Search found 43 matches

by Retes
November 28th, 2011, 4:56 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: are you freaking kidding me
Replies: 34
Views: 4563

Re: are you freaking kidding me

I wonder why there is always someone who is more concerned with whos smarter. If someone offers a helpful hint, i think how nice and helpful. Not if that person appears smarter, or if it makes me appear, not as smart. I think smart is using the information. On the otherhand, when that happens to me,...
by Retes
November 25th, 2011, 6:44 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A Couple Cell Phone Pics from Arizona
Replies: 5
Views: 1503

Re: A Couple Cell Phone Pics from Arizona

Wow, its surprising to hear that people think reptiles stop here in the winter. They don't. Just two nights ago, I found an adult diamondback crossing my driveway, at night. A few years ago, I hand fed two wild free ranging gophersnakes, on my property, all winter. Which means, they can to a designa...
by Retes
November 21st, 2011, 6:58 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Borneo Dispatches #14: Dumeril's Monitor
Replies: 11
Views: 4797

Re: Borneo Dispatches #14: Dumeril's Monitor

Hi Hans, Nice find, Dums are rare to Varanid researchers, but then most varanids are hard for them to find. Go me? I think monitors get assigned to very unique nitches, but are very much generalists. Which is so very true with diet. Varanids eat anything they can catch.(including some plants) Also D...
by Retes
November 15th, 2011, 3:44 pm
Forum: News
Topic: 8yo boy bitten by Rattlesnake at school
Replies: 12
Views: 4913

Re: 8yo boy bitten by Rattlesnake at school

Of course I don't like anyone getting bit by a venomous snake, but, what are they thinking, with woods around the school? Theres so sorta of thought process that folks get like, there can't be snakes in a school, yet the put schools in woods and in deserts etc. In my neigborhood, there are several s...
by Retes
November 15th, 2011, 11:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Really, has it come to this?
Replies: 190
Views: 36788

Re: Again its about ethics and point of view

The original poster is using an approach that it looks bad for field herpers to guard their hunting areas. Which is one approach to get folks to tell him where to hunt. On the otherhand that poster pays no attention to the impact all this human contact, has on the animals. What this poster neglects ...
by Retes
November 14th, 2011, 9:30 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Is there a safe way to ask?
Replies: 27
Views: 5746

Re: Is there a safe way to ask?

Hello, First off, Manny is a great guy, but well old fashioned. hahahahahaha Willardi are not rare or restricted. But Manny is to old to know that. As mentioned, they are a normal rattlesnake and do come up where they can be seen. As to when, thats also common sense, but somewhat unpredictable in th...
by Retes
November 10th, 2011, 9:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Lampro Nerds
Replies: 54
Views: 6186

Re: Lampro Nerds

Let me remind you, they are kingsnakes. A highly polymorphic species. I wouldn't make to much out of one individual animal. Cheers
by Retes
November 8th, 2011, 10:09 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Longest time spent with a wild herp?
Replies: 17
Views: 2401

Re: Longest time spent with a wild herp?

I guess it would be a pair if gilas I have been watching for 32 years. Hmmmmm will be 33 in a few months.

I have observed that pair, aprox 30 times a year for that time. Cheers
by Retes
October 27th, 2011, 12:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Milksnake Hibernaculum
Replies: 62
Views: 8328

Re: Milksnake Hibernaculum

First off, Dan, no one said, you may as well preserved them. If those animals were disturbed, they should have a good reason , which in this case is a county record. To be a real county record, you are required a voucher specimen. pictures, are not suitable for later work, like Mtdna or scale counts...
by Retes
October 27th, 2011, 12:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Name that snake...
Replies: 31
Views: 4284

Re: Name that snake...

Of course blackrats often keep that neotinic pattern, but if I was to guess and this would be breaking my dementia. Not early onset, I am already old. That would be a grey rat from east and south of panhandle area, and north of otter creek on the east coast of Fla. Or at least I saw some that looked...
by Retes
October 27th, 2011, 9:47 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Milksnake Hibernaculum
Replies: 62
Views: 8328

Re: ethics

Sorry but no one is doing to say this, so I guess its going to be me. This is a situation where "ethics" should of or could of applied. Manipulating snakes at a hibernation site, can be very dangerous for the snakes, If they leave that area, they could perish in the winter. These animals w...
by Retes
October 26th, 2011, 10:31 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Drymarchon melanurus erebens or Lampropeltis getula nigrita
Replies: 47
Views: 7709

Re: Drymarchon melanurus erebens or Lampropeltis getula nigr

Hello, it appears to be a black king. I believe you can see the side "splendida pattern" Which everyone failed to mention. Also the belly coloring is a giveaway. And Hubbs, I believe the first nigrita was found in the states by Dr. Lowe before he was head of herping at the U of A. A recent...
by Retes
October 9th, 2011, 8:48 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Data regarding snakes on the roads?
Replies: 24
Views: 2972

Re: Data regarding snakes on the roads?

