bc pituophis

[munchy]

ok i really need help from some bc people here.
im in the fraser valley but i do alot of fishing around the interior and ive yet to see any pits (gopher/bullsnake) at any of the lakes or places ive been to. im usually too busy fly fishing. this year im really looking forward to herping though..

ive been around kamloops, okanagan, kane valley, clinton, oliver, nicola, penticton and places like that (usually at or near lakes) but have so far been unsuccessful in finding anything.

its my understanding that there are places where they are abundant in bc and id like to hear from people who might live around these places or have been herping around there. ive always wanted to see these snakes in the wild. where are the best locations/lakes to look?

im also interested in observing rattlesnakes and ANY other reptiles around. id like to go on a little trip in may so if you have any suggestions within about 6 hours of the fraser valley id much appreciate it. hit me with a PM or just reply.

thanx
kris

[Tim and Julie B]

Oosyoos! Keremeous area. If you want snake go through that area. Rattlers and garters. I found the garters and rubber boa and gopher but I haven't found a rattler yet. The Keremeous native told us don't go up on that ridge lots of rattlers then looked at us crazy when we said we were looking for snakes. Found everything but. There are great camp grounds all through the area including camp Ashonola (sp) which is across a road from that ridge and beside a river with everything else. Be warned it gets friggin scorching in the part of the province. Ashonola has showers and toilets. Best part nobody goes there and it is only $10.

[munchy]

Originally posted by .B miT<--
Oosyoos! Keremeous area. If you want snake go through that area. Rattlers and garters. I found the garters and rubber boa and gopher but I haven't found a rattler yet. The Keremeous native told us don't go up on that ridge lots of rattlers then looked at us crazy when we said we were looking for snakes. Found everything but. There are great camp grounds all through the area including camp Ashonola (sp) which is across a road from that ridge and beside a river with everything else. Be warned it gets friggin scorching in the part of the province. Ashonola has showers and toilets. Best part nobody goes there and it is only $10.

hey thanx alot for the info, Tim!!

ive heard osoyoos is great for rattlers and gophers but the closest ive been herping is at gallagher(sp?) lake. VERY nice place but i didnt find any snakes. are the campgrounds you speak of right on osoyoos lake?

[Tim and Julie B]

The Campground I was talking about is in Keromeaous. But I am sure there has to be some good ones in Oosyoos also. Actually that Herpetologist from UBC that studys rattlers works around there during the summer. So there has got to be some good stuff around.

[Kyle Barker]

im told the reserv there is a great place for snakes. the gopher and rattler have both eluded me in bc :(

[Tim and Julie B]

Only the rattler for me. Go figure I have found rubber boas before rattlers. My big thing this year is to catch and photograph a night snake. I have a friend that found one last year so it's a pretty good lead on where to find them. Also a sharptailed snake sighting hasn't been documented in BC since the sixties! Wouldn't that be a find!

[moperri]

well if you are looking for gophers or rattlers come to Kamloops, I will show you some places. I find a few gopher every year and quite a few rattlers. TIM I want to be in for night snake hunting let me know when you go.
MO

[munchy]

thanx alot for the feedback guys. i really appreciate it.
like i said ive been out that way quite a few times and rattlers as well as rubber boas and pits have somehow eluded me every time. :( being out here, this is all im used to. http://www.reptiles canada.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1667
garters galore..
and tim that would be CRAZY if you found a nightsnake. best be posting pics if you do. :D ive read they may be extirpated in bc but aparently vaseux lake may still have a few in the area. have you ever been around there?

where abouts in kamloops would be ideal for pits and rattlers? im actually going to roche lake (which i think is just south east of kamloops) for may long weekend and i think a trip into kamloops would definitely be do-able...

[Kyle Barker]

night snakes would be awsome! hope to see pics. im hoping on ensatinas and sharp tails. been trying for a few years.

[tupinambis]

As far as sharp-taileds go, from what I've been told by some researchers, despite what the books may say they are pretty much restricted to Pender Island and may have been extirpated from all other former ranges in BC.
Down here in the Lower Fraser, Ensatinas abound.