Snakes: Friend Them or Fear Them?

The tongue of this Garter Snake is picking up air-born microscopic particles to deposit on the Jacobson organ in its mouth.  The snake senses food, enemies and mates with this organ.

Snakes at Morris Arboretum
Snakes are a natural component of many sustainable landscapes where they serve important ecological functions. Snakes excite interest and occasional fear at the Morris Arboretum. They live here on land and in the waterways, occupying the diverse habitats of our gardens and managed Wissahickon Valley landscape. They should be respected, enjoyed and left alone.    

Visitors will most often see two snake species (Eastern Garter Snake and Northern Water Snake) from March to November as the reptiles search for prey, try to escape to cover or bask in the warm sun. Other snakes are more likely to be seen by staff and volunteers while gardening.

None of the serpents typically found here are seriously venomous. Garter Snake does have mildly venomous saliva that may cause a rash or swelling in humans. Northern Water Snake has a reputation for a bad disposition and can give severe repeated bites if threatened. Its saliva contains an anticoagulant to promote blood loss. All our snakes do have numerous teeth to hold their prey, but they don’t chew their food. They swallow it whole. Many local snakes emit a foul smelling secretion as a defense.

Snake Watching Tips

• Observe. Enjoy their company but let them go their own way. 
• Do not disturb the snakes. They provide valuable services in the garden, consuming many pests. Snakes, in turn, are snacks for other creatures such as hawks, fox, raccoon and other snakes. 
• There is a lot of scientific information and folklore available about snakes that you can research to enhance your nature encounters and amaze your companions.

Look for these four locally native snakes at the Morris Arboretum:

1. Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis. May be seen almost anywhere in the garden.  They eat a lot of earthworms and other small prey.  It is easily recognized by the three, pale-colored stripes along its body.  The stripes resemble patterns on the garters once commonly worn by men.
2. Northern Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon, is commonly seen basking on the rocks at the Swan Pond and near other water bodies. It can grow four feet long eating fish and small animals. They defend themselves viciously. 
3. Northern Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi, is a secretive snake rarely seen by visitors, but often  observed by staff working at earth level in the moist understory where it hunts slugs, larvae  and soft-bodied insects.
4. Northern Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus, is rarely seen as it is most active at night.  It has a distinctive yellow or orange band around its neck.  

Local snakes that have been reported but not seen recently at the Morris Arboretum include the Eastern Rat Snake, Elapheobsoleta, Northern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor and Eastern Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum.  There are a few other snakes that we might yet document here.  

Robert R. Gutowski, Director of Public Programs, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. 

 The blue eyes of this Garter Snake are a temporary result of shedding its skin.

The Northern Brown Snake is a small snake of secretive habits. This one was disturbed while I was weeding a perennial border.

Northern Water Snakes are commonly seen basking at the Swan Pond and are often confused with the venomous Copperhead or Water Moccasin. In either case, it is best not to disturb them.

Turtle Tips

Eastern box turtle, photo by Paul Meyer

Eastern painted turtle and red-eared slider

Red-eared slider

Snapping turtle

Turtles at the Morris Arboretum

What lives at the Arboretum, leaves its shell and never leaves its shell? Not nut trees. Turtles of course. Like many reptiles, turtles hatch from eggs. Unlike their fellow reptilians - snakes and lizards - turtles have a distinct shell to protect and support their body.

Four turtle species are known to make their home at Morris Arboretum. All of them can be seen in and around the Arboretum’s Wetland, Paper Mill Run and the Wissahickon Creek. Other species may yet be found. All turtles, including aquatic species, lay their eggs on land, usually above the flood line.

Turtle Watching Tips

If you visit the Wetland during April-October you may see a dozen turtles basking on a log. These are the easiest to observe but who are you looking at? The most likely is a mix of Red-eared Sliders and Eastern Painted Turtles. The sliders are more common. Turtles near water usually dive before you are close enough to identify them, so binoculars are useful. With a little practice - and some identification guide research - you can be checking scute patterns, carapace profiles and head markings to share your herpetological observations. The common Snapping Turtle is most often seen as a snout and pair of eyes just above the surface. You might think it is just a bit of stump. Once you recognize it, you will begin to see it more frequently. The only land turtle we have is the Eastern Box Turtle. This may be the rarest to see as it likes to burrow into cool moist retreats or under logs. Eastern Box Turtle is a species of special concern in Pennsylvania. The survival of many reptile species is threatened by habitat loss. Leave all the turtles be and protect their habitats. Look and learn, but don’t touch – and remember the powerful snapping turtle has a long neck and a short temper.    

Look for these four turtles at the Morris Arboretum:

1. Red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans – aquatic invasive
2. Eastern painted turtle, Chrysemys picta picta – aquatic native
3. Common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentine serpentine – aquatic native
4. Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina – terrestrial native species of special concern

Article and photos (unless otherwise stated) contributed by Robert R. Gutowski, Director of Public Programs, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.