Search found 3165 matches

by jonathan
January 13th, 2024, 11:55 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: SoCal Advice for February and (possibly) May
Replies: 3
Views: 2051

Re: SoCal Advice for February and (possibly) May

I'm not an expert on B. gabrielli , but I've looked for them maybe 3-4 times and been successful twice. Both times that I was successful were after snowmelt - in one case the snowmelt had melted off at least a few days earlier, in the other case it was melting right while I was there. Generally the ...
by jonathan
January 26th, 2023, 10:42 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat
Replies: 10
Views: 6547

Re: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat

A video of the site, for anyone interested:

by jonathan
January 20th, 2023, 6:29 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat
Replies: 10
Views: 6547

Re: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat

The deadline for submitting a comment has been extended to January 30. We would deeply appreciate anyone who still would like to submit a comment. Over the last few days, I've been completing a comprehensive review of Liberty Hill's biodiversity. I have an extensive document with full species lists ...
by jonathan
January 8th, 2023, 12:59 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat
Replies: 10
Views: 6547

Re: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat

I go to the link provided, all it does load a very BUSY page with numerous email contacts. There is no intuitive link for Submit Comments Here. Where is the actual link for submitting comments? Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and I will definitely be sending in a comment. Have you pos...
by jonathan
November 13th, 2022, 5:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping salamanders in Portland
Replies: 6
Views: 2868

Re: Herping salamanders in Portland

Welcome Xabier! Forest Park is excellent for Dunn's Salamander, Western Red-backed Salamander, Ensatina, and Coastal Giant Salamander. Flip rocks near streams, replacing carefully. Dunn's will be just outside the water under rocks in damp areas, larval Giant Salamanders will be under rocks in the wa...
by jonathan
October 23rd, 2022, 7:13 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Oregon Salamander ID?
Replies: 3
Views: 1396

Re: Oregon Salamander ID?

That's a young Torrent Salamander, specifically Southern Torrent Salamander from that area.
by jonathan
May 30th, 2021, 2:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Question about holding hot snakes.
Replies: 61
Views: 31409

Re: Question about holding hot snakes.

I knew a guy who would pin and handle most venomous snakes that he encountered. We would get out of the car to shoo a cottonmouth off the road, and he would pin it and pick it up, look it over, then toss it off the road. He wasn't trying to impress anyone, just felt the need to put his hands on the...
by jonathan
April 28th, 2021, 11:58 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: laying cover for ringnecks
Replies: 7
Views: 4620

Re: laying cover for ringnecks

In my experience the only common garter snake away from water in that region is the Western Terrestrial Garter Snake, coast subspecies ( Thamnophis elegans terrestris ). I have found them reliably on trails and in vegetated sand dune habitats in Monterey County, often not near any water. Also in scr...
by jonathan
April 28th, 2021, 8:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: laying cover for ringnecks
Replies: 7
Views: 4620

laying cover for ringnecks

Hi Richard. I was wondering if you had any advice on laying cover for ringnecks in our region? I was planning on using some scrap carpet near a rock pile but was wondering if the type of carpet matters. Also on whether to lay at the base of the pile, between the rocks, or on the rocks (most of the r...
by jonathan
February 26th, 2021, 8:39 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat
Replies: 10
Views: 6547

Re: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat

I go to the link provided, all it does load a very BUSY page with numerous email contacts. There is no intuitive link for Submit Comments Here. Where is the actual link for submitting comments? Also, if your comment is relevant to water quality, you should send to this email as well (though I was u...
by jonathan
February 21st, 2021, 10:28 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat
Replies: 10
Views: 6547

Re: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat

Thank you zeevng, Kelly Mc, and Porter for your support. Yes, more comments can help as they show the volume of public interest/outcry regarding the project. However, what is more specifically helpful are informed comments. Anything you can share regarding the rarity of the ecosystem, its uniqueness...
by jonathan
February 20th, 2021, 10:41 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat
Replies: 10
Views: 6547

Re: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat

I go to the link provided, all it does load a very BUSY page with numerous email contacts. There is no intuitive link for Submit Comments Here. Where is the actual link for submitting comments? Thanks for highlighting that, the Corps did not make it easy to follow. Comments are submitted via email ...
by jonathan
February 19th, 2021, 3:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat
Replies: 10
Views: 6547

Public comments desired for saving a critical piece of habitat

This is the most personal conservation effort I have ever engaged in. The most herpetologically unique piece of land in my home county is slated to be destroyed by gravel mining. The area is of enormous botanical significance as well, preserving an ecosystem (Willamette Valley camas prairie) that ot...
by jonathan
October 31st, 2020, 10:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Bornean Earless Monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis) - THE BOOK
Replies: 20
Views: 8757

