09/04/2026
Look who stopped by to visit the HHLT staff this week! 🐍
We were excited to spot a local wildlife friend -- a ring-necked snake -- inside the HHLT offices! After some careful handling by our team, we helped our visitor back outside and tucked it into a cozy new home under a nearby rock cluster.
A few fun facts about our guest:
- Ring-necked snakes are found throughout New York State and are one of our most common, yet rarely seen, native snakes.
- They're easy to ID by the yellow-orange ring around their neck and bright orange belly.
- When threatened, they'll generally curl their tail to flash a colorful underside to startle predators.
- They thrive in leaf litter, rotting logs, and other natural ground cover, meaning finding a ring-necked snake nearby is actually a great sign: it means the surrounding woodland ecosystem is healthy.
A friendly reminder: while ring-necked snakes are harmless to humans, wildlife encounters are always best left to trained professionals. If you spot wildlife in an unexpected place, give it space and reach out to a local expert. We recommend visiting Wildlife Health Page: https://dec.ny.gov/nature/wildlife-health
Photos by Katrina Shindledecker
