Field Herp Forum

Thank you !
Exceptional....
My kind of photography. Take shot, release it, go find more!!!!

craigb

Follow the rain or cold fronts......
Don't assume the motels will be 100 % bug free....
Take lots of pics and vids...

I am jealous....

Happy Fourth of July to all herpers..... It has been a very different year. Difficult in many new ways, but also gratifying to see hope for the future. :thumb: This is a video of the kingsnake I shot two days after collection. It is eating a hours old baby mouse. Sorry for all the shaking and loss o...

How many of us have kept a ball python named "Monty"?
If you have or know someone who has you may enjoy this youtube video....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D7hFHfLEyk

It is educational....

Kelly "EVER" is a long time. None of the Men folk bother to come here any more. Back in the day Brian Hubbs, Jim Bass, Billboard, RockRatt, and several others men were victims of my nonsense and replied in kind. But for your sake I will curtail my levity.....

Then 9.23.18

Now 6.22.20


With fishing license and Native Reptile Propagation permit.....

Didn't the Beatles say that "Speaking words of wisdom, let it be"

Hey is the Crotalid an oreganous oreganous, or a oreganous lutoses? AKA Northern Pacific or Great Basin.... It may depend on where you are in Jackson Co. Do you want a good read on the subject? See: file:///F:/2020/5May/Herps.Field/Western-Rattlesnake-5-web-version_1.pdf Cut and paste to a your brow...

Hey Dave... you can always ship herps back home by Reptiles Express, or Ship your Reptiles..... It's actually reasonable for next day... If you ship the day you leave you should beat them home. I have used Reptiles Express with good success. They picked up at home and it went from Orange County Ca. ...

I used "Stebbins, Robert C. " Field guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians for the first two decades I herped. It was 1972 to about 1992, I carried it everywhere.

Now I research online and have a good idea of what to expect before I go.

Happy Trails

He was a great friend, and excellent field herper....
He is missed....

In Memory of Kent Van Sooy Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the rack not a serpent was stirring, they'd all hit the sack. A snake bag was hung by my bedside with care In case an escapee I happened to snare. The pinkies were frozen all snug in the chest Since most think that freezing...

Quite honestly the taxonomy for reptiles and amphibians changes about as often as I purchase a new car. Every six to twelve years the majority of the scientists that care about such things change from separatists to generalists. Otherwise known as the dividers and the clumpers. For a decade or more ...

I'm glad you could use them.
I really enjoy seeing them in the wild.

And always take pics....

Great stuff as always Lou.....
His snake room was amazing!!!

Back in the early days of FieldHerpForum we were told not to post pics with surrounding areas and landmarks. Trolls would find the spot and decimate it. By decimate I mean use pry bars to pull cap rock, tear apart downed snags, turn rocks and not replace and take all reptiles found. It was a great t...

2011 trip to University Of Arkansas Little Rock... Unknown marked trail out in the sticks.

Hey I have a few from an Arizona trip years ago. We were morning cruising out for a hike near Wilcox and saw this one on the side of the Rd. Sorry, I didn't take many scenery shots in those days. Please credit all photos to Cody Barnes Phd. Oklahoma State University, and Craig Barnes M.S. University...

I was out and about in the upper desert last night. It stayed 87 degrees from 7:30 until we left about 10 pm. Lots of rodents and banded geckos were out. We saw one tarantula and one desert iguana out soaking up the road heat. Not a terrible night, but very warm and very windy. Next month may be bet...

I will be out and about Palm Springs to Twenty-nine Palms, October 3,4, or 5th. I am unsure where and when now (depends on the temps).
I will pm (private message) you the details a week or so away. Maybe we can meet up to photograph some Crotalids

Craig Barnes

Very cool Richard, your reports are so concise and factual they are a pleasure to read.
I look forward to your future reports.

craigb

I'm sorry folks but twenty years ago I worked for Riverside Co. Animal Control. This was a chance to make friends with the community. As a husband I also think the story is pretty funny. https://ktla.com/2019/08/12/threat-level-to-zero-toy-snake-prompts-animal-control-response-in-riverside/ Enjoy! c...

pm sent....

Hi folks I just got a copy of this sent to me. I enjoyed the read.

file:///C:/Users/bbbba/Desktop/BIAWAK%20Journal%20of%20Varanid%20Biology%20and%20Husbandry%20Vol.13%20%231.pdf

You will need to copy the link and paste with your search engine.

I hope it works.....


craigb

I remember seeing this a long time ago....
It is playing here in Southern California today ...

Watch the trailer it is really "scary" !!!!

https://www.tvpassport.com/movie/the-gi ... ter/208695




craigb

Richard, I am with you 100%. I realize the sheer number of herpers, could solve this problem of identifying their range. But, wouldn't this appear to be a great opportunity for the academic community to resolve and publish their academic research. This sounds almost like a pre written thesis stateme...

