THE DISMAL SWAMP

The Dismal Swamp or Great Dismal Swamp is located on the eastern side of North Carolina. It is considered one of the wildest areas in the Eastern America. The Dismal Swamp stretches for 37 miles and is twelve miles wide. Sixty percent of it is located in North Carolina and the other forty percent flows into Virginia. It is only six feet deep. The swamp is in Gates, Perquimans, Camden, and Currituck counties.

The Great Dismal Swamp is a wonder. Millions of years before the swamp was formed it was under the sea. Scientists viewed this area as one of the best outdoor laboratories in the world. This was formed when the Continental Shelf made its last big move.

Despite its name the swamp actually yields pure water. It is said that the tannic acid produced by the juniper, gum, and cypress trees halt the growth of bacteria in the water. Before refrigeration the swamp water was highly sought after for its properties and used on sailing ships. It was said to prevent illness and promote long life. Even Blackbeard a well known pirate was known to fill his barrels with this water and give it to his men.

Some people did not want to come here because the place seemed so dismal and dank. But George Washington saw otherwise. He felt that a great profit could be made from this swamp.  He got a 5,000 acre share from The Dismal Swamp Land Company. He and his brother in law believed that they could drain the swamp and use it for farming. But soon realized that they could not profit from this endeavor, so they turned to producing jumpier  shingles after the Revolutionary War which proved to be much more profitable. He used slave labor and other real cheap workers who cut down trees and had to move them to long distances through the swamp. They had to deal with insects, the swamp itself and other dangers including snakes.

In the Dismal Swamp there are 3 venomous snakes and 10 non-venomous snakes. Even though they are typically land and aquatic snakes they sometimes cross between these two ecosystems. Land snakes may go into the water and aquatic snakes may come on land. These two ecosystems are very different. Land is able to sustain different life than water is and water is able to sustain different life than land. Ecosystems consist of the biotic community and its abiotic environment functioning as a system.

 This is a land ecosystem.                                                        This is an aquatic ecosystem.

Snakes in the Dismal Swamp can be broken down into different groups. The first two main groups are venomous and non-venomous. Then these two can are broken down into venomous land and water snakes and non-venomous land and water snakes.

Family Viperidae- This family contains snakes that are venomous. There are 5 species in NC, but in this swamp there are three, the cottonmouth, copperhead and the timber rattlesnake.

Venomous Water Snakes

     Eastern Cottonmouth-(water moccasin)- Agkistrodon piscivorus piscovorus        

This is a large semi-aquatic venomous snake. It is usually uniformly black. But sometimes may have yellowish green, olive or brown stripes. It is found in the eastern NC and in southeastern US. It is most common in marshes and swamps by rivers and streams. They have a variable temperament and bite after being aggravated. They are active during the day and night. It mostly easts fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. It also has live young, or viviparous

Venomous Land Snakes

        Copperhead-Agkistrodon contortix contortix

These snakes are generally medium sized to moderately large. They are active during the day and night. May have a brown, grayish brown or chestnut color hourglass design along the body. Mostly feeds on cicadas, amphibians, reptiles birds and small mammals. It is usually not aggressive but will strike if tampered with.  It is found in almost all counties of NC and is found in the eastern half of the US. It is also viviparous.

                                                                                Timber Rattlesnake- Crotalus horridus

    This is a large stout bodied venomous snake with a rattle. The head is usually wider than the body. They usually appear blackish with obscure patterns and all black tails. They are found everywhere in NC except the central area, and are found in the eastern half of the US. They are active both day and night.  They are not aggressive but will coil up and shake their rattle if provoked. They eat primarily small mammals, rodents, and birds. They are also viviparous. Despite their scary look they are actually thought to be the peaceful snakes in the world. They never attack anyone or injure them unless stepped on or provoked.

Family Colubridae-This family of snake is non-venomous. There are 31 species in NC, but in this swamp there are 10 species.