I think the information your looking for will not show much, as a high percentage of snakes move off the road and die later. I would think there is information to be gained, like stomach contexts, gender, species, frequency of snakes and species, over an entire season or more. We find the numbers an...
by Retes
October 7th, 2011, 12:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Are these FIELD HERPERS?
Replies: 59
Views: 11077

Re: Are these FIELD HERPERS?

I guess its whatever you want it to be. but, way back in the dark ages when I was young.(When I was young, EB and the animals) the term was based on field herpetologist, As there was zero or very little of what this forum does. Then COLLECTOR, was a new interested in the field, as before that, there...
by Retes
October 7th, 2011, 6:09 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Are these FIELD HERPERS?
Replies: 59
Views: 11077

Re: Are these FIELD HERPERS?

I am not sure about any of them. Herper is short for herpetologist, which is the study of reptiles and amphibians. Are any of them studying herps, academically or otherwise. Otherwise could be applied to me, as the product of my field work is to apply that knowledge to the betterment of reptiles in ...
by Retes
October 1st, 2011, 7:32 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Why do you herp?
Replies: 24
Views: 3109

Re: Why do you herp?

Because I have been doing it since the early fifties and I still can't find what I am looking for. heck I can't remember what I was looking for. ok, I was always attracted to animals including snakes, Then when I was about 5 years old, I saw some kids killing a kingsnake. All I could think of was, i...
by Retes
September 22nd, 2011, 8:51 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Private Forum or Chapter...? How do you feel..?
Replies: 70
Views: 11915

Re: Private Forum or Chapter...? How do you feel..?

there is a huge problem with "to much data" When I was young, we gooned, that is, we found snakes here and there and crossing roads. As we worked in the field, we learned more, then way more. But for years, this way more, the actual reproductive stradgy of many snake species, was not talke...
by Retes
September 19th, 2011, 1:52 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Kind-of-embarrassing question...
Replies: 14
Views: 2440

Re: Kind-of-embarrassing question...

I kinda do not understand the question. Are you limited to one tool? The reason is, each tool has its benefit. Tongs, hemostats and hooks. Take one of each. its really that simple. They make folding tongs and collapsable hooks(if required for traveling. For instance, for pygmys, use hemostats(i have...
by Retes
September 18th, 2011, 6:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Immature lizard, ID?
Replies: 8
Views: 1488

Re: Immature lizard, ID?

While that breeding stradgy may be true at that local or at that time at that local, it doesn't fit what they do here. hahahahahahahaha Which makes sense, different part of the range and different habitat. We see that with snakes too, different populations, have different Reproductive stradgies. Par...
by Retes
September 16th, 2011, 10:03 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Painted Tort issue
Replies: 12
Views: 1892

Re: Painted Tort issue

Its crazy huh, I have been watching some pairs and single individuals for almost 30 years. They are on or near my snake and gila sites. We have one that has ONE eye, and there is nothing where the other eye is suppose to be. its easy to seek up on that one, if only I could remember which eye was gon...
by Retes
September 15th, 2011, 10:41 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Painted Tort issue
Replies: 12
Views: 1892

Re: Painted Tort issue

Let my clarify a little. From the pics, the paint is not opaque, that is, there are open(non painted) spaces all over praticularly the growth rings. In my opinion, its the growth areas that are of concern with a painted shell. With that in mind, I think shes fine. That she looks normal health wise, ...
by Retes
September 14th, 2011, 4:13 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Painted Tort issue
Replies: 12
Views: 1892

Re: Painted Tort issue

I think that tort looks healthy and the paint did nothing to harm it. So I would leave well enough alone.

