Herping Fort Pickett — Complete Species Summary

Author: Ty Smith
Counties: Nottoway, Dinwiddie, and Brunswick 
Survey Time: February 21, 2019 - August 29, 2021 
Party Members: Ty Smith

Fort Pickett is nestled in an interesting area, as it seems to be the far western extent of many coastal plains species ranges. Working at Pickett, I have been honored to have access to many areas in order to further the herpetofauna knowledge of this base. I have the blessing of the Natural Resource Department, and they are happy to know what is here and thriving. Much of Fort Pickett is pine savanna, a typically coastal plain’s habitat. There are also several ponds and swamps that aid even more southeastern species to thrive. Here is the complete species list I can attest to finding: 

Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus) 
Quite abundant in the spring.

Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) 
Very abundant. 

Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) 
Very abundant along most bodies of water. 

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) 
Very abundant in the late winter. 

Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum) 
Pretty good numbers in the winter, especially at the airfield. 

Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) 
Very abundant from April-September. Seems Gray Treefrog (H. versicolor) is absent from the area, likely due to habitat. Perhaps they could be found in a large oak-land expanse on Pickett in the future.  

Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) 
A very strong population present in the nearby area. I have heavily studied this population, and this is the main population I work with.

Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) 
Represented by only a few calling from the bridge on Cedar Creek Rd., Brunswick Co. 

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) 
Abundant.

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) 
Abundant.

Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris) 
Abundant.

Eastern Narrowmouth (Gastrophryne carolinensis) 
Numerous at the airfield.

Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) 
Represented by a single roadkill specimen near the bowling alley. 

Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) 
A few adults found road cruising warm, wet winter nights, and dozens of egg masses. 

Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) 
A few adults found road cruising warm, wet winter nights, and several larva found in vernal pools.

Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) 
A few in creeks, and a few roadcruised on wet nights.

Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) 
Several adults in several wetlands, as well as some efts on roads.

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) 
About a dozen adults seen throughout my time. 

Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) 
Common on the ponds and swamps.

Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna) 
Abundant on the reservoir. 

Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys rubriventris) 
A few in several wetlands.

Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) 
A few seen along the ponds and swamps. 

Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) 
A few seen in the swamps. 

Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) 
Fairly common.

Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) 
Fairly common in most areas. 

Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus) 
A few in dryer pine forest. 

Broadhead Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) 
Pair specimens seen on one occasion East of the Jonesboro Bridge in an old growth hardwood lot. 

Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) 
One specimen, dying of cold-shock, found along the exterior wall of building with the two Tropical House Geckos. This was a couple weeks after a new AC unit was installed, so maybe hitchhiked on that from a warehouse from somewhere. Specimen collected, but passed a couple days later.

Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia) 
Two specimens, dying of cold-shock, found along the exterior wall of building with the Mediterranean Gecko. This was a couple weeks after a new AC unit was installed, so maybe hitchhiked on that from a warehouse from somewhere. Specimens were collected, but both passed within a few hours.

Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) 
A few found road cruising, but mostly roadkills.

Eastern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus) 
Abundant, yet all road cruised and roadkill oddly enough. 

Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor ssp. constrictor) 
A couple walk-ups and road cruised, but several roadkills as well. 

Eastern Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) 
Several adults and juveniles road cruised and many more roadkills. 

Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis rhombomaculata) 
Two roadkills, but one live one not too far away.

Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) 
Two roadkills. 

Eastern Hognose (Heterodon platirhinos) 
Branden Martin (Natural Resources Dept.) has found a few, and sends me photos from time to time. Seemingly present, but not abundant, as is common with this species. 

Rough Earthsnake (Haldea striatula) 
First Nottoway Co. record for this species. Five roadkill specimens found in the fall of 2020.

Dekay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) 
A few live specimens found road cruising, and a few roadkills.

Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) 
Several roadkills.