Gov-connected snake researcher describes daytime encounter in Pine Barrens swamps witnessed in Burlington County, New Jersey

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Have been out scouting research locations for snake studies on google earth and found an area that we really wanted to check out which was an open paleodune ridge that offered plenty of basking/nesting habitat that the snakes we were researching liked to use. The hike there was pretty rough, walking through knee deep wetlands at points and wrestling with tangles of greenbrier and other thorny bushes to get to the location which was about a mile and a half back into the woods. Upon finally arriving at the site we were able to settle down and start looking for good spots that the snakes we were looking for used. As we were walking up one of the ridge fingers, we came upon an abandoned hunting stand that looked like it could be used as a shelter. I was a little unnerved because we didn't really wanna run into someone out there especially if they weren't expecting company. As I was looking around my friend went back behind me to look around or use the bathroom while I continued to look. ...