The Archives
Our Library of Virginia focused Herping Videos for you to use to aid your own herping research. Are you a Youtube Content creator and have herp themed videos that you think would be educational to herpers? Check out or about page to contact us. We will screen the videos for ethical and safe herping practices, accurate information, and to make sure the video is relatively PG.
American Toad, Southern Toad & Fowler's Toad, How to Tell Them Apart
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Koaw Nature featuring Ty SmithFINALLY! You can easily learn how to identify these very similar toads! I've teamed up with Master Naturalist Ty "The Snakeman" Smith to go over how to tell the differences between the eastern American toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus), the southern toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) and the Fowler's toad (Anaxyrus fowleri).
We'll cover: 1. Comparing the cranial ridges, including the postorbital ridge's relationship to the parotoid gland. 2. The size and number of warts in the dorsal spots. 3. The size of the warts on the thigh compared to that on the calf. 4. The spotting or lack of spotting on the belly, or abdomen. |
Big Black Racer Snakes COME RIGHT AT ME! (to Escape)
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Koaw NatureThese snakes have a funny way of escaping! And you won't believe the size of the hole both of these big northern black racer snakes fit into. I'm just chilling in a creek, recounting this fun encounter with the northern black racers (Coluber constrictor constrictor) from last month. I'll put a video into the works for how to find snakes in Virginia. And most of the time these snakes will not strike unless you corner them and/or pick them up. They aren't venomous but any open-wound inflicted should be washed immediately and monitored for infection.
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5 REPTILES You Should Know!
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Koaw NatureChubs & Daisy are back! People of the DMV: Learn about the animals that live in your woods! This week we will cover the red-eared slider (that's a turtle), the garter snake, the northern watersnake, the common five-lined skink (that's a lizard) and the snapping turtle.
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His Remarkable Feat Finding Reptiles & Amphibians...I'm baffled.
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Koaw Nature featuring Ty SmithI'm amazed...are you? Plus we found three rare for Virginia in one night! Amazing aptly describes the accomplishment of Ty 'The Snakeman' Smith as he found more species of reptiles and amphibians than anyone else in a single year within Virginia.* As a fellow herper, I can only admire what he has done. I was also lucky enough to go out exploring for reptiles and amphibians in Virginia with him where we found two rare species of amphibians and even a rare fish.
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How to Find Snakes : For New Herpers & Parents
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Koaw NatureWant to find snakes? I'll share great tips for you as you begin your search for wild snakes. This video is for parents wanting to teach their kids and new herpers. I'll show you where snakes live and what variables to consider when searching for our slithering friends. Snake Species in Virginia Found: EASTERN COPPERHEAD (Agkistrodon contortrix), NORTHERN WATERSNAKE (Nerodia sipedon sipedon), EASTERN WORMSNAKE (Carphophis amoenus amoenus), NORTHERN RING-NECKED SNAKE (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii), NORTHERN BLACK RACER (Coluber constrictor constrictor), EASTERN RATSNAKE (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), EASTERN GARTER SNAKE (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) & DEYKAY’S BROWNSNAKE (Storeria dekayi). I found each of these species in the last few weeks although some of my footage is from other encounters. Be sure to check the local wildlife protection laws for your area. Don't handle venomous snakes unless you have been properly trained to do so.
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Keep Wild Turtles Wild: A Guide to Turtles that are GOOD & BAD as Pets
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Koaw Nature featuring Ty SmithWant a turtle? Watch this video first! Seven turtle species are discussed by Ty "The Snakeman" Smith as he discusses the commitments and requirements of keeping turtles as pets as well as why it is best to leave wild turtles wild.
The seven species discussed are: RED-FOOTED TORTOISE (Chelonoidis carbonarius), EASTERN BOX TURTLE (Terrapene carolina carolina), RED-EARED SLIDER (Trachemys scripta elegans), EASTERN RIVER COOTER (Pseudemys concinna concinna), COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE (Chelydra serpentina), AFRICAN SIDE-NECKED TURTLE (Pelusios castaneus), and the RUSSIAN TORTOISE (Agrionemys horsfieldii). |
Meet a Wild EASTERN COPPERHEAD (Agkistrodon contortrix) Juvenile
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Koaw Naturet's a B-E-A-utiful copperhead in the woods! ~ Let's learn some facts about the copperhead snake. I'll compare the venomous eastern copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) to the nonvenomous northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) so you can see the differences. Are copperheads dangerous? Yes. Will you die from a bite? Most likely no...but your day will suck.
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Polymorphism in the Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
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Koaw NatureDo you think these salamanders are the SAME or DIFFERENT species? Check out this amazing phenomenon in nature!
We'll explore polymorphism in the eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) by examining the most common red-striped phase, the lead-backed (anerythristic) phase, and the yellow-backed (xanthic) phase. |
Salamander Herping in Virginia (It was cold!)
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Koaw Nature and Caesar VillacortaThe toxic eastern newt subspecies was our main goal to find. Check out the amazing creatures we encountered! I'll also cover the toxic secretion of the red-spotted newt, tetrodotoxin, and we'll see marbled salamanders guarding eggs!
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Salamanders, Shrooms & Bears! OH MY!
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Koaw Nature and FriendsExploring Shenandoah National Park with friends. A sweet day! Some bears may have shown up too... We really went herping at Hawksbill Mountain to find a Shenandoah salamander as well as find other animals in the park. We found at least fifty of the eastern red-backed salamander, some white-spotted slimy salamander and a northern two-lined salamander.
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Salamanders | The Amazing Regenerators
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Koaw NatureSalamanders are masters of regeneration. Limb, tail, heart, brain – salamanders can regenerate just about anything. The superpower of regeneration and the large genomes of salamanders sets them apart from most tetrapods—even most other amphibians. This video explores how and why salamanders regenerate body parts.
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The Orgy of Quacking Wood Frogs
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Koaw NatureThe amusing & complicated mating of wood frogs. The wood frog is one of the first frog species to mate in early spring. By way of external fertilization, the male places sperm on the female eggs before the eggs swell with water. The mating behavior of frogs is quite interesting. I'm doing things a bit differently in this video.
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Wild Painted Turtle Laying Eggs (I felt so protective!)
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Koaw NatureMaya Angelou's words best set up the strong emotions I felt while watching this wild eastern painted turtle lay her eggs: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) in Northern Virginia laying eggs in her nest next to a lake. This turtle laid at least seven eggs.
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Woodpeckers vs. Snake - Wildlife Standoff
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Koaw NatureA mating pair of pileated woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus abieticola) must deter a very large snake intruder from their territory in Northern Virginia. I feel lucky to have seen this wildlife interaction and love that I can share it with you! I believe the snake is an adult northern black racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) but very well could be an eastern ratsnake. See more below.
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