Non-Venomous Water Snakes

Brown Water Snake-Nerodia taxisplota

This snake has a pattern of square rectangles with dark brown or black blotches. They are mostly active during the day time. Like to hang around swamps, lakes, streams, marshes, and estuaries. Sometimes found around trees and hanging from limbs over the water. When bothered it will simply drop from the limb and escape into the water. It is sometimes called the water rattler and pileated moccasin. They bite aggressively and discharge a foul musk from their anal glands when caught.  They are found in eastern NC and from eastern NC all the way down to southern Georgia. It is also viviparous. Its main food is fish.

Red Belly Watersnake- Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster

This snake has a reddish brown color on top and on the bottom has a reddish orange color. It is found in the eastern NC and the southeastern corner of the US. They are found most common in swamps, sluggish streams, lakes and floodplains and also in still or semi-still bodies of water. Also found in trashpiles or old buildings that are a distance from water. When grabbed it will bite and release musk from its anal glands.

Banded Water Snake- Nerodia fasciata fasciata

The top color can have a high variation of patterns. But the bottom has a shade of brown, red or close to black. It is common near and in canals, drainage ditches, small ponds, lakes, streams, swamps, still and semi-still freshwater environments. They are nocturnal and when caught will release musk and bite. They feed mostly on amphibians and fish. They are also viviparous. Found in eastern half of NC and a very small section of southeastern US.

Eastern Mud Snake-Farancia abacura abacura

The top is glossy with black or blue black color to it. The bottom is red, pink, but rarely white. It is found in the southeastern US and in the eastern side of NC. It likes to hang out in swamps, marshes, ponds, canals and slow streams. It is a myth that this snake  can roll like a hoop and has a stinger in its tail. Though it does have a spine in its tail it is harmless. When continuously teased it will coil body on top of head and raise it tail. It seems may be some type of antipredator behavior. It does not bite even when caught. Its main food are aquatic salamanders.

Non-venomous Land Snakes

Black Rat Snake- Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta

Its colors are mainly black with white blotches. They are mostly diurnal. It seems to inhabit the entire eastern half of the US, but it is found all over NC. Their prey are small mammals birds and their eggs mainly. They are oviparous. When they are encountered these snakes will kink their bodies and look similar to a crooked stick. But when cornered it will rattle its tail and strike.

Eastern Hognose Snake-Heterdon platirhinos

The top side is brown, tan, yellowish, grayish, or reddish with brown to black body blotches. The bottom is gray or black. It is found in almost the entire eastern half of the US. Also found all over NC but concentrated more in eastern NC. It likes to avoid swamps and other wet environments. They are also oviparous. They hardly bite even when caught. When it is bothered it spreads its head and body and hisses loud. If still bothered it opens mouth and wiggles around and fakes death.  While doing this it will excrete wastes and musk and may bleed from its mouth. It is also called the spreading adder or black adder.

Eastern Kingsnake- Lampropeltis getula getula

This is a large shiny black snake. It may also be yellow or whitelike with chainlike crosslines. It is mainly found in the southern half of the US and is found all across NC. It likes to inhabit wooded areas, around ponds, streams, swamps and old sawdust piles. It is mostly active during the day time. It expels musk from anal glands when caught. It feeds on small mammals, reptile eggs, lizards and other snakes. It is oviparous, meaning its young are born from eggs. It is called a kingsnake because it is known to eat other snakes.

Rough Green Snake- Opheodrys aestivus

This snake is small and slender. The top is greenish yellow or pale green. It is found all across NC, but more concentrated towards eastern NC and found in southeastern US. Most commonly found in forested and woodland areas. Also found along lakes and streams and sometimes in the water. They mainly eat insects, spiders and frogs. This snake is oviparous. The rough green snake will barely try to bite or just open mouth when first grabbed.

