Knox County's Wild Reptiles (& Amphibians)! was originally published in the BFEC Newsletter, Vol. 15/No. 4, Fall 2011.
The fertile fields, rich woodlands, and scenic waterways of Knox County not only offer a great opportunity for recreation, but also a great chance to observe a variety of wildlife. From rare birds, to even rarer amphibians, from fish to the ever present white-tailed deer, many important plants and animals call Knox County's diverse habitats home — including many species of reptile and amphibians. Although many people many be frightened at the sight of a slithering snake or a slimy salamander, they are all valuable parts of an intricate web that creates this wonderful and diverse natural landscape that you can explore.
Included among these diverse creatures is the wood frog, Lithobates sylvatica. The earliest frog to breed in Ohio. Its low, chuckling call, similar to a quacking duck, can be heard from late February to early April if conditions are right. Wood frogs often breed only one or two nights per year, disappearing quickly back to the forest and leaving only their large, gelatinous egg masses behind on the floors of vernal pools and shallow, fishless ponds.
Wood frogs can be identified by their smooth, slimy tan skin, and a distinctive "bandit" or "raccoon" mask around their eyes.
Another amazing amphibian that lurks beneath large flat rocks in swift moving portions of our very own Kokosing River is one of the world's largest salamanders, the eastern hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. Hellbenders are listed as a state endangered species due to pollution and loss of habitat and should never be intentionally harassed. The largest salamander in Ohio, it can reach lengths of up to 27 inches. They feed mostly on crayfish, but will also eat insects, small frogs and minnows. While hellbenders do have lungs, much of their oxygen is absorbed through loose wrinkles along their sides. They breed in late August and September, females laying as many as 500 eggs in a nest excavated by the male, who then fertilizes the freshly laid eggs. If an eastern hellbender is spotted or caught while fishing, it should be released immediately, and you should report your sighting to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Many species of snake call Knox County home, including the eastern garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, a common sight in woodpiles and yards across all of Ohio. The garter snake feeds mostly on invertebrates such as earthworms and grubs, but will occasionally venture into the water in search of small fish or frogs. Identified by two yellow lines along their side, the garter snake is a stout, quick snake that will often disappear into leaf debris or vegetation shortly after it is spotted. These snakes give live birth, and can often be seen basking on roads, bike paths and logs. They reach an average length of 22 inches and are completely harmless to humans. Garter snakes are very attractive and offer a great opportunity for photographs in the wild.
Another very misunderstood snake that makes its home in barns, woodlots and fertile farm fields is the eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis traingulum. Named because of a folk legend that they use to drink the milk of livestock by night, milk snakes are actually member of a larger group of snakes known as king snakes. Milk snakes and king snakes will feed on rats, mice, eggs and young birds, but often prefer another food source all together: other snakes.
They are identified by a series of "checkerboard" splotches along their belly, and by richly colored rectangular splotches along their back that come in many colors from red-brown to a deep gray. Reaching a length of up to 36 inches, they are, like the gartersnake, harmless to humans, but may "rattle," or vibrate the very tip of their tail in order to scare predators and humans when encountered. The eastern milk snake is often misidentified as a copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen, when encountered in the wild. Northern copperheads were historically distributed throughout unglaciated Ohio as far north as Knox County, but no recent records exist, and it is very unlikely that any still inhabit the area due to habitat fragmentation and farming.
The eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, is a common sight along roadways and paths throughout Ohio and Knox County. Their high domed shell (or carapace), large brown eyes, and slow moving demeanor make them a valuable part of Ohio's diverse wildlife. Box turtles often spend their days in shaded woodlands where they eat mostly invertebrates such as earth worms, as well as berries, fungus, and other vegetation. Although a heavy summer rain can bring box turtles out in large quantities, the turtle's numbers are declining due to habitat loss and the likelihood of being struck by a car while meandering across the road. If you should encounter a box turtle on the road, it is very important that you (safely) move it just across the road in the direction it was heading. This is because box turtles have a very small home range, and will not be able to locate food supplies if displaced. Additionally, there is a possibility that a wayward turtle could infect another population of box turtles with a pathogen they might otherwise have been separated from.
Unlike the unassuming, quirky box turtle, the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, is Ohio's largest turtle. Slow moving on land, yet swift in water, the snapping turtle lives in almost any body of water with enough food to sustain it. Often found lumbering across roads in the late spring, snapping turtles can reach up to 35 pounds and be as large as 18 inches across. Once valued for meat, "turtle-hunting" is less practiced now and these animals should be admired for their prehistoric demeanor. Stories of snapping turtles breaking through broomsticks are often exaggerated, although they can inflict a painful bite with their large beak and powerful jaws. Their neck can reach to the middle of their shell, so it is important to admire these animals with a camera or at a safe distance.
Regardless of the fear and stigma attached to many reptiles and some amphibians, it is important that we realize that they make up a vast web of diversity, that we too are a part of, and they should be appreciated and protected.