I enjoy looking for critters as I walk. This season I have seen a pair of Barred owls twice, deer, fox, coyote, many birds, snakes, turtles, etc.
I have seen spotted turtles that are on the endangered watch list in New Hampshire.
When walking one of the trails I spotted a hognose snake crossing the trail in front of me. I took out my phone and took several pictures.
When threatened, a hognose snake will flatten its neck to form a "hood". It may hiss loudly and make aggressive mock strikes with a closed mouth. If that doesn’t work, it will roll onto its back with their mouth open, let their tongues loll out, writhe around, and emit a foul musk to convince predators it is dead.
It had a flattened neck as I was watching. I didn’t want to upset it, so didn’t see the hissing, mock strikes, or the playing dead bluff. What an interesting snake.
I shared one picture with someone I talked to on the trails. Come to find out a Biologist for the area was very interested and asked that I reach out. Turns out, the Hognose snake is on the endangered species list in New Hampshire. He wanted to know the details and the GPS coordinates where I saw it.
I went back to the exact location and sent the coordinates and pictures. NH Fish & Game was also interested in the information.
Still on my list of woods critters to see is a moose and a black bear. Black bears near trash cans, dumpsters, bird feeders, etc. don’t count.
I challenge you to get out there and enjoy the woods.
Below is my blog post with some pictures and critters I have seen.
https://actionshotsnh.blogspot.com/2013/06/beaver-brook-association-hollis-nh.html
