Category: Reptiles

Observer: Thomas Belli Observation Date: 9/4/22 Observation Time: 1:30 pm Observation Location: Pud’s Pond (Borerland State Park) Common Name: Snapping Turtle Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina Comments: It was huge! Temperature during incubation influences the sex of the hatchlings. See: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1563778?seq=1 More Information: Tufts Wildlife Clinic and Mass Audubon’s guide to turtle species

Observer: Megan Baker and Leslie Koval Observation Date: 5/3/20 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: near Briggs Pond Common Name: Garter Snake Scientific Name: Thamnophis sirtalis Comments: This garter snake seems to have bitten off more than it can swallow. Outcome unknown. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/3/20 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Painted Turtle Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta Comments: Turtles are cold-blooded. These painted turtles were sunning themselves on a log to escape the chilly water. In June, painted turtles lay their eggs in holes they dig with their hind legs in sunny patches of sandy soil. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/3/20 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Near Billings Brook downstream of Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Snapping Turtle Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina Comments: Reptiles are cold-blooded. This individual had hauled itself out of the chilly water to warm itself in the sun. In early June, snapping turtles come out of the water, dig a hole in sandy areas, and bury their eggs. […]

Observer: Marcia Tranavitch Observation Date:  5/2/20 Observation Time: noon Observation Location: against the retaining wall in my garden at 24 Pine St. Common Name: Milk Snake Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum Comments: I encountered him/her among the leaves I was cleaning out at the edge of the woods on my property. I estimate this milk snake was at least 3 feet in length. To appreciate its length, note the […]

Observer: Marcia Tranavitch Observation Date: 1/11/20 Observation Time: mid-day Observation Location: on top of Pierce’s Hill on the Warner Trail (which is also the Bay Circuit Trail at this point) Common Name: Black racer Scientific Name: Coluber constrictor Comments: Reptiles are cold-blooded so they warm themselves by basking. This black racer was seen sunning itself on a warm winter day. It didn’t stretch out for me but […]

Observer: Kathy Farrell Observation Date:  10/17/18 Observation Time: 3:46 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook Trail Common Name: Milk Snake Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum Comments: Beautiful snake in middle of trail. Not very big…maybe 6-8″. Maybe juvenile? Was shaking its tail at me! No rattle. More Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_snake

Observer: Zahava Friedman Observation Date: 7/17/18 Observation Time:  Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Spotted Turtle Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata Comments: Rare in Massachusetts. Spotted turtles visit vernal pools in spring to feed on amphibian eggs. When the pools dry up in summer, they must trek overland to return to a permanent pond. Unfortunately, this often entails crossing roads. More Information: Natural History and […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/18 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black racer Scientific Name: Coluber constrictor Comments: This black racer was sunning itself in the cool of the morning, and continuously monitoring its surroundings by “tasting” the air with its forked tongue. More Information: Snakes of Massachusetts

Observer: Zahava Friedman Observation Date: 9/3/17 Observation Time: 6:45 p.m. Observation Location: along Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Eastern Box Turtle Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina  Comments: This specimen was discovered by Zahava’s dog, Yoshi, when they were out for a walk. Box turtles are a species of special concern. They are vulnerable to getting run over by cars. Although box turtles can live over 100 years, females […]

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 7/28/17 Observation Location: King Philips Trail, Sharon Common Name: Spotted Turtle Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata Comments: Rare in Massachusetts. Spotted turtles visit vernal pools in spring to feed on amphibian eggs. When the pools dry up in summer, they must trek overland to return to a permanent pond. Unfortunately, this often entails crossing roads. More Information: Natural History and Endangered Species […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/22/16 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Outflow pool below Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Snapping Turtle Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina Comments: Snapping turtles come out of the water and lay their eggs in sandy areas in early June. The eggs hatch in late summer or early fall. More Information: Tufts Wildlife Clinic and Mass Audubon’s guide to turtle species

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date:  9/12/13 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Street Common Name: Milk Snake Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum Comments: Sad to see this beautiful non-venomous milk snake run over by a car.  Milk snakes are generally docile, but when alarmed, they sometimes shake their tails against dead leaves to imitate the sound of a rattlesnake. More Information: Virginia Herpetological Society

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/13 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Musk turtle Scientific Name: Sternotherus odoratus Comments: This small turtle, which only grows to 5″ in length, is common in Sharon. When disturbed, it emits a disagreeable odor, which accounts for both its common and scientific names. This individual presumably came ashore to lay eggs. Believe it or not, musk turtles […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/6/11 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond outflow pool Common Name: Painted Turtle Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta Comments: I found this specimen on the dam, so I photographed it and then put it back in the water. In June, painted turtles lay their eggs in holes they dig with their hind legs in sunny patches of sandy soil. More […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/25/10 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Spillway at Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Snapping Turtle Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina On August 25 the spillway at the Gavins Pond dam was flowing strongly following four inches of rain in three days. A good-sized snapping turtle had gotten swept by the current into the spillway at the Gavins Pond dam. It […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/21/10 Observation Time: 7:50 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Snapping Turtle Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina Comments: It is a common misconception that snapping turtles may be safely picked up by the tail with no harm to the animal; in fact, this has a high chance of injuring the turtle, especially the tail itself and the vertebral column. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/25/10 Observation Time: 10:40 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Painted Turtle Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta Comments: Painted turtles mostly stay in the water, or climb out to sun themselves on logs. This one was walking around on Gavins Pond Dam. More Information: Warner Nature Center

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/19/10 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: undisclosed location in Sharon (to protect the turtle) Common Name: Eastern Box Turtle Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina Comments: I spotted this rare male box turtle (Terrapene carolina) in Sharon (exact location undisclosed to protect the turtle) at 7:30 on Monday, July 19, 2010. Although it appeared at first to want to cross the […]