Lately we have been seeing a number of torts out and about. Some really nice black ones.
by Retes
September 14th, 2011, 12:14 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A clever foraging tactic in arboreal monitor lizards
Replies: 33
Views: 8257

Re: A clever foraging tactic in arboreal monitor lizards

I have a japanese friend who has seen thousands of prasinus in nature.

He said, they are very very difficult to see/collect in natural habitat. But very very very common in disturbed habitat. Without going into details, in some areas, they were more then abundant. Cheers
by Retes
September 12th, 2011, 5:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A clever foraging tactic in arboreal monitor lizards
Replies: 33
Views: 8257

Re: A clever foraging tactic in arboreal monitor lizards

Hi EJ, I don't understand, are you saying all the other monitors that dig up or pull out prey are not doing it on purpose. As far as I can tell, they do this very very purposeful. On only purposeful, but with linerial thinking. For instance, when I kept Odatria, in a huge outdoor cage(ackies, kims, ...
by Retes
September 12th, 2011, 1:36 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Computer program showing variation in road-cruising results?
Replies: 29
Views: 4228

Re: Computer program showing variation in road-cruising resu

For Monklet, panties, did you say panties. Yea, include that in my version. hahahahahahaha It does not bother me one way or another what your program does, do panties in a bunch is odd way for you to take things. As Crocdoc stated in the tv show thread, there is a responsibility for accurate represe...
by Retes
September 12th, 2011, 1:07 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A clever foraging tactic in arboreal monitor lizards
Replies: 33
Views: 8257

Re: A clever foraging tactic in arboreal monitor lizards

Hi Robert, nice capturing that on vid and stills. I wonder, how is that different then many many other species of varanids that dig up their prey in all manner of ways. Varanids and other reptiles do have many many methods of securing prey. Not just what we saddle them with. Varanids being such gene...
by Retes
September 10th, 2011, 9:02 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Computer program showing variation in road-cruising results?
Replies: 29
Views: 4228

Re: Computer program showing variation in road-cruising resu

hi Jonathan, I understand the use of random in science. But thats not the point. Science is not the focal point, the animals are. All the snakes behaviors are controlled with meaning by the snake and all the herpers behaviors are controlled by the herper, Therefore nothing is random. Consider, both ...
by Retes
September 9th, 2011, 2:48 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Computer program showing variation in road-cruising results?
Replies: 29
Views: 4228

Re: Computer program showing variation in road-cruising resu

Without reading it, random when included, takes away from skill. A blind road hunt, that is where you take nothing into consideration can become random. In most cases, everyone uses some degree of skill or experience. For instance, understanding habitats increases the percentage when you STAY in hab...
by Retes
September 9th, 2011, 10:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The State of Nature TV
Replies: 165
Views: 20884

Re: The State of Nature TV

Naw, you did not barf me up, you actually expanded upon what I hinted at. hahahahahahaha I disagree with the native peoples thing, many do fear all manner of reptiles, and they make up the greatest reasons for killing them. I was on a Tort study on the Seri indian reservation and I was lucky enough ...
by Retes
September 9th, 2011, 9:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The State of Nature TV
Replies: 165
Views: 20884

Re: The State of Nature TV

I have been loosely watching this thread. It started with a title, then focused on one person. Which was kinda off or wrong. It did that because a few folks liked or admired that one person and a few did not. So the thread bottlenecked, as in, it did not get very far. Just the old, back and forth th...
by Retes
September 7th, 2011, 11:22 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The State of Nature TV
Replies: 165
Views: 20884

Re: The State of Nature TV

I think this has been the most "important" thread I have seen on this forum. And the best behaved thread as well. I believe Ted said, the SI show effected kids, then rationalized from his point of view how it effected him. I believe the REAL concern is exactly how the antics of the SI show...
by Retes
September 6th, 2011, 8:03 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The State of Nature TV
Replies: 165
Views: 20884

Re: The State of Nature TV

As an old herper, I worked on early wild kingdoms and several other animal shows and yes, it was no surprise that SI's show was no different and in fact, very much the same. I was never a fan of SI for two reasons. The first was the horrifying way he handled all reptiles. Both captives and wild. The...
by Retes
September 4th, 2011, 8:47 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The subject of snakes ability to hear.
Replies: 34
Views: 5330

Re: The subject of snakes ability to hear.

