| Field Herping 2010 Part 2 |
| Stone Cold Serpents |
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May 23, 2010 I finally found the snake I've been most
wanting to see, the western pygmy rattlesnake!
wanting to see, the western pygmy rattlesnake!
I found this one crawling up a rocky hillside in
southern Oklahoma. It was around 12 to 14
inches long and full of attitude!
southern Oklahoma. It was around 12 to 14
inches long and full of attitude!
May 30, 2010 A tiny western massasauga rattlesnake
found in the middle of the road in cattle country.
found in the middle of the road in cattle country.
The heat of summer can be a difficult time to find snakes here in Texas. The snakes become fairly inactive and often
escape the heat by retreating underground. I didn't even bother going out during the summer. I stilll had plenty to do,
though, with all of the snakes we hatched. But as the days become shorter and the weather cools down in the fall, the
snakes become pretty active once again. The majority of my autumn herping was spent in southern Oklahoma.
escape the heat by retreating underground. I didn't even bother going out during the summer. I stilll had plenty to do,
though, with all of the snakes we hatched. But as the days become shorter and the weather cools down in the fall, the
snakes become pretty active once again. The majority of my autumn herping was spent in southern Oklahoma.
September 29, 2010 At first glance I thought this was a
black rat snake, but it turned out to be a solid black
colored coachwhip.
black rat snake, but it turned out to be a solid black
colored coachwhip.
I have seen an amazing amount of variation in the
coloring of these fast, unfriendly snakes. This one was
no exception!
coloring of these fast, unfriendly snakes. This one was
no exception!
Here's another one that came out onto the road shortly
after dark.
after dark.
And I found what I was looking for in Oklahoma, the
western pygmy rattlesnake. This one was found during
the day on the side of the trail.
western pygmy rattlesnake. This one was found during
the day on the side of the trail.
October 7, 2010 A baby timber rattler which came out
onto the road while it was still light out. As a newborn
baby, they're already the size of an adult pygmy rattler.
onto the road while it was still light out. As a newborn
baby, they're already the size of an adult pygmy rattler.
A large, chunky pygmy rattler. They are similar in
appearance to the timber rattlers. This is the largest
one I've seen but was still only around 18 inches in
length.
appearance to the timber rattlers. This is the largest
one I've seen but was still only around 18 inches in
length.
I ended up seeing four adult pygmies on this evening,
in addition to the timber rattler and three copperheads.
in addition to the timber rattler and three copperheads.
I'd have to say that it was worth the drive!
