Yet another new species of snake observed at the PA site!

So far, we have seen Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) and a Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) at the Pennsylvania cam site. Today we saw a third, a Dekay's Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)! Like the Ringneck, this little guy is full grown. Why is this little snake wiggling its head so much as it moves? Surprisingly, we don't know for sure. It could be to help it gather directional cues with its tongue as it "smells" its way forward, it could be to help improve depth perception in its vision, or it could be a type of camouflage from predators by helping it blend in with swaying vegetation.