Field Herping 2013 so far...

[StudentoReptile]

Here's some field-herping photos from this year so far...

Actually, this first photo was from last fall. My mentor and I went night-herping behind our local nature center. Found several juvenile banded water snakes, a mud turtle, thousands of baby green anoles (I did not know they climbed to the tops of tall grass, clinging there during the night!), and a subadult cottonmouth. Because this trail is a dirt/gravel pit that four-wheelers often come thundering down and pulverizing everything in their path, we relocated nearly everything we could find, including the cottonmouth. My mentor took the cotton home, and 6 days later, she dropped 6 babies! This is one of them.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/Babycopper_zps5faf14a2.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/Babycopper_zps5faf14a2.jpg.html)

Here is a greenhouse frog I found on my porch area, clearing some area for future tortoise enclosures. It's an established invasive species in the southeast, much like Mediterranean geckos.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/greenhouse1_zps99aefce8.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/greenhouse1_zps99aefce8.jpg.html)

This spring, I caught a couple photos of these gopher tortoises, also at the same nature center (we hold our monthly herp society meetings here). There are burrows everywhere.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/130409_0005_zpse330cdc3.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/130409_0005_zpse330cdc3.jpg.html)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/130409_0006_zps1368752a.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/130409_0006_zps1368752a.jpg.html)

In another location, a environmental management area owned by a power plant, some friends and I went out. Found a garter but it was too fast. Other than that and a couple dozen anoles, I found this Little Brown Skink.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/IMG_0512_zpsb228169a.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/IMG_0512_zpsb228169a.jpg.html)

Not far from my house is an EXCELLENT habitat for EDBs, kingsnakes, racers, rat snakes, tortoises, racerunners and fence lizards. Here is one of many speckled kingsnakes that has come from the area.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/SpecKing_2013-04-02_4_zps1ed68734.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/SpecKing_2013-04-02_4_zps1ed68734.jpg.html)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/SpecKing_2013-04-02_3_zps76b469ca.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/SpecKing_2013-04-02_3_zps76b469ca.jpg.html)

This is a cornsnake my dad spotted while golfing.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/IMG950554_zpsab8101ba.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/IMG950554_zpsab8101ba.jpg.html)

[StudentoReptile]

This past week, I went out again with my mentor to a location where he has much luck in the past. Under the stipulation of the property owner, we have to remove any cottonmouths we find as she would kill them (I know, I know...don't go there). The only one we found was this adult female.

I know this will spark some debate, and I really do not care. This was the first time I actually captured, pinned and handled a venomous snake. This was not something I did flippantly, or for any notoriety. Working with hots is something I want to practice and do more, and this is just part of it. Yes, actually handling the snake is not necessary, but it should be noted that true professionals have been bitten equally using both methods (exclusively tongs/hooks or handling). After talking with some (and I tend to agree), it boils down a matter of preference. My mentor stated that in his opinion, he has better control of the snake once it is in his grip, as well as less injury to the snake. I do plan to practice this, only in his presence, and definitely employ both methods to eventually determine which suits me.

This is NOT something anyone should attempt without the following: proper equipment (quality snake tongs, and a good hook for pinning), AND having a skilled, experienced professional with a good reputation you trust present.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/DIP_2013-05-15_1_zps808019c7.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/DIP_2013-05-15_1_zps808019c7.jpg.html)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/MDC_Leviathan/Field%20Herping%202013/DIP_2013-05-15_2_zps689c5321.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/MDC_Leviathan/media/Field%20Herping%202013/DIP_2013-05-15_2_zps689c5321.jpg.html)

[Starbuck]

You are braver than me! :-) but you had some really amazing and gorgeous finds... I can't wait to move to florida where there are so many more native herps. Keep the pictures coming! :-)