The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Dedicated exclusively to field herping.

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The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Porter »

Welcome to The Mattress... :sleep: the forums first ongoing thread of visual stories from the field. I'm not going to lie... this is going to be the most unentertaining thing you've ever seen. Newsweek says, "it's uneventful and tasteless!" ...Cisco and Ebert, "two thumbs down" ...New York Times, "it just lacks pizzazz..." I think we can all agree that things have slowed down quite a bit within the forum realm. Once a place that flourished with news, regulation updates, species classifications, photography posts, interesting encounters, and the list goes on... Still, there are some members who remain that would like to see the original integrity of the forum restored. This is me doing my part to provide some inspiration and entertainment to the team.

Enjoy :thumb:

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Post by Porter »

To kick things off, here are a few short one-minute-clip vids I made for Instagram... :mrgreen:





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Songs:

A Perfect Circle - The Nurse Who Loved Me
Kurt Cobain - What More Can I Say

ImageIMG_0208 by The Singing Frog, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0200 by The Singing Frog, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0181 by The Singing Frog, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0183 by The Singing Frog, on Flickr
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Post by Porter »

🐌



Song:

Old Ass Rex & His Acoustic Debut - The Wind Up (Parody of Kimbra's The Build Up)
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by chris_mcmartin »

Porter wrote: February 17th, 2020, 10:10 am ImageIMG_0208 by The Singing Frog, on Flickr
That's a cool photo!
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Post by Porter »

.
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Post by Porter »

And so, the Adventure begins...




Song:

Sungha Jung - Zelda’s Theme (Koji Kondo)
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Porter »

🕷🕸🕷
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Kelly Mc
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Kelly Mc »

Beautiful work.
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Post by Porter »

🎣

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Post by Porter »

A journey into the shaky world of one-handed flip-filming...



Song:

Junkyard Mike & The Rascal Bastards - Lost On an Old Country Road (studio recording)
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Song:

Junkyard Mike & The Rascal Bastards - Lost On an Old Country Road

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Post by Porter »



Songs:

Beastie Boys - I Don't Know
Daniel Johnston - True Love Will Find You In The End
Pete Seeger - Turn, Turn, Turn

👑
🤢🤮





Song:

Bob Dorough - Three Is A Magic Number
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by dylan1422 »

Nice to see someone getting outside and enjoying the hobby during this stormy season of life. And refreshing to see activity on the forum. There are some rad shots in this thread, and my daughter and I think the videos are fun.

These questions might sound dumb, but are you in NorCal? And are those sharp tailed snakes? I've never seen so many herps under one piece of cover. Is that common where you're located?

Appreciate the shares. 💪🏻
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Post by Porter »

🥶 🍀 💦



Songs:

Tom Waits - Cold Cold Ground
Tom Waits - Cold Water
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Porter »

.
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Post by Porter »

🤲🏻 🍞 🦝



Song:

The Beatles - Rocky Raccoon
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Post by Porter »

z]
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Post by Porter »

☁️☁️
💧💧💧
🦂🐍

Squidgrip 🦑 :thumb:





Songs:

Stef Chura - Eyes Without a Face (Billy Idol)
Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul (Live on Howard Stern)


Now that's what I call hitting your target... 🎯

ImageScreenshot (202) - marked by The Singing Frog, on Flickr
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by DylanMcDiarmid »

Those multiple snake flips are crazy! I've flipped a few ringnecks at a time under natural cover, but never anything like that. As of very recently, I am no longer privy to any AC sites that aren't accessed by others (as of recently when my all my spots were recklessly visited :cry: ). Gotta find somewhere private to do some board lines!

What an experience though to flip a bunch of snakes like that. Thanks for the response and the share.
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Post by Porter »



Songs:

Jack Stauber - Buttercup
Sam Said - Buttercup
MixAndMash - Buttercup
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Post by Porter »

[
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by DylanMcDiarmid »

Man...I couldn't agree more. It's truly disheartening when I see signs of habitat destruction likely caused by herpers. We are supposed to be a community that honors and appreciates nature. And it's honestly devastating when it happens to a fruitful location you've frequented and taken care of for years.

Definitely a more productive piece of cardboard than I've ever found! I can think of so many times I've come across a piece or pile of natural or artificial cover - that looked so promising - but I've chosen not to touch it, because doing so would likely compromise the habitat (like tearing the wet box).

But hey the way I feel when I encounter the aftermath of reckless herpers has produced something positive at least within me - it encourages me to be even more respectful of animals and habitat.

Appreciate your said respect for nature, which I believe to be genuine, and your continued activity on this forum. Always fun to interact with peeps that enjoy the passion 💪🏻
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Post by Porter »

[
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by DylanMcDiarmid »

Last year was a good kingsnake year, huh? Could've fooled me, lol. Still got a ton of learning to do.

