Yearly Archives: 2013

Northern Red-bellied Snake

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While exploring this clearing in the woods, I came across a snake that I have not seen in quite some time and have never seen in Cuyahoga County.

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This is Ohio’s smallest snake, growing to only 8-10 inches long. Northern Red-bellied Snakes feed mostly on slugs and snails. This species has jaw and tooth adaptations that assist in the extraction of snails from their shells.

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A uniformly scarlet or red-orange belly and three well-defined light blotches immediately behind the head are this reptile’s most distinctive characteristics. It is very secretive and spends most of its life hidden. Females give birth to 7 or 8 tiny, live offspring in late Summer.

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The Northern Red-bellied Snake has the curious habit of curling its upper lip and exposing its teeth when it feels threatened, though it is harmless and makes no attempt to bite.

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Another defense is exposing its bright red belly, which may be enough to startle a predator momentarily and allow the snake escape.

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Having and unexpected encounter with this remarkable reptile made for an excellent outing.

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Least Brook Lamprey

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The Least Brook Lamprey is an extremely unlikely-looking fish to encounter in the spring-fed creeks of our state. All lampreys have a long eel-like body and no scales. They have segments of muscles that are visible along their body and a jawless mouth.

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As with all lamprey species, the Least Brook Lamprey spends the majority of its life as a worm-like larva. Larvae live burrowed in the sand at the bottom of a waterway for 3–7 years, feeding on microscopic plant and animal life.

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This fish is found in clear brooks with fast flowing water and either a sand or gravel bottom. Prior to laying eggs, adults construct small nests by picking up pebbles with their oral disk and moving them to form the rims of shallow depressions.

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Adult Least Brook Lamprey cannot eat. Since they have a nonfunctional intestine, they only live for four to six months. Instead of eating, they spend all their time building nests, finding mates and laying eggs so the next generation will be there to carry on.

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Lampreys are a diverse and ancient line of creatures tracing back to over 300 million years ago. Of the many fish species native to Ohio, this is one of the least known, but most interesting.

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Eastern Redbud

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Eastern Redbud is abundant in the southern two-thirds of Ohio, with scattered distribution in the northern one-third of the state. It heralds the arrival of Spring with its showy, lavender-pink flowers that typically open in April, long before its foliage emerges.

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Like Locust Trees and Wisteria, this tree is a member of the Bean Family. By late spring, the green fruits of Eastern Redbud take on the pod shape that is characteristic of beans. The alternate, smooth-edged, heart-shaped leaves make Eastern Redbud easy to identify, even when it is not flowering.

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Eastern Redbud only reaches about 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide at maturity and is relatively short-lived. It many places it would not seem like Spring without this tree’s spectacular floral display.

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I am fortunate enough to have one of these trees blooming in my backyard right now.

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Mourning Cloak

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This butterfly is named for its somber coloration. Mourning Cloaks have wings that are dark brown with pale, cream-colored edges, which often look ragged. Underneath, the Mourning Cloak’s wings are blackish-brown. It is camouflaged when it rests on a tree trunk with its wings folded.

This large insect has a 3-1/2 wingspan and breaks several “rules” about butterflies. It is often found in flowerless woodlands and can sometimes be seen flying around in the Winter. I have run into a few of these creatures in the past few weeks; they have a well-deserved reputation of being difficult to approach and photograph.

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Adult Mourning Cloaks drink from some nectar-producing plants, rotting fruit, tree sap and mud puddles. On cold but sunny days, they rest on tree trunks and turn their dark wings toward the sun to absorb heat. When approached, they make a loud click before flying away from a resting spot.

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Mourning Cloaks are one of the few butterflies that overwinter. Instead of dying or flying south, they stay here year-round. They find a tree cavity or crawl underneath loose bark. By hibernating, Mourning Cloaks get a head start over other butterflies in the Spring.

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The Mourning Cloak is a widespread species with a worldwide distribution in the northern hemisphere from the subtropics to the Arctic Circle. This is one of my favorite butterflies because of it’s unconvential, yet successful lifestyle and seeing one on a sunny Winter day in the woods makes for a great hike.

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Northern Red Salamander

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This past weekend I accompanied 18 high school students to south-central Ohio to explore some of the state’s natural wonders. We found a creek and Adam, Pat, Jen and Claire decided to turn a few logs in the area.

Our efforts paid off when we found this strikingly bright red amphibian with scattered black dots.

Jen thought is was an awesome find, and I agreed.

The habitat for this colorful creature is under rocks and logs in and around cold, clean springs and adjacent brooks.

The Northern Red Salamander is a large (up to 8 inches) amphibian. This species has a distinctive, bright yellow iris and a stout body.

Older examples of this salamander, like this one I found a few years ago, are less brightly colored and often somewhat purplish.

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Western Conifer Seed Bug

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Looking out my kitchen window this morning, I saw one of these trapped between the screen and the window. The Western Conifer Seed Bug belongs to a small group of true bugs called the leaf-footed bugs. As the name indicates, these bugs have long hind legs that end with a flattened, leaf-like structure. They sometimes are called “walky bugs” in Ohio due to the slow and steady way that they walk.

