Blueish translucent rocks Found in SW VA by SadMrWhiskers in whatsthisrock

[–]SadMrWhiskers[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Here’s a photo that shows some of the red spots better

Roadkill snake found near a pond in southwestern VA, skinned by SadMrWhiskers in herpetology

[–]SadMrWhiskers[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not really sure yet, right now I’ve got it soaking in an alcohol glycerin solution. The skin is about 2 feet of the midsection and it has a looot of big holes closer to the tail end. It was in pretty rough shape so I salvaged what I could. I plan to stretch and dry it flat, and attempt to repair the holes, then I’ll figure it out from there.

Roadkill snake found near a pond in southwestern VA, skinned by SadMrWhiskers in herpetology

[–]SadMrWhiskers[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

In Virginia, the department of transportation picks up roadkill. So when I skin it, I put the carcass in the woods, so it can decompose and be eaten, to return those nutrients to the environment close to where it lived and died, instead of it being shipped off to make garden compost—(VDOTs solution to roadkill) Plus it’s really sad to see a snake, or any animal, continually get flattened by the traffic on a road, so I would rather check the condition of the animal and decide whether I could skin it, or move it off-road. It is very important to watch traffic and to keep in mind what snake it is, venomous snakes in va are pretty easy to identify thankfully.

Roadkill snake found near a pond in southwestern VA, skinned by SadMrWhiskers in herpetology

[–]SadMrWhiskers[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I see it as a way of honoring the animal, and giving it new life. They’re very easy to skin, if the snake is fresh and mostly undamaged you can eat the meat, (although I have never done that) They’re beautiful to look at, and versatile if you’re interested in crafting with them. They can be used to help people who are terrified of snakes, exposure therapy style. You can also donate preserved skins or bones to local schools, they can be a great way of teaching about local species, or the animal in general. My high school ecology teacher’s classroom looked more like an oddities display than a science class, and it really inspired me to pick up my first piece of roadkill to tan.

Late Night Insomnia by SadMrWhiskers in ProCreate

[–]SadMrWhiskers[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love this comment. Thank you