Mermet Lake in Johnson County, Illinois has an abundance of herps.

Red-ear Sliders basking. The individual on the far right is a male, as evidenced by its long front fingernails.

Spiny Softshells are essentially river turtles that prefer relatively shallow water with a sand or soft mud bottom. These reptiles have leathery shells and lack the bony plates that other hard-shelled turtles have.

A colorful male Eastern Box Turtle crossing the road.

An Eastern Fence Lizard along railroad tracks in Johnson County, Illinois.

A female Eastern Box Turtle getting ready to cross the road.

Diamondback Water Snakes are non-venomous, but they can be extremely aggressive when cornered, striking and biting continuously until the danger goes away. Adults are typically three to four feet long.

The Longtail Salamander - streams, springs, seeps, caves, and wet shale banks are the primary habitats for this amphibian. I usually find them under rocks along the banks of creeks.

An Eastern Garter Snake seen crossing the road at night.

The Black Rat Snake is essentially a forest-loving snake, often found in clearings or at the edge of where wooded areas meet fields. It is an accomplished climber and can sometimes be found high in trees.

A new bridge being built across the Mississippi River.

An attractive Midland Water Snake that I caught in Union County, Illinois.

Minnow.

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