HISS in the HILLS 2003 Fall snake count
Well, we are just winding down from a really great weekend.
Friday was cold and raining, didn't look good, we were quite concerned.
Saturday started out cool, but warmed up a bit later in the day.
On saturdays river trip, we counted 16 rattlesnakes, 4 bullsnakes and 2 western terrestrial garters.
The day started out by finding 3 scorpions. I've never seen a scorpion in the wild before this weekend, but on Friday Jordan had found 3 of them. We found the same 3 Saturday morning.
I was on my knees and trying to coral it with my hands for a photo op. I almost picked it up, but before I could, it ran at my leg and stung my thigh through my jeans.
No one had ever actually heard of anyone being stung, we had read that they don't normally cause much problem, unless alergic.
My leg swelled up a bit, my face seemed to swell (no jokes people) so I took some antihistamines, and 2 hours later felt fine.
On Sunday, we found 10 garters, 2 bullsnakes, 10 baby rattlers, 18 adults, 5 black widows, 2 scorpions.
The group consisted of Myself, Sheila, my Mother Carol, Vanan, Katt, My friend Curtis and his girlfriend Tara from Leader, wildlife photographer Barry Miller, Jordon and his mom Stella from Mississaga, Steve Chandler from Medicine Hat, Ryan Walker from Craven Sk, Jonothan Wright from East Coulee, Rick from Australia (and many countries, he drifts) and Matt from Australia and sometimes East Coulee.
Barry, Steve and Rick had excellent slide shows, which we did at the hall we rented for supper. Amazing slide shows, Steve and Rick sure do get around.
I will post some of our pictures from the day soon, right now I am quite tired. Between Vanan, Jordan and myself, we have 600 digital camera pictures.
Ryan
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