Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

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Josh Holbrook
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Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Josh Holbrook »

Hey Everyone,

As many of you probably remember, last January we did a join South Florida Herpetelogical Society/NAFHA trip to Everglades National Park where we hiked in search of Burmese Pythons. We racked up a good species list including a beautiful diamondback rattlesnake.

Well, this year we're doing it again, and I invite one and all to our BURM BASH 2012: It's Clobbering Time! (Note: No actual clobbering will occur.) It will be held January 6 - 8, 2012. More info to follow - all are welcome provided they can follower the no collecting rules as well as other National Park rules. We'll be camping at the Long Pine Key Campground in Everglades National Park.

Who's in?

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Josh Holbrook,
President, SF Herp society and SE Chapter of NAFHA
Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

Count me in. I dont think i can pass up a trip(my first!) to the Everglades.
Coluber Constrictor
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

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Tamara D. McConnell
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

Grrrr...drat this job I have to show up at. Wish I could make it.
AsydaBass
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by AsydaBass »

I'm there.

-Don
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PNWHerper
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by PNWHerper »

Dang, if it was a week earlier... even a few days earlier, I would be there. But its just too late. At that point in the week, I will be most of the way home driving back to Seattle...
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by BillMcGighan »

I'm in.

We'll be camping in that CG probably the week before and after, so maybe I can help with any camp logistics, Josh.
Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

Bill, have you driven down that way before? Im kind of in the same area as you, but never made the trip down. Should I avoid the toll roads in Florida? Since this is basically in the middle of winter, can anyone comment whether or not it would be worth stopping along the way to herp other places? Basically ill probably end up making this a week long trip so anyone with knowledge feel free to chime in. Also, if anyone in the Alabama area (or anyone that might be in the vicinity) feels like carpooling, maybe we can work something out. Im just wondering if its going to be too cold in places that arent the everglades, or should I focus my trip on the everglades/keys herping.
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by BillMcGighan »

Hey, Matt,
I sent a PM for your questions
lashinala2
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by lashinala2 »

I thought burmese pythons added a new trophic level to the Everglades ecosystem bringing it from a brown to a green leveled system.
(j/k...sounds fun)
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Akula
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Akula »

So how many burms were found last year?
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Josh Holbrook
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Josh Holbrook »

James - Not in the park exactly. find some ugle, vegitated habitat and shine the bushes there at night, you should be able to turn up a knight anole.

Bill - Great to hear - it will be splendid to have you along!

Akula - None last year; but that is certainly atypical for the time of year/conditions we were looking in. Other pythons were found by other groups when we were there though.
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

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Josh Holbrook
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Josh Holbrook »

They'll be handed over to park biologist by those of us going with permits and dissected.
Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

Josh, will us out of towners need permits for this event, and if so, how would we go about obtaining them?

Matt
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Josh Holbrook
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Josh Holbrook »

Matt - Unfortunately, there's no way to get permits in ENP in such short notice and for out of towners: non-permitted people attending can participate in any legal ENP herping (hiking, road cruising, photography) and will have to leave the other stuff (i.e. capturing pythons) up to those with permits. It'll still be fun even if you can't pick stuff up: I promise ;-)
Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

Gotcha. Sounds good. Anything seen will be a lifer for me, so i'm sure i'll have plenty of fun :). Cant wait for it!

Matt
Wildernessman
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Wildernessman »

Sounds good what herps can we expect to see since you went that time of year last year?
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Daniel D Dye
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Daniel D Dye »

Yvonne and I are heading up to North Carolina and won't be able to make it.
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Steve Atkins
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Steve Atkins »

I'm going to try and make it, I won't know until it gets a little closer if I can swing it
AlanER
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by AlanER »

You can count me in for this year! I am marking it down! :thumb:
Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

Wildernessman wrote:Sounds good what herps can we expect to see since you went that time of year last year?
Yeah! What can we expect to see?
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Josh Holbrook
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Josh Holbrook »

It's the Everglades, so not too much is out of the question, but there are very few definite. Look up a list of the snakes in the Everglades - anything but the dry weather snakes are possible. Also likely are crocodiles, a million or so alligators, treesnails, anoles, etc.
Barry R
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Barry R »

Wish I could go, but I have my doubts :(
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Gyri
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Gyri »

One of these days I'll make it on a SE chapter trip. I've got to to back to VT that week to deal with some annoying legal issues, otherwise I'd be in. Sigh...
AsydaBass
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by AsydaBass »

I wanna see birds, can we see birds? Josh tell me we're going to bird, all the cool kids are doing it these days!

