This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience with these rare species, twice in the same day.
Chances are high that the day started out pretty normal for staff of the Forest Preserve in Joliet, Illinois. Staff members had set out for the day to continue work to remove invasive plants from the area. It was then that they came across a glass lizard. Glass lizards are known for being skittish, which means an encounter in the wild is quite rare.
The glass lizard, according to Illinois Natural History Survey, is not endangered in Illinois. However, due to its easy agitation, it is rarely encountered.
Many wildlife professionals consider spotting one of the small glass snakes a-once-in-a-lifetime experience. That fact makes this a pretty cool story, but it doesn't end there.
Later in the day, the same staff came across a baby eastern hognose snake. The most impressive thing about this find was likely the sheer size of the tiny animal.
When threatened, the hognose snake will puff its neck in an effort to intimidate predators , similar to a cobra. The eastern hognose snake will not attack, however, as the cobra would. If it feels further threatened, the snake will often play dead until it feels the coast is clear.
Both of these animals are incredibly rare. On rare occasion, people have found them in the Kankakee Sands preservation area before. There's no documentation of them ever being found on the same day.
Like what you see here? If so, click here to read more great hunting, outdoor, and shooting articles by Reid Vander Veen. Also, check out his writer page, Tree Stand Diaries, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
NEXT: I TRIED PUTTING A DEER MOUNT IN MY OFFICE. HERE'S WHAT I LEARNED
