A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

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Knightkrawler5
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A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by Knightkrawler5 »

Well last year in January I decided it was time to move somewhere warm and see if it was the right place for me. My goal was to get to AZ, get a place, and get a job. Turns out after a week of car breakdowns and hotels, AZ didn't look too appealing. So I called a friend in San Diego and boom! 6 hours later I was living in So Cal.

This reminded me I cannot go any further west
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Well I had never herped the Southwest before, so I just went on google earth and found some areas that looked good.

I had no idea my first snake would be this big Rosy Boa out on the crawl! They are quite the challenge to photograph.
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Well that snake got me pumped, so I got in touch with (Nature nate) and he showed me around to some great public places to help me find my goals and help me understand how to herp California.

My first trip out with him yielded these guys.

Helleri
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He found both Cal Kings that evening....but I ended up getting my own...

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Plenty of rubers that evening as well
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And right before dark...Nate flipped this little Rosy

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After that trip I started to branch out and find tons of different areas to hike.

San Diego Gopher Snakes
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Rubers
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Lampropeltis getula californiae

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San Diego Nightsnake
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Rheinocheilus lecontei
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And yes I guess I did go to the beach a few times
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Coluber (Masticophis) flagellum piceus This was the only one I found the whole time I was there!

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Coluber (Masticophis) lateralis lateralis

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Rosy Boas

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Diadophis punctatus similis
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Helleri

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Most of the snakes I targeted didn't take too many trips to find...but the speckled Rattlesnakes eluded me for months until I found a great spot :beer:

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Well those were most of the Snakes I found around the San Diego area. I ended up meeting another Nate who wanted to show me all the snakes you can find in the desert. And I couldn't wait to find a Sidewinder

Crotalus cerastes laterorepens

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The Rheinocheilus lecontei had very little red out in the desert

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This guy was a beast!
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Phyllorhynchus decurtatus These guys were cool little snakes

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Arizona elegans eburnata - Desert Glossy Snake

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Couple geckos
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Hypsiglena torquata deserticola - Desert Nightsnake
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Chionactis occipitalis annulata - Colorado Desert Shovel-nosed Snake

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This ruber was found in the high desert and seemed very pale in comparison to the more coastal ones
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Trimorphodon lyrophanes - California Lyresnake
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Well we planned a trip up to the Mojave and I was really excited to find more desert snake lifers! but we struck out

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My absolute favorite find was a Lampropeltis zonata pulchra - San Diego Mountain Kingsnake
I thought I was too late up in the mountains until I flipped a perfect rock that was strangely untouched

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Funny that my last lifer snake I found was this Thamnophis hammondii on my birthday
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Well I have been back in WI for a while and can't wait to get out of this house and look for some awesome WI snakes!

I really want to thank Nature Nate for getting me started and Nathan Edwards for showing me the desert.

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Zach_Lim
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by Zach_Lim »

Amazing.
Looks like a great time.

That Zonata is a screamer.
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Nature Nate
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by Nature Nate »

you are more than welcome. my biggest regret is that we didn't get out more often. I think you found more species in your time here than I've seen i my whole life here. you're a great herping buddy and i hope our trails cross in the future. till then, happy herping.
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TORIN
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by TORIN »

Wow! So many great pics. The first picture of that glossy may be the best I've ever seen for the species. All very good though. Too, too cool.
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socalherper
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by socalherper »

So tell us how you like California herping ? :D


Awesome pictures and nice finds! California rocks!
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monklet
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by monklet »

Great post and wildly successful year I would say. Any, what's up with the high desert ruber? Didn't know there was such a thing??? Can you say what general area of the high desert? That snake looks almost like a cross between WDB, Mojave and ruber to me but I'm sure more experienced herpers will say it's typical of something ;-)
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Knightkrawler5
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by Knightkrawler5 »

the mountains just west of Anza-Borrego
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monklet
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by monklet »

Thanks, never really considered that "THE" high desert but guess it is, by elevation anyway. When we talk about High Desert here it's pretty much the Mojave, or much of it anyway. ...and a ruber there would be pretty special :)
craigb
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Post by craigb »

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Stephen S
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by Stephen S »

Dude..... seriously? You found a Z your first season in Cali.......... You slayed it
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Kings4theKingdom
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by Kings4theKingdom »

Stuart,

Hope all is well thanks for the Florida tips...Found some cool stuff while out there for a couple days. I'll have to call you and give you a run down. It was a blast finding all of the cool stuff we did while you were here.
Nothing beats driving around the Mojave all night for 1 Rattlesnake in particular!! then climbing around dunes at 3am..haha :lol:

Nathan
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Calfirecap
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by Calfirecap »

Great post. Winter/Spring is a little different here than in WI wouldn't you say? 8-)

Lawrence
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Knightkrawler5
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Re: A Wisconsinite's Cali Adventure (same as main forum)

Post by Knightkrawler5 »

So that's your name on here Nathan...thanks guys I had a blast herping out there in SoCal for the 6 months I was there. I think finally finding a Mojave after 10+ hours of driving was worth it!
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