:D ;)

Hey, I'm back in the states till about Feb. Can't wait to finally gt out with you guys again.

-Don
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by AsydaBass »

Hey, I may have a surprise for anyone attending Burm Bash for the weekend. I'll still need to check some things out, I'll post when I find out more, but I promise it'll be fun, just my little contribution- Limber up! :-)

-Don

Yes I know it's a tease not giving any specifics, just wetting the appetite.
Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

Don will you be in the glades just for that weekend? Let me know of you'll be around earlier or later, ill be camping from the 3rd-11th. Gotta spend a week if I'm gonna drive 17 hours! :lol:

Matt
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Joseph Jenkins
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Joseph Jenkins »

I'm looking at possibly going this year. Is there anyone who is passing through or near Montgomery, Huntsville, or Auburn AL who I can hitch a ride with. Also I would have to be back Sunday night, possibly Monday night at the latest for classes the next day. I know this is a little bit of a longshot, but I figured I'd ask.

Thanks
AsydaBass
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by AsydaBass »

Matt, I'm not sure yet. I may spend an extra day down there, I'll let you know when I know more.

-Don
alejandro
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by alejandro »

I had a great time last year, even if the target species escaped us. I'm looking forward to another fun weekend - just maybe not the drive...

-alejandro
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Josh Holbrook
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Josh Holbrook »

alejandro wrote:I had a great time last year, even if the target species escaped us. I'm looking forward to another fun weekend - just maybe not the drive...

-alejandro
Good to hear. I'll bring the jacket you left :-D
AsydaBass
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by AsydaBass »

Just to keep everyone excited, I just returned from an afternoon in the park- 2 Eastern Diamondbacks- 12in and 4ft.
See you all soon!

-Don
Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

AWESOME! I am really hoping to see an EDB during my time in Florida..
robert
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by robert »

All:

Sorry I missed you at the campsite. Got there just around 8:30, but the ranger said you were already gone. I spent most of the day hiking the park. Saw some great birds, but found one snake, a DOR cottonmouth. I hope you did better. Please post photos. I am back in very cold (6 oF) Boston and need to live vicariously through your photos.

On the brighter side, I went fishing with my brother out of Big Pine. We were about 6 miles off shore and saw many sea turtles, mostly Loggerheads. But we did see a Leatherback. It was my first and only the third for my brother, who has lived on Big Pine for 15 years and fishes regularly. It was about 4 feet long. I was not able to get a photo (by the time I got my camera...), but clearly was a Leatherback. A very distinctive carapace.

And yes, I did get to see one snake--a black racer on Big Pine.

Robert
Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

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BillMcGighan
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by BillMcGighan »

Good finds Matt.
Everyone was impressed by your enthusism.

For those who didn't go, Matt was the only one to find a Burm, on a berm.



A special thanks to all these folks for their hospitality and acceptance on an enjoyable outing.
Maybe some of you can fill in the some of the names or correct me??
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From L to R

1 Matt
2 Bill
3 alejandro
4 Hasan
5 Dermot
6 (little guy)
7 (his Dad)
8 Josh
9
10
11 Don




Also, getting cell phone service took some creativity in the ENP!!!!

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Matt Arnold
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Matt Arnold »

Thank you Bill! I am hoping the enthusiasm can carry on for the rest of this year :). I've already been lazy about getting out and finding some salamanders.

I would like to specially thank a few people,

Josh Holbrook - thanks again for putting on the Alabama trip, which had a great turnout, as well as the Burm Bash, which I thought also had a great turnout. This guy doesn't miss a thing in the field!

Bill - Thanks for showing us around the Everglades, we really enjoyed the day we went out to Big Cypress with you and Jean

Don (aysdabass) - You are like a walking encyclopedia, I hope I can learn as much as you have one day :) thanks for all your help while we were there

I hope I can see all of you in the field again sometime soon...

Matt
Tamara D. McConnell
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

Love your photos, Matt. Congrats on the burm and other wonderful finds.
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Joseph Jenkins
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Re: Come join us for the BURM BASH - It's Clobbering Time!

Post by Joseph Jenkins »

Great pics Matt, I'm so jealous.

I swear I am going to make it next year!!!
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