Kyle Horner Nature Blog: Pit-Vipers

Hello!

I have finally gotten to sorting and editing some Illinois photos. Because of the large number I will have to post them in installments. Today's installment - Pit-vipers! We saw three species on this trip, which was especially exciting for me. I love these animals, and it was an amazing opportunity to see and photograph some that I had never seen before.

The most common snake on the entire trip was undoubtedly the Eastern Cottonmouth. These guys were everywhere - you had to be careful where you stepped! Here's a few shots:

Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)

And the same snake displaying the namesake "cottonmouth":

Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)

A closeup of the inside of the mouth on a different animal. Look at those fangs!

Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)

So cute when they're small! Here's a couple of shots of a baby we found on the road:

Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)

Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)

One afternoon we stopped to have a look at a Cottonmouth that was basking at the foot of some rocky bluffs, and to our surprise there was a Copperhead sitting right next to it! This was a long sought-after species for many of us (including me) and was a very exciting sighting. Unfortunately it took off down a hole before we could snap any photos.

As luck would have it, the next day we were called to the exact same spot by a stranger who had found the Copperhead basking out in the open. It was very obliging, and sat still while the shutters clicked. I posted one shot last week - here are several more:

Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)

Camouflage much?

Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)

Look at that pretty face!

Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)

Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)

To complete the trifecta, one member of our group spotted a neonate Timber Rattlesnake crossing the road just after dusk. Another life-species for me, and a beautiful snake too!

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)