Just to confuse things a little more what about the Lampropeltis zonata group? Having caught most of the California "subspecies" starting in the 1970's, I am unsure if they would breed with each other. I never tried it. Also, would Baja California subspecies breed with their northern "cousins"? I wo...

Thanks for the input...
I thought I knew a lot, but basically I know about the "hots" from places I have been, or seen in the pet trade.

The herps and birds were nice, but the smiles from your family were the best.
Now I want to go to Kansas....

Carpe diem !

Sorry folks nothing Crotalid wise to add today. I was out and about last night and saw a few snakes. Sunday nights are so pleasant, no traffic on the roads getting there. Nobody on my favorite roads. Last night no moon until midnight. What could go wrong.... CHP was out citing stupid folks for speed...

Let's see if I can follow directions:

Just an update: Another Crotalus mitchelli from the Highway 62 area, last night.

No, I don't think it is the same animal. I think that the ones right there have that color pattern. Not mentioned is that I think the mortality rate is high there. In the last ten years I have seen three others DOA (hit by car). Three is not a low number for deaths, because in the last ten years I h...

Thanks Mark, more to come. All under 30 seconds.
Less talk more herps.

Craig

Sunday in one of the most beautiful state parks in CA.

Just 22 seconds. But it is plenty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APSMQhaOC8M

https://play.howstuffworks.com/quiz/identify-these-venomous-snakes-can-you?utm_medium=paid&utm_source=gemini&utm_campaign=370516017&utm_term=AOL_MAIL&utm_content=34661827277&asid=9722092053&device=c&adid=34661827277&mkcpgn=1e8d3c52f6bc4c1fbc7f06bce6badadd&sg_uid=1e8d3c52f6bc4c1fbc7f06bce6badadd I ev...

I found this today... the topic broken down by one person.
A brief 5 minute testimony...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GujLcfdovE8

Jimi: Thank you nuff' said. Unfortunately my sons are busy trying to put food on the table, getting married and just trying to get someplace they want to be. I do spend a week or so each year with each of them in the field when our schedules work out. They are 31 year old twins. I learn about their ...

Jimi: I am not like that guy, or any other guy. I am me. All people have opinions. I think more can be gained by listening rather that ridiculing. By the way I have two research Biologists as my sons. One Ph.D, the other soon to be Ph.d. I listen to them and others ... I go back to my original thoug...

Wow ..... good thread. My only thoughts are that much of the research out there is done for publicity. Many of those in academia must publish research to justify their positions. There is the "hitch". Some is good honest research and some is not. Some of it may be true until another researcher dispr...

That sounds kind of "tacky" Kelly....he he he..... One tip that is pretty basic, but isn't obvious about feeding very young snakes is to keep them cramped in the deli tub when trying to get the first meal eaten. I have had folks buy rosies from me that immediately put them in a 10 gallon enclosure. ...

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the rack not a serpent was stirring, they'd all hit the sack. A snake bag was hung by my bedside with care In case an escapee I happened to snare. The pinkies were frozen all snug in the chest Since most think that freezing kills cooties the best. An...

I also agree Kelly....
I think many reptiles and amphibians have a much higher sensitivity to humidity levels in the wild as well.
As humans we barely acknowledge anything other than major changes in humidity.

Well ... Kelly as you know, my herp room is really rather boring. A small orderly room with identical plastic boxes on uniformed shelves on one side of the room, and a neat row of mice breeder cages on the other side. It's clear to see my obsessive-compulsive side as you see the neat descriptive lab...

Just remembered another tactic...
Using the goo from the brained pinky on the nose of a thawed fuzzy will get stubborn ones to start taking thawed.

Getting young rosys to eat consistently with some "localities/morphs" is difficult. Not surprisingly a simple change of venue sometimes works. There is a group of 6 of us old guys in Long Beach that keep rosys. When we have difficulties we will give them to a buddy for a month. It works consistently...

One controversy that I have discussed at length is whether or not rosy boas need available water during brumation. Some of folks with lots of experience have told me that in the wild they don't drink water during brumation. But, I offer mine a small amount of water throughout brumation. One thing I ...

Holy Crap !!! Excellent, informative response. My thoughts are along the same lines. During down time (brumation) I clean some of the less accessed places like floors and shelves. This is done as needed throughout the year, but also at least once annually. I am finding white vinegar to be less destr...

Kelly what do you know about using white vinegar for cleaning? I use it in laundry, and used it on about 25 plastic small dog sized water bowls yesterday. I used a weak dilution with water, but it melted the dried snake poop and urine overnight. Some look brand new. It is cheap and does not ruin thi...