Lol! In my experience, the hobby has been attractive to women, especially those that value education/outdoors. However, finding a woman that enjoys to go out and participate on a regular basis is a different story. I am currently blessed with one, so they do exist. Prayers for patience and success in that search 💪🏻
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Post by Porter »

[
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Post by Porter »

🌼🐣🐰🐣🌼



🐛 🦋



Songs:

Waylon Jennings - The Dukes of Hazzard Theme
Mark Kroos - Come Together (The Beatles)
Mark Kroos - Linus & Lucy (Vince Guaraldi)
Mark Kroos, Judson Hurd - High and Dry (Radiohead)
Antoine Dufour - 1979 (The Smashing Pumpkins)

Neil Young - Dead Man (Theme)
Neil Young - Dean Man (Guitar Solo, No.2)
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by DylanMcDiarmid »

That's a lot of snakes 🤓 those striped gophers are rad! Crazy you found that one so far from where you originally saw him.
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Post by Porter »

🦆 🦆🦆🦆 ........................



Songs:

Michael Lucarelli - I Am the Walrus (The Beatles) - Arranged by Hiroshi Masunda
Luca Stricagnoli - Can't Stop (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
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Song:

Neil Young - Dead Man (Theme song)
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Post by Porter »

🔺



Song:

Nirvana - On A Plain (MTV Unplugged)
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Post by Porter »



Songs:

Tom Waits - Clap Hands
Primus - Wounded Knee
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Post by Porter »

.
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Post by Porter »



Songs:

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Lenny
Ween - Tender Situation

Rare mountainous gas station treasures... ⚡️🦉🍫

ImageUntitled by The Singing Frog, on Flickr
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by rhyno »

Porter wrote: May 3rd, 2020, 9:42 pm
oh hell yes. Great videography, cool subjects, and a FANTASTIC song
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Richard F. Hoyer »

Porter,
I see you must be slowing down some noting a Rubber Boa escaped out of its skin before you could retain it. They are so quick. Hah!

Your experience at trusting individuals and then later finding some of your sites disturbed undoubtedly has been experienced by many other herpers including myself here in Oregon. But my study sites for the Rubber Boa have been discovered my strangers as well and some by commercial collectors.

I got about half way through this tread you started and besides the unbelievable fast boa you missed, I found of interest your comments about Contia tenuis as being spot on. John Stevenson once took me to a vacan lot of about 3 hectare acres in Wheatland, Calif. and in about an hour, I believe I counted over 100 Sharp-tails we encountered under discarded trash.

I happen to be in the midst of trying to prepare a couple of drafts on the species here in Oregon, one dealing with reproduction and the other with aspects of life history gleaned from initial and recapture data. If I lived in your regions of Calif., I believe I would have undertaking a similar study of the species as until the Canadians began studies of the species in B.C. in 1996, there was but one full length paper on C. tenuis, that being Cook (1960) in Calif.

Thanks for your regional Calif. thread.

Richard F. Hoyer (Corvallis, Oregon)
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Post by Porter »

Richard F. Hoyer wrote: June 11th, 2020, 9:51 pm Porter,
I see you must be slowing down some noting a Rubber Boa escaped out of its skin before you could retain it. They are so quick. Hah!
I believe that was the skin of his teeth...🤔
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Richard F. Hoyer »

Porter,
Not certain what you consider as ideal temperatures and weather conditions for making searches at this time of year in your area.

Here in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon, by this time in June, it is normally in the 70s and low 80s and mostly sunny and dry. If I get out in the morning before it gets too warm under cover objects, I sometimes can have success encountering boas and sharp-tails. But with those temperature and sunny conditions, by about 11 AM and thereafter, it is not very common to find either species. Garter snakes, Racers and Gopher Snake will still be found but boas and sharp-tails normally have gone under ground when it get too warm under surface cover.

Today, I took my two beagles to one of my boa sites so they could get in some ‘sniffing’ time and exercise. It had rained lightly this morning, totally over cast and right at 60 degrees when I arrived at about 1:30. Encountered 3 boas, one racer, one gopher snake, two RSGS and three NWGS. all within 10 – 15 minutes and searching beneath 11 of the 12 tins at that site west of Philomath, Oregon.

Brad Alexander of Kernville and myself on consecutive days, each found one sharp-tail at the Trail of 100 Giants in southern Tulare County. I believe that forest stand of giant Sequoias and other tree species is at about 6400 ft. I believe the literature has their upper elevation at round 7000 ft.

I do not believe I have ever encountered a sharp-tail exposed on the surface. I know they do traverse on the surface as I have found two DOR Sharp-tails. And one specimen initially captured and tagged on the west side of the road at my former study site was recaptured later that year or the next year over on the east side of the road. So it had to traverse across the road, likely at night.

Seems to me, you mentioned the point about observing species on the surface in a prior post. Do you recall doing so? Such an observation is worth
documenting with respect to behavior traits.