Re: Bornean Earless Monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis) - THE BOOK

Many herp faceted interests used this as a central place for cussing and discussing. It was entertaining, enlightening and brought together research folks, hobby herpers, delicup herpers, etc. Facebook seriously impacted this by separating the groups, enabling like thinkers to consolidate. Final na...
by jonathan
October 28th, 2020, 12:59 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 75+ species in 5 square miles
Replies: 2
Views: 2896

75+ species in 5 square miles

Some of you have followed our work at Lawachara National Park since it began almost 10 years ago (I've only been involved the last 7 years). One aspect of that work has reached a major milestone: we've published our findings on the herpetological assemblage of the park. It still amazes me that there...
by jonathan
July 23rd, 2020, 2:56 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Possible Country Records for the US
Replies: 196
Views: 606264

Re: Possible Country Records for the US

My dad has mentioned that he's planning on getting OnX for Washington this year, and if he gives a positive review then I'll get it for Oregon.
by jonathan
June 22nd, 2020, 12:33 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New To Oregon--Need and ID
Replies: 2
Views: 2272

Re: New To Oregon--Need and ID

Dunn's. I have found them on occasion quite far from water, usually where some sort of rock talus was available and often (though not always) during or after rains. Welcome to Oregon! I wish I had a particular field guide recommendation, I own four but they're all quite old and I've kept up on chang...
by jonathan
June 22nd, 2020, 12:14 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Southern Oregon
Replies: 5
Views: 3737

Re: Southern Oregon

I've only hunted southwest oregon very briefly but have found it fantastic. First time I spent a couple mornings tagging along with my dad bear hunting in May near the coast and found dunn's, del norte, coastal giant, southern torrent, newts, pacific chorus frog, foothill yellow-bellied frog, skinks...
by jonathan
June 22nd, 2020, 11:52 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Southern Oregon (Jackson Co) - past few weeks
Replies: 2
Views: 2912

Re: Southern Oregon (Jackson Co) - past few weeks

Love the sharptail, still haven't seen one in Oregon. Long-toed Salis always make me happy too.

I agree with Richard that the alligator lizard looks like a Southern.
by jonathan
April 19th, 2020, 3:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast
Replies: 17
Views: 9200

Re: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast

Thanks for that Porter! I agree that I was lucky. Very lucky with some species, unlucky with others. I agree with what you say about the variable seasonality of spots even in close proximity. We experienced that even on that very trip. Conditions turned out to be perfect for two species towards the ...
by jonathan
April 18th, 2020, 9:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast
Replies: 17
Views: 9200

Re: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast

-Also, I think Johnathan found that spot before contacting me...if I remember correctly. He just messaged me cause he knew it was my stomping grounds ;) :) To be specific, I spent a lot of time searching maps and other info online and ended up with three specific spots I wanted to target. But I did...
by jonathan
February 18th, 2020, 8:04 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Reptile/ snake book for herping Cal/Nev/Utah
Replies: 5
Views: 4091

Re: Reptile/ snake book for herping Cal/Nev/Utah

Haha, I don't think it's as hard as all that. You just have to know which resource will keep you updated. I agree that it's not generally too important to know that Shasta Salis were split into three due to genetics or whether cal mountain kings are five subspecies or two species. But the 2nd Editio...
by jonathan
February 16th, 2020, 10:00 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: North American big cats
Replies: 34
Views: 80277

Re: North American big cats

I have a few classic photos like that :D My hometown herping partner Matt was surveying in the gorge last year and was way way off trail in some boulderfield/talus when someone growled at him from the other side of the rocks. He's pretty sure he had wandered almost smack into a den but chose not to ...
by jonathan
February 16th, 2020, 9:56 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The Big Gartersnake Post
Replies: 7
Views: 5761

Re: The Big Gartersnake Post

I saw a Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus that was well over three foot (maybe 40-45" would be the range to put it at?) last time I was in Oregon, possibly the biggest I've ever seen out of over 1000. But it was sunning on top of a rise when I came up and went shooting off of it before I got the pi...
by jonathan
February 16th, 2020, 9:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Reptile/ snake book for herping Cal/Nev/Utah
Replies: 5
Views: 4091