There are more around the house that stay hidden, though on warm Fall, Winter and Spring days they can be seen in the open, catching the warm sun’s rays. They are able to fly and make a buzzing noise when airborne.

The Western Conifer Seed Bug feeds on the sap of developing conifer cones throughout its life. Their primary defense is to spray a bitter, offending smell; though to humans sometimes it can smell pleasantly of apples or pine sap.

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This insect was first described in the western United States and has been expanding its range eastward. It was first detected in Pennsylvania in 1992.

Western Conifer Seed Bugs overwinter as adults under protective debris for shelter. They are harmless to people and kind of cool to have hanging around the house. Their flat bodies allow them to wedge themselves into small cracks and sometimes they end up inside homes.

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Marsh Marigold

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I got back in Ohio in time to see one of the showiest of all of our early blooming wildflowers. Marsh Marigold is found in marshy areas and wet woods.

The flowers are about 1-1/2 inches across. This plant forms loose clumps of large kidney or heart shaped waxy leaves, with branching stems 12 to 18 inches tall.

Its genus, Caltha, is Latin for “cup” and describes the upturned petal-like sepals which form a shallow cup. Though “marigold” may be a good description of its color, this is not a true Marigold, but rather, a type of buttercup.

“Back in the day” this plant had the common name of “Cowslip.” Since it often grows in low lying hilly areas, cows often slipped on it when they went to a creek to take a drink.

This plant grows along quiet waterways, such as streams and ponds. I haven’t seen it in a few years, so it was nice running into several examples of Marsh Marigold in Brecksville Reservation today.

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False Tarantula

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By looking under a rock found on a hillside, I found the biggest wild spider I’ve ever seen – a False Tarantula. These creatures are about the same size as the local tarantulas but they are in a different family of spiders.

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These spiders usually safely hidden in their self-made caves; wandering males are what most people tend to encounter. They share many similar characteristics as “real” tarantulas, which is why the two are often confused.

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False Tarantulas occur all over California from sea level to the high Sierra Nevada Mountains. Their reclusive habits and nocturnal behavior keep them hidden from view most of the time, so they aren’t commonly encountered.

It is brown to silver gray in color and has fine hairs all over its entire body. This tarantula look-alike behaves much like its larger cousin.  If threatened, it will rear up and expose its fangs as a warning to its perceived attacker. Finding this big arachnid was one of the highlights of my California trip.

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Common Raven

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The Common Raven has accompanied people around the Northern Hemisphere for centuries, following their wagons and hunting parties in hopes of a quick meal.

These birds are surprisingly large. They aren’t as social as crows; they tend to be seen alone or in pairs. Their throat is covered by thick and shaggy feathers and they have a thick, heavy bill.

Common Ravens prefer open landscapes, such as tundra, seacoasts, open riverbanks, rocky cliffs, mountain forests, plains, deserts, and scrubby woodlands. They store foods of all kinds, including nuts, bones, eggs, and meat.

These birds are very important in native cultures throughout their range. They an important mythic creature in western Native American traditions. In many cultures they are viewed as a symbol of wisdom, fertility and creation.

Unlike crows, Common Ravens typically soar and glide. On this windy day near the ocean, they would often hover on wind currents, remaining suspended in the air. They are acrobatic fliers and have been observed flying upside down for as far as one kilometer.

Common Ravens engage in seemingly playful acts such as yanking the tails of cats and dogs. They are among the smartest of all birds and are capable of learning innovative solutions to newly encountered problems.

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Northern Pacific Rattlesnake

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The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake is the most widely distributed venomous reptile in California; it is one of the nine subspecies of the western rattlesnake. The one pictured below is a baby that was born last year.

This rattlesnake is one of the most broadly tolerant of all rattlers in its choice of habitats, though they prefer areas with rocky areas and ledges. It can be found at higher elevations than any other rattlesnake – up to 9,000 feet.

The snake preys upon small mammals, birds and lizards. It uses its tongue and heat sensing pits (the holes in its face between the eyes and nostrils) to hunt.

It uses venom to kill and break down the tissue of the animal, which helps to digest the victim. The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake hunts during the day on warm days, but waits until nightfall when the days become really hot.

Rattlesnakes add a rattle to their string each time their skin is shed. The rattle is composed of hardened keratin, the same material as a human’s fingernails.

Adult snakes typically reach 24-60 inches in length. They are stout and have fairly large eyes with vertical pupils and a long, dark cheek patch. Often the blotches that run down the snake’s back become bands further down, giving the snake a “raccoon tail.”

Rattlesnakes are live-bearing, and typically give birth to between 2 and 8 young in mid-September to October. Newborn rattlesnakes are fully venomous but lack a rattle; they have a small, modified scale at the tip of their tail called a “button.”

Though feared, rattlesnakes are valuable predators, and likely an important control agent for some species of small mammals.

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