After making the comment back in October that I haven't seen many reptiles, I have made an effort to spend a little more time this Spring watching to see if my initial feeling was correct. Well, I have definitely seen more reptiles but still not in the numbers of my childhood. Not by a long shot.
A walk in the woods (across the street from my RV) has produced Anolis specimen but in small numbers. I can usually spot 5 or 6 in a half and hour walk. I used to be able to see dozens in that time period. I have seen a fair number in town (Gilmer) around houses.
My walks have also produced a few Five Lined Skinks, Plestiodon fasciatus, but I am still surprised that I am not seeing any Sceloporus in what I know is excellent habitat.
I also have been blessed with a breeding pair of Broad Headed Skinks, Plestiodon laticeps, who live in the stack of firewood next to my chair where I sit each morning and evening enjoying my view of the lake.
Last week I caught a four foot Texas Ratsnake, Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri.
I have seen several Broad-banded Watersnakes, Nerodia fasciata confluens.
A few days ago, I saw a Texas Ribbonsnake, Thamnophis proximus, at the lake.
While walking along the shore of Lake O' the Pines, I have seen a few basking turtles but not in large numbers.
Lately there have been numerous female Red-Eared Turtles, Trachemys scripta, apparently looking for a place to lay their eggs.
That is my inventory so far this year. I am seeing more reptiles than I saw last year but I am also spending more time looking. Then, too, it is Spring. I should be seeing a lot of animals this time of year.
But I stay with my earlier statement from last fall, the number of reptiles is greatly reduced from when I was active in the east Texas woods many years ago. It is not a small difference.