Last, on occasions, I have turned mattresses as well. Like your video shows, I sometimes have encountered nests of baby voles. Great snake food.

Richard FH
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Post by Porter »

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Post by Porter »



Song:

David Bowie - The Width Of A Circle
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Post by Porter »

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Post by Porter »

Good morning folks, today we’ve got a special guest here with us on The Mattress… A fresh new artist has emerged from the muddy depths of the Delta. With what quite possibly could be field herpings his first rap song. So, without further ado, may I introduce to you… Shit Sneky!

🎤💩🐍



Lyrics:

Hi kids do you like Lateralus? Wanna see one slip past you so fast you get whipflash and paralysis?
Wanna copy me and climb a tree after a coachwhip, then go slip, upside down to the ground and end up with a broke hip?
The rains been late, salamander migrations delayed, but I can’t figure out why my snake hook ain’t bent straight
Memorized scientific names till I mesmerized my mind, forgot to buy a fishing license, and realized I committied a crime
I log in ta Instagram an see a snake face posted by Cucamongus... it’s humongous... I’m like damn, look how big the tongue is
I go on the field Herp forum just ta bore em with a sequel, to my first video, that couldn’t connect with the people

Chorus ~

I decided to drive down to Irvine, one time, to check a boardline, I found online, while I was trying to find, one of mine
I think it’s official, I’m losing my mind, Ivan and Brian are you sure that it’s not your turn to drive?
Saw a coastal patchnose chasin' a whiptail, till it bailed, I got so close I swear I could smell it's rostral scale
Bored_unless_herping wants to search places they’re lurking, with his friend, but for Jeff Lemm finding a Patchnose is a sure thing
This southern LA day heat is giving me sweaty feet, like Jon Snow I wanna retreat, back to the north to find a night king(snake)
How in cryin out loud did I just miss spring, I’m gonna grab a groundhog, pup smack his butt raw, till Bill Murray starts shouting
Here I go on another outing, shit got so redundant, I funded a $100 in gas, just to see a new county

Chorus ~

Turned on the tube to view a little NKF herping, with tornadoes swirling, and plastic centipedes, when they sit to eat, at Cow dogs early
Lou Boyer’s more like Tom Sawyer in Singapore, barefooted in flip-flops, king cobras to sea snakes on the shore
Met a girl in a Senada, she said she saw a zonata, Crossing the road, after I climbed Sierra Madre all day and saw nada
I said where's the road, tomorrow let’s go if you Wanna, she said no, drove over my toe, said, “oh by the way my name was Donna”
A Religious organization burned a caduceus on my lawn, while I was gone, So I prayed to God not to turn them back into frogs
So then attended a sermon, sure enough it was Kermit, he called me a vermin, said make like a crab and go live like a hermit
Saw a gopher snake take a beating like it was dangerous, Left in a decapitated bloody mess, because they thought it was venomous
So How many more harmless people can we be blessed with, who have a death wish, to destroy what’s left of what they’re scared and annoyed with
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Porter »

The actual metaphorical schematic blueprint for an intellectually integral depth of internal enriching enlightenment, infused within each Mattress video induction:

9ECA1B3B-FF26-47B4-AC15-51D76F3965F9.jpeg
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Post by Porter »

🌎 🌏 🌍 🔭 👽



Songs:

Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man
Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly - Intro (Feel The Heat)
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Post by Porter »

⏰ ⏳ 💸
.....🌞
🌵 :crazyeyes: 🥑 🌵





Songs:

Beck - Whiskeyclone, Hotel City 1997
Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze Of Glory
Nirvana - Big Long Now

Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
Sara Rachele - Fade Into You (Mazzy Star)
Beck - Steal My Body Home
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Post by Porter »

=
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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Porter »

The Croaking Frog has nothing to do with The Mattress. It was a project I started that became too overwhelming to finish. I was only able to completed chapter 1 in 2017... the rest is written but had to be put on the shelf for now.The original title was The Singing Frog and I posted it here on FHF first under a separate username, "The singing frog." The idea behind that was to do something similar to what I'm now doing with The Mattress... uploading each chapter to the same thread as I finished them (Chapter 2 - Enlightened Dewdrop... Chapter 3 - El Garia & the Skinks... Chapter 4 - The Color of Jade... Chapter 5 - Snake in the Grass... Chapter 6 - Bee's Knees... ect..) . I changed the title for obvious reasons. I liked the play on words and closer relation to the story's character.
☁️
🎶💧💧
💧🎵💧
💧💧🎶
💧🎵💧
🎶💧💧
💧🎵💧
...🐸

Metaphoric view on society… Metamorphic change in reality

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Re: The Mattress - An ongoing thread of stories from the field

Post by Kelly Mc »

Yay!!

Great films, great character and love for subject.
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