Re: Reptile/ snake book for herping Cal/Nev/Utah

If you really want to keep up with all the taxanomic changes, it's tough for print guides to stay current. And I've read a pretty bad review of the latest Stebbins edition (even though the 1st edition is what I grew up with). For California I default to the CaliforniaHerps website, which has far mor...
by jonathan
February 12th, 2020, 11:10 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping in Nepal (really, actual herping!) - part 2
Replies: 9
Views: 5178

Re: Herping in Nepal (really, actual herping!) - part 2

I guess what really surprised me was that apparently so many people wanted to read a post about herping in Nepal (there were more than 3700 views!) and as a result they checked out my original inquiry, which did not show anything about herping , but yet, there are far fewer views of my actual post ...
by jonathan
February 11th, 2020, 9:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast
Replies: 17
Views: 9200

Re: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast

Gotta love the variability of those Northwestern garters... I have to disagree with your opinion of Valley garters (fitchi) though, they're actually my favorite! I did notice a minor mistake in your write-up, you have the latin names for Valley garters and CA red-sided swapped, fitchi = valley and ...
by jonathan
February 11th, 2020, 9:27 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast
Replies: 17
Views: 9200

Re: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast

Nice collection of Morphage :beer: I think I read your other more extensive post from this earlier this year… Not sure now. I think I was going to comment but I got caught up with something. Read the story about the Willamette Valley morph. Cool stuff! I Remember i liked the story behind that. thos...
by jonathan
February 11th, 2020, 9:25 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast
Replies: 17
Views: 9200

Re: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast

Kelly Mc wrote: January 23rd, 2020, 9:24 am Beautiful, loved seeing Garters with my morning coffee, thanks!
Thank you. :)
by jonathan
February 11th, 2020, 9:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast
Replies: 17
Views: 9200

Re: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast

Jimi wrote: January 22nd, 2020, 1:06 pmNice!
Thanks!
by jonathan
January 19th, 2020, 9:30 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Board Flipping Suggestions in SoCal
Replies: 8
Views: 4583

Re: Board Flipping Suggestions in SoCal

My assumption is that it really depends on the weather and the particular place the board is laying. I aim for morning but I don't actually have any proof that's better, and actually my best flipping sequence ever (10 snakes of 6 species in 1 hour including a rosy and a tantilla) was quite late in t...
by jonathan
January 19th, 2020, 9:16 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: (almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast
Replies: 17
Views: 9200

(almost) All the Garter Snakes on the West Coast

Wrote this more than a year ago but life kept getting in the way of posting it. Finding the various West Coast garters has been a big goal of mine for a while. But it still took me by surprise when I suddenly realized - hey, I've got almost all of them! I had nailed several long-awaited finds during...
by jonathan
January 19th, 2020, 8:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My scariest experience while herping caught on video
Replies: 18
Views: 5820

Re: My scariest experience while herping caught on video

You are too nice, that guy would have got mouth from me, which would have included "mind your own business." Furthermore, if this is a state park or reserve, what is he doing picking up wildlife, not to mention chucking them over hillsides. If this is your scariest experience so far, they...
by jonathan
January 5th, 2020, 9:53 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New to the Forum! Tips for getting started in herping
Replies: 11
Views: 4698

Re: New to the Forum! Tips for getting started in herping

Oh, I myself do the VAST majority of my herping alone. I could literally list out every time I've ever herped with another herper. But I did learn a ton from those times especially at the beginning when I didn't even know what "flipping a hill" was, and he was asking specifically how to fi...
by jonathan
January 4th, 2020, 7:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New to the Forum! Tips for getting started in herping
Replies: 11
Views: 4698

Re: New to the Forum! Tips for getting started in herping

Awesome thanks for the response. Do you have any tips for connecting with local herpers that will take me out with them? I don't really know any. I am concerned I will come off like I am just wanted to steal their spots. which is not the case. 100% of my connections came through this forum and NAFH...
by jonathan
January 2nd, 2020, 12:09 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Tentacle Snake
Replies: 3
Views: 2838

Re: Tentacle Snake

Amazing night Lou! During my year in Bangkok I didn't have anyone else to herp with or show me the spots and didn't know where to go at night (plus work generally kept me from being out past evening anyway), I had no idea there were places that you could be that prolific! Poor target acquisition on ...
by jonathan
January 1st, 2020, 11:51 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best of 2019
Replies: 8
Views: 4437

Re: Best of 2019

I'm quite in awe of the species you find and the pictures you take. Thank you very much Kurt.
by jonathan
January 1st, 2020, 11:51 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping in Nepal (really, actual herping!) - part 2
Replies: 9
Views: 5178