Brown Snake-Storeria dekayi

This snake is small and slender but can grow to become mildly stout. The top is gray, brown, tan, or reddish. It also has two rows of black or brown spots along its back. The bottom is pinkish with sometimes small black spots. They are located mainly in eastern and central NC but they cover the eastern half of the US. They can be found where trash has built up in vacant lots along grassy embankments and in littered urban and suburban environments. Mainly nocturnal. This snake does not bite when seized but instead flattens body and sprays musk. It mainly eats slugs and earthworms, also snails, and they are viviparous.

Eastern Garter Snake- Thamnoptis sirtalis sirtalis

It is medium sized to moderately large. The top is highly variable and the bottom is brown, greenish, grayish or reddish with black spots, squares, or crossbars. They are concentrated in western, central, and eastern NC but almost all over US except south central US. They are commonly found in grassy area, pastures, meadows, forest edges, and damp environments. They are both nocturnal and diurnal. When they are caught they expel really foul smelling musk and attempt to bite. They mainly eat amphibians, earthworms and fish and are viviparous.

Threats to the Species and Ecosystems

    Since these animals are in the food chain there is a constant threat to them by predators. They are not at the top of the food chain so they have to constantly watch out for predators. Birds are the predator of snakes. Another threat to them would be the destruction of their homes by humans over time. Many trees have been cut down, also there was an attempt to drain the water out of the swamp which home to some species of snakes. There have been wildfires that have ravaged the swamp over time. Also the snakes must deal with the threat of everyday life trying to survive out in the wild. Many snakes have died crossing a road and being hit by a car so once again humans are a threat to snakes.

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

    It is located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. According to the wildlife refuge occupation of the swamp has started 13,000 yrs ago. Ever since then the destruction of the swamp has been going on. People have been cutting down trees, building roads, draining the swamp itself, and even trying to build a railroad through the swamp. All these activities have been destroying the swamp and its inhabitants. The refuge has been opened to help stop further damage and reverse what has been done. The refuge strictly prohibits the damage of any wildlife be it plant or animal. This is to help maintain any wildlife that are endangered or not.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

    This department donated 758 acres of the swamp to the State Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). This donation will help to ensure a better future for many species of wildlife including the endangered timber rattlesnake (canebrake rattlesnake). There are other agencies getting involved with helping preserve the Dismal Swamp. The VDOT worked with the DGIF, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, the Dept. of Environmental Quality and the Recreation-Natural Heritage. This seems to be the main effort in restoring the Dismal Swamp.

There are some advantages

to using the ecosystem as the target for conservation instead of separate species. By targeting a whole ecosystem it is easier to focus your attention on a whole group of species instead of just focusing on one species at a time. This way you can benefit other species at the same time.  Besides it is more time consuming to focus on one species.

Targeting a whole ecosystem does have its disadvantages also. Targeting a whole ecosystem broadens the help that may need to be given to a certain species. Much more help can be given if just one or two species are focused on for conservation.

The criteria used to determine the status of a ecosystem is the percentage that is being destroyed each year and how fast. The criteria for species is how big the population deficit is. Whether new organisms are being produced to make up for the species death each year. Information can be misleading though. Different organizations may look at the same ecosystem or species but may get different numbers and statistics. If they stick to strict definitions it would be hard to determine whose numbers are actually closest to being correct and showing which one is really in the endangered status.

References

For more information you can visit these websites:

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge- http:/gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_nwr/va_great.htm

The Great Dismal Swamp and George Washington-www.northeast-nc.com/dismalswamp/

US Dept. of Transportation-Federal Highway of Transportation-www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ecosystems/va.htm

The Great Dismal Swamp-Welcome to NC-www.welcometonc.com

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge-www.fws.gov/norhteast/greatdismalswamp/Habitat.htm

Reptiles of North Carolina by William M. Palmer and Alvin L. Braswell

Dr. John Temple- North Carolina Wesleyan College

Elements of Ecology by Robert Smith and Thomas Smith