Hi Nick, I turned the key to the right in my car and it started. On another occasion I did the same and it did not start. I also flipped the lite switch and it did not go on!!!!!!!! Most of the time it does. The point is, not the million reasons(and associated analogies) that indicates that you thin...
by Retes
September 2nd, 2011, 10:42 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The subject of snakes ability to hear.
Replies: 34
Views: 5330

Re: The subject of snakes ability to hear.

Hi Jdustin, Also, if it heard you, what did you expect it to do? The point is, many reptiles go cryptic and stay cyrptic until direct eye contact is made and or their saftey zone is breached. So yelling at it from the rear can cause it to go and stay cyrptic, then making eye contact can cause the re...
by Retes
September 2nd, 2011, 4:03 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The subject of snakes ability to hear.
Replies: 34
Views: 5330

Re: for all to consider

I think Rich and I mentioned this, If the impulse enters the brain throught the inner ear, then its hearing, if not, then its not. It does not matter if vibrations are airborne or picked up throught the ground. We hear both of those as well. And both can be hearing and gained through the inner ear. ...
by Retes
September 2nd, 2011, 3:00 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The subject of snakes ability to hear.
Replies: 34
Views: 5330

Re: The subject of snakes ability to hear.

A picture for Brendan http://www.varanus.net/goannaranch/80%20arms.jpg A picture for Norm http://www.varanus.net/goannaranch/westernscreech.jpg Oh and I have pics of two more totally out of hand saguros. On to hearing, as mentioned, snake behavior makes it difficult to test. In most cases, most snak...
by Retes
September 1st, 2011, 1:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The subject of snakes ability to hear.
Replies: 34
Views: 5330

Re: The subject of snakes ability to hear.

Hi Doc, I am trying to, your statement that you were surprised I saw a snake. Ok, I didn't the Virginia did. hahahahahahahahahahahaha Naw, I was in front, kinda had to see it. I have been spending some time looking a cactus. You do not actually have to see them, you can feel them. hahahahahaha Wanta...
by Retes
September 1st, 2011, 11:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The subject of snakes ability to hear.
Replies: 34
Views: 5330

Re: The subject of snakes ability to hear.

Hi Guys, Norm, i think some/many folks confuse hearing with feeling. This is a big roadblock to understand what we are talking about. To hear, the impulse must enter the brain through the inner ear. To feel, the impulse must enter the brain thougt other nerve systems. Where some on the AHA forum los...
by Retes
September 1st, 2011, 9:25 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The subject of snakes ability to hear.
Replies: 34
Views: 5330

The subject of snakes ability to hear.

First, this is just an observation, so take that for what it is. Last night we went mountain biking in the park(SNM, west) on dirt roads(up hill, hahahahaha). We noticed a diamondback rattlesnake starting to cross the road. We stopped some 15 to 20 feet away to watch it cross on its own accord, its ...
by Retes
August 27th, 2011, 2:08 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rattlers no.56
Replies: 130
Views: 15579

Re: Rattlers no.56

I agree 100% with Ugh, the more you interfere, the more it impacts them. I have worked on two sites, ones a pit tag study(18 yrs going) and without question, the more often the animals are interfered with, the greater the impact. I also have many sites with the same species that I do not interfere, ...
by Retes
August 26th, 2011, 1:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rattlesnakes displaying breeding behavoir. Video and photos.
Replies: 10
Views: 1943

Re: Rattlesnakes displaying breeding behavoir. Video and pho

Its always nice to see behaviors such as those. It does not appear to be breeding behavior, more like combat. There is far more to combat behavior then is normally mentioned. To me its more about owning something or an area, territorial type behavior. It mostly occurs with males, and equal sized mal...
by Retes
August 25th, 2011, 5:00 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Over what period of time have you herp hunted in AZ?
Replies: 27
Views: 4624

Re: Hi John

John, miss you around here, hahahahahaha it has not rained normal since you left. Yes, I am blaming you. I have to blame someone, and your gone, so its you. hahahahahahaha

One day I need to come see you before you move back or a Roo gets you.

I hope your having fun and things are going good.
by Retes
August 25th, 2011, 4:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Over what period of time have you herp hunted in AZ?
Replies: 27
Views: 4624

Re: Over what period of time have you herp hunted in AZ?

I first hunted Az, in 1963. I was living in SoCal I came with my girlfriend and her mother and stayed by south mountain. Easter week. Found a lot of nice critters, my first chucks etc. But the best was a 44" lyresnake. I kept it for many years. It was under a board in an abandoned race track at...