LIFER- Sierra Mountain Kingsnake
As a child, I would thumb through my Stebbins’ Western Reptiles and Amphibians field guide and stare in awe at the California Mountain Kingsnake- a tricolored snake with a jet black head with black that bled into its red and white bands. A truly “dirty” looking serpent with heavy black crossovers. In my young eyes, it was so wild and elusive. My love of herping was truly sparked by this snake. I knew one day that I would find one in the wild.
I have found many Coast Mountain Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata) in the San Francisco Bay Area- beautiful, small snakes with perfect bands and little to no black crossovers. Don’t get me wrong, ‘fasciata are my favorite mountain kings. However, I still needed my “Field Guide” Z. So, with the help of Chad Lane, I headed up into the Sierras.
Joined by Marissa Ishimatsu, we bushwhacked our way deep through the hills and slides of the Sierras to reach Chad’s prime ‘cincta spot. Reaching a life transition zone of pine-oak forest, we began checking cracks in the granite, as well as flipping rocks.
Within the cracks laid Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes and California Striped Racers. Lizards bounced from rock to rock. After some checking, Chad and Marissa found the coils of a huge Z in a crack! Evidently, it was the same one that Marissa had found a week prior! This was a great sign.
It soon got really hot up in the mountains. The granite was hot to the touch. Surely, the snakes would have gone under the escape the heat, right? Was the hunt over?
Nearly calling it a day, we began trekking out of the mountain side. As Marissa photographed a baby Racer that I found, Chad and I decided to give the Z hunt another go.
I flipped a small rock laying on the dirt….
A flash of black and white caught my eye! Was that a bit of red? Wait, it is bolting down a hole!
With a quick grab, I called out to Chad for some help.
Sierra Mountain Kingsnake! I just rock flipped my first Sierra Z! A beautiful, high black Z with tons of crossovers! The most beautiful snake I have ever found!
I am still excited about this find. I finally found a snake that I have wanted to see my entire life.
This is what herping is all about. Damn, is this what life is all about it?
-Zach
Lifer Z 'cincta
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
Gotta love when a lifer is also such a stunning animal.
And it is amazing how often it's the last rock flipped.
Congrats
And it is amazing how often it's the last rock flipped.
Congrats
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
Good job, Zach! I'm happy for you, man
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
Fairy tale ending to a great story. Congratulations Zach, it's a beautiful serpent.
Dave
Dave
- dave_zeldin
- Posts: 31
- Joined: October 26th, 2014, 9:16 pm
- Location: Southern California
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
So rad dude. Hard work and determination pays off. Congrats dude.
- Brian Hubbs
- Posts: 4735
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- Location: "Buy My Books"-land
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
I like Mtn Kings...
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
Wow, man. What a snake. Congrats!
JimM
JimM
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
Congrats from the two us too, Zach. I can tell from your narrative how deeply meaningful this find was and is for you. That definitely IS what herping is all about (though perhaps not all of life).
Robert
I have had the same experience a few times, but later realized that more likely what is going on is simply this: It's the last rock (or log) because once a much sought-after target like a zonata has been found, most people stop flipping and go home to celebrate. At least that's what we tend to do, well, unless we strike gold in the first hour or so. But with the odds being what they are, you need to turn a good number of rocks to find what you are after, making success in the first hour or so unlikely. Hence it doesn't happen often - and we are led to believe we found our target under the last rock of the day.And it is amazing how often it's the last rock flipped.
Robert
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
Congrats Zach! Nice save before it got away too.
I can name a few things that I need in life and herping is up there!This is what herping is all about. Damn, is this what life is all about it?
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
Yeah, that's a nice looking snake Zack. Congrats. You in SoCal now?
- yoloherper
- Posts: 151
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:57 pm
- Location: Davis/Santa Cruz
Re: Lifer Z 'cincta
Sweet snake and great pics!
-Elliot
-Elliot