Toad

Sometimes toads are found under the sheep's water supply covers.   Empty supplement tubs are used to provide water to the sheep.   A float valve controls the water level in the tub.  A washing machine connecter hose that has a right angle fitting and a male-to-male brass hose-thread fitting connects the float valve to the buried water faucet.   The buried water faucet is covered by an inverted tub to protect the faucet and also inhibit weed growth around the faucet.   Toads also use this shelter.   It also makes a dry and warm area for mouse dens during the winter. 

Toads like this are also seen on the farm roads after dark. Their white belly stands out in ATV headlights.   One has to watch out for the road toads when coming back from feeding the dogs or doing other work after dark.

Eastern Mud Snake

On the morning of 2017-12-05, as I was coming back from feeding the livestock guardian dogs and tending to the sheep, this eastern mud snake crossed the farm road in front of me.  This is where the road passes through a bottomland area, over a culvert with small ponding areas in the bottomland drainage that stay wet year round.

The mud snake came up out of ponding area on the south side of the culvet shown below, 

went directly across the road as if it knew where it was going, down the bank, and into the water of the ponding area on the north side of the culvert, shown below.  I watched for a while, but the mud snake never resurfaced. 

I took the mud snake habitat pictures today, in the spring, hence the greenery starting to come up.
The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory at the University of Georgia provides a synopsis of the mud snake (Farancia abacura).  Mud snakes are highly aquatic and seldom seen; due to their secretive behaviour not much is known about their ecology.  They are known to feed on salamanders, other amphibians and tadpoles.  I feel privileged to have seen this one and am pleased to know of this farm resident.