let the warm temperatures keep you from having a good time with a fishing pole in hand. If you don't want to go fishing then go on a snake hunt.

Have a safe week in your part of the great outdoors.