A couple of weeks ago (July 17, 20170) I was fortunate enough to record the first sighting of a Canebrake or Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) at SLP. This strikingly colored individual was a young adult, roughly 30 inches long. The last 4-6 inches of the tail appeared solid black, but upon close inspection shades of pattern were visible, as were three distinct rattles.
As is common to this species, it did not rattle while I was near. Instead, it first flattened its body and held motionless. After I intruded on its space in an attempt to get better photos, it eventually chose to glide away into the forest. The entire interaction lasted less than a minute, and was hastened by several loud claps of thunder and a brief rain shower.
This was an exciting record for the field station, not only because it was the first, but also because of the status of the snake. Due mainly to habitat loss, the Canebrake rattlesnake is listed as a threatened species. This sighting provides yet another example of the value of maintaining a field station in a wild setting with large scale undisturbed habitat. While some may just see a snake, I see a signal of a healthy and complete ecosystem, prime for research and study in all it’s glory.
Stengl "Lost Pines" Biological Research Station 
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