Wild New Jersey Exclusive: Tracking Snakes in the Pine Barrens
NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's Dave Golden and Herpetological Associates' Dave Burkett
examine a six-foot pine snake radio-tracked near Stafford.
The New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve is one of only a handful of locations in the world where the northern pine snake is found, and Wild New Jersey's David Wheeler recently joined Dave Golden from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife and Dave Burkett from Herpetological Associates as they radio-tracked this threatened species near Stafford. Lying in wait behind a small bush, the team found an adult male pine snake - six feet of coiled brown-and-white checkered beauty. Golden also released a previously tracked younger pine snake back into the wild.
Several other snake species are found in the Pinelands, such as the timber rattlesnake and the corn snake. But through tracking efforts like this one, New Jersey Fish & Wildlife is actively working to ensure the pine snake's survival in its preferred open pine-oak habitat. This stunning creature's future is far from guaranteed, however.
"The most significant threats are roads and habitat loss," said Golden. "The measures being put in place seem to be working, but if you take away those protections, we could lose the pine snake."
Click here for other photos.
Click here for previous snake entry.
Click here for other photos.
Click here for previous snake entry.
WOW! I had no idea NJ had snakes this big... right in our backyard. Thanks for the tweet!
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i just caught a 6 footer is was in the middle of the road my third pine snake this summer. this is the first summer i caught 3 big ones, have all three on my phone too. I would say that they are doing a good job at conserving the pine snake. the last one i caught released a stench that made me lose my 14 dollar lunch. these snakes are incredible and have a big bag of tricks hisser's,stinkers,tail shakers,strikers and are some of the most aggressive i have ever come across. keep the good job up save the snakes!!!!
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