(cross-posted on the DFWHS forum as well)



Once again the West TX Herp Society and the DFW Herp Society have teamed up for a trip to Crockett & Val Verde counties. Some of us in the DFWHS group went to the Big Bend for a day or so first, and then met on Saturday for the field trip. I think we all had a great time.



This time we weren't in the deep freeze the morning of the field trip, but it was still cool enough that it may have affected the nighttime herping. It's OK - we know about hot, so you don't have to turn the thermostat down when we come out there. Next time let's have some warmer weather!



Among the species seen were: Rio Grande leopard frog, crevice spiny lizard, Texas spotted whiptail, Colorado checkered whiptail, round-tail horned lizard, probably a lizard species or two I'm overlooking, mountain patch-nose snake, arid land ribbon snake, mottled rock rattlesnake, black-tailed rattlesnake, Great Plains rat snake, western coachwhip. Intermittent cool weather may have affected the herp abundance, but we enjoyed wading and exploring the Pecos river, rock-flipping near Pandale, and walking rock cuts and ridges in Crockett county.



Thanks to the WTHS group, particularly Michael Price, for having us out there. I think members of the two herp societies are kindred spirits (or maybe that kinship has to do with wanting to move to west Texas so I can go to the Big Bend and Trans-Pecos all the time - you guys are so lucky).



We'll have to challenge you west Texas cowboys to come to the other side of the state - maybe up here in the cross timbers or down in the Big Thicket - and see how herping is done where not all of the plant species will puncture you, but some of them will poison you!



Michael Smith

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• joint west TX field trip - Michael-DFW, Mon Jun 9 17:15:30 2003