New field herping photos

[Sorraia]

These are some of my more exciting (on the job) catches for this year. I got back from almost six months of maternity leave in July, and started assisting with herp work in August. Since then there has been something cool and exciting each time!

September 2012, CA Kingsnake
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/sorraiamustang/SAWA/herps/srp_kingsnake.jpg

October 2012, Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/sorraiamustang/SAWA/herps/SRP_101812_CRVI_NVH1.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/sorraiamustang/SAWA/herps/SRP_101812_CRVI_NVH3.jpg

November 2012, Ringneck Snake
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/sorraiamustang/SAWA/herps/SRP_110812_DIPU_NVH4.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/sorraiamustang/SAWA/herps/SRP_110812_DIPU_NVH2.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/sorraiamustang/SAWA/herps/SRP_110812_DIPU_NVH5.jpg

[marvelfreak]

Very cool.

[MDT]

I love the pattern and contrast of the southern pacific. They are beautiful.
Ring necked snakes even though tiny and practically everywhere are just gorgeous. There is something about that slate color along with that orange neck. I know they're not rare or special, but they are stunning.

Thanks for sharing those pics :)

[Sorraia]

I love the pattern and contrast of the southern pacific. They are beautiful.
Ring necked snakes even though tiny and practically everywhere are just gorgeous. There is something about that slate color along with that orange neck. I know they're not rare or special, but they are stunning.

Thanks for sharing those pics :)

What's interesting is around here they are actually considered a "sensitive species" and thus protected! We don't actually see too many of them though. In the last 5 years this is my third. It might just be our climate, or maybe development. I'm not sure.

[MDT]

Wow... In Oklahoma, they are everywhere. It's rare that you *don't* find one when herping!

[Zoo Nanny]

I'm so jealous of your job! Incredible pics. We get very few ring necks in this area. I've only ever seen one and that was a juvenile only about 4 inches long.

[shaunyboy]

great job,great pictures,thanks for sharing.....

such a diverse species to find in your back yard

those wee Ringnecks were my favourite...

was that TICKS on their body's ?

if so do you treat the snake,then release it ?

or do you just release it without treatment ?

you must love your job,out herping,with a pair of shorts in hot weather,whats not to love :):):)

cheers shaun

[Roadtrash]

Great pictures of some fine looking animals.

[Sorraia]

was that TICKS on their body's ?

if so do you treat the snake,then release it ?

or do you just release it without treatment ?


Doesn't that look awful?! Thankfully no, those were ticks or any other kind of parasite. It was actually millet seed. We use millet in our herp arrays to feed the incidental mammals we sometimes catch. The idea is hopefully they'll fill up on millet (about a tablespoon per trap) and leave the herps alone. Of course we don't actually know if it works, but better than nothing...

If we do catch a herp that has something nasty like a tick hanging on, we do try to clean them off, if possible to without further stressing the animal. Usually we find ants trying to climb all over our critters, and we definitely clean those off.

[jaleely]

ants EW! lol
and i own spiders...

Anyway, was just going to post that it looked like millet, but i was like, why would there just be millet out in the wild in that quantity like that? LOL