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Hopewell Culture National Historical ParkTrees along the Scioto River.
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Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Reptiles
Try looking on the forest floor for a box turtle.
Eleven reptiles have been documented on park land including three Ohio State Species of Concern: eastern garter snake, eastern box turtle, and false map turtle. These ecotherms, organisms that regulate their body temperature through behavior such as sunning, wait for the warmer weather before becoming active. Once conditions are right, a moist, forest floor may stir with activity from eastern box turtles, brown snakes, and eastern garter snakes. After scanning the ground, be sure to look up and check to see if any black rat snakes may be out sunning in the trees. Along the Scioto River or Paint Creek, the sound of splashing may mark the hasty retreat of sunning common map turtles or spiny softshell turtles. In open areas, racers may also be out and about. Other reptiles to keep an eye out for are milksnakes, northern water snakes, and common snapping turtles. These animals are generally secretive in nature, therefore spotting them takes patience and keen observational skills, but is usually well worth the effort.
Central Mound at Mound City Group.  

Did You Know?
William Mills documented the presence of 49 enclosures and 370 mounds in Ross County in his book entitled "Archaeological Atlas of Ohio," published in 1914.

Last Updated: August 01, 2006 at 14:29 EST