McClory: Make the most of the Year of the Snake

According to the Chinese calendar, 2013 is the Year of the Snake and the recent warm weather has resulted in snake sightings and inquiries pouring into MassWildlife offices. Conservation groups across the country are taking the opportunity to celebrate the Year of the Snake with events and information about these interesting and misunderstood creatures. Given the great beauty and diversity of these animals, their unsung and important ecological roles as mid-level predators and prey in the food web, and their declining populations over large areas of their range, the time is opportune to celebrate and learn about these fascinating reptiles. As part of the effort to recognize snakes as interesting animals well worth conserving, the Division has re-printed its “Field Guide to the Reptiles of Massachusetts” that will allow anyone to identify snakes native to the Commonwealth. Originally published in 2009 as a stand-alone, 48-page issue of Massachusetts Wildlife magazine, it includes voluminous notes about each species’ appearance, behavior, range, and conservation status. While the Guide includes complete information about all our native reptiles, it has been critically acclaimed for its outstanding full-color identification photos (including many pattern variations) of all the 14 species of snakes found in Massachusetts. It can be ordered for $3 by sending a check payable to “Commonwealth of Mass./DFW” to: Reptile Guide, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 100 Hartwell Street, West Boylston, MA 01583. The 2013 Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping also contains a 2-page “Sportsmen’s Guide to Bay State Snakes” with images and brief descriptions of the 14 snakes found in Massachusetts. Guides are available wherever sporting licenses are sold and at MassWildlife offices. Snakes are common in most rural and suburban habitats in Massachusetts, and are commonly encountered by people. The enlightened take these encounters as opportunities to enjoy the experience, and many wildlifers now keep lifetime lists of species (and actively seek out new ones) much as birders pursue viewing opportunities for feathered species. To many people, however, snakes remain a source of fear. The majority of our snakes are virtually or completely harmless, and fearing them is no more logical than fearing chipmunks, robins, or pigeons. While there are populations of two venomous species (Timber Rattlesnake and Northern Copperhead) in Massachusetts that can be potentially dangerous, both of these are endangered species with small populations and extremely restricted ranges, and are rarely encountered even by mountain hikers or active snake hunters. Furthermore, like all snakes, these snakes will always attempt to avoid people. Overcome the fear through education, learn to identify our snakes, and it becomes a simple matter to respect, enjoy, and even admire them.Because of the hazy, hot and humid weather, surface water temperature soared to uncomfortable levels, driving the fish down to deeper water. A degree or two of warm water temperature can make a huge difference in the activity of game fish. We found this to be the case while on vacation last week, a wet and rainy family vacation on Sebago Lake. We did manage to get out fishing two mornings and fished between the raindrops. Compared to past years, it was very disappointing. We only landed 3 lake trout and one salmon, a very poor harvest rate considering we usually catch about a dozen or more during a one-week stay. Reports for this week are a lot better, and the lake trout fishing has turned back on. Fish are holding at 90 feet. Those with downriggers are doing very well using flatfish and copper wobbler lures. Don’t forget to keep the lure moving by jigging; that seems to be the most successful method of catching fish.On the salt-water front, lots of blues and stripers are being caught early in the morning using pencil plugs and swimming plugs around the B buoy. Flounder are hugging the bottom because of