Episode 159: Snakes and Turtles

David MacDougall joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about snakes, turtles, and other inhabitants of wetlands. Dave is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and a Consulting Biologis who also does site assessments and wetland delineations. Dave also wrote the Field Guide book about the Karner Blue butterfly that can typically be found in a pine barren.

Amphibians are semi aquatic beings, having adapted to inhabit a wide variety of habitats. Their life cycle typically starts as aquatic larvae and they later undergo metamorphosis to become an air-breathing adult with lungs. They are similar to reptiles but do require access to water bodies to breed. Amphibians and reptiles are both ecological indicators to habitat conditions which is why some of them are protected and/or endangered. Reptiles, unlike amphibians, have scales and their skin is dry. They include snakes, alligators, lizards, turtles and tortoises.

Snakes play a critical role in managing the environment including control of rodent, insect, and other invertebrate populations. A single rat snake can consume over 100 rodents a year. Snakes, in turn, are part of the diet of hawks and foxes. New York State is home to 17 different types of snakes, the most being the garter snake and the water snake. Non-venomous snakes also exist in the environment like garter, rat, milk, brown,and green snakes. Others like water snakes, black rat snakes, or black racers can be found in the area. There are only three types of venomous snakes in New York: eastern copperheads, timber rattlesnakes and the massaguas. They don't really want to bite you because if they do, they won't be able to eat for a week. Fundamentally, you're too big to waste their venom!

There are 18 species of turtles in New York State. The snapping turtle and the painted turtle are the most common. Others that can be found include bog turtles, eastern box turtles, wood turtles, and others that are on the list of threatened, endangered, or species of concern.

In this episode, you'll also learn about the Karner Blue butterfly and how climate change and development may be affecting the habitats of some of these species.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: David MacDougall

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

• ECOS | The Environmental Clearinghouse
• Woodland Reptiles: Snakes and Turtles | Penn State Extension
• THE ALBANY PINE BUSH PRESERVE

Last updated February 6, 2025