Re: Herping in Nepal (really, actual herping!) - part 2

I would very much love to find a crocodile newt one day. Even seeing a picture of a salamander larvae in Asia was a bit of a shock to the system. I really miss them.
by jonathan
January 1st, 2020, 11:48 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping in Nepal (really, actual herping!) - part 1
Replies: 2
Views: 2465

Re: Herping in Nepal (really, actual herping!) - part 1

Incredible to see two Trachischium species, even dead. I have hoped to find those in the Indian foothills of the Himalayas and haven't been lucky yet.
by jonathan
January 1st, 2020, 11:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New to the Forum! Tips for getting started in herping
Replies: 11
Views: 4698

Re: New to the Forum! Tips for getting started in herping

* Read a lot, especially herper accounts and scientific papers (field guides are somewhat less useful for actually finding herps). Just to contradict that point, californiaherps.com can be extremely helpful for understanding the exact habits and habitats of various herps * Go out on trips with more ...
by jonathan
January 1st, 2020, 11:42 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: NW Oregon in November
Replies: 8
Views: 3661

Re: NW Oregon in November

A 5-species day is incredible in Oregon any time of year, but particularly in November.
by jonathan
January 1st, 2020, 11:40 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Tips to find sidewinders without cruising
Replies: 14
Views: 17231

Re: Tips to find sidewinders without cruising

Which Claremont campus are you at? I'm a HMC and CGU grad. You might already know, but Stephen Mahoney, a biology professor at HMC, is into herpetology and if you talk to him you might be able to accompany some outings whether or not you're actually part of his class/research group. I haven't found ...
by jonathan
October 12th, 2019, 3:55 am
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: A Little history of herpeoculture - good and bad
Replies: 3
Views: 36003

Re: A Little history of herpeoculture - good and bad

In the ‘50s, ‘60s, and early ‘70s our own animal importers were as bad. I remember going to several importers (like Bill Chase and Ray Singleton) in ’69 to see 3 foot piles of baby boas (about $3.00 each) where the healthiest were at the top of the pile. The bottom layer were dead. Same for Florida...
by jonathan
October 4th, 2019, 11:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: snakes on Koh Chang Island, Thailand
Replies: 7
Views: 14959

Re: snakes on Koh Chang Island, Thailand

Yeah, Gonyosoma is often considered a common snake but in my experience it isn't. Although it's a rather slow snake and should be easy to spot at night, this is the second I have seen! Agreed, I've only ever seen 2 as I recall (not including several DOR specimens), but I put that down to not lookin...
by jonathan
October 1st, 2019, 2:25 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping tips holiday Utah California in july
Replies: 23
Views: 21767

Re: Herping tips holiday Utah California in july

As one compendium example: that for the Mojave National Preserve prohibits the collection of herps pursuant to a California fishing license. This prohibition negates the statement made earlier in this thread that you can herp in the Preserve just as you would on other public land. I expect that han...
by jonathan
September 19th, 2019, 9:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping tips holiday Utah California in july
Replies: 23
Views: 21767

Re: Herping tips holiday Utah California in july

I can only answer on california regulations. Yes, a California fishing license is exactly what you need to handle non-protected species. Protected species (such as the desert tortoise) cannot be handled no matter what you have. The Mojave National Preserve doesn't have any special protections in tha...
by jonathan
September 17th, 2019, 9:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping tips holiday Utah California in july
Replies: 23
Views: 21767

Re: Herping tips holiday Utah California in july

Wow thanks.. glad you keep detailed notes. ;) You make me happy again. I am not used to seeing reptiles daily and I have had several holidays where i saw only one or two snakes in 3 weeks. So if i find half the stuff you saw in 2 days back in 2008 i will be extremely happy. I have for instance neve...
by jonathan
September 17th, 2019, 10:22 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping tips holiday Utah California in july
Replies: 23
Views: 21767

Re: Herping tips holiday Utah California in july

I'm looking at my notes from a 2008 trip I took there that same time of year. Back then I knew almost nothing about desert herping, I'd been to the Mojave maybe twice before but just poking around, no one had ever shown me what to do and I'd almost never road-cruised in my life. 9am on July 25th arr...
by jonathan
September 17th, 2019, 9:52 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Intro and question re magnesium chloride
Replies: 9
Views: 13194

Re: Intro and question re magnesium chloride

Ted Daehnke, Lowell's field assistant on the snakes for three years, is my dad. I think he would have started right near the back end of when you were there, either '75 or '76. Lauren Zabrowski, the intern park ranger at SRBPNCA for one of those summers, is my mom. They met in the preserve and got m...