Dr. G.

Probably did not mention or emphasize that the best time to conduct searches for many species of snakes, including and in particular C. bottae, is in the spring and again in the fall. However, the window of opportunity is much longer in the spring.



In the late spring and early summer, once subsurface temperatures rise considerable, the snakes no longer need to come to the surface or under cover objects on the surface in order to thermoregulate as the can now find those temperatures below the surface. Also, in the spring, freezing or near freezing temperatures are the norm in the late night and early morning hours so the species is primarily diurnal at that time of year. But once subsurface temperatures are warm enough for the species to find its preferred temperature and it is generally too hot during the day for safe surface activity (and they have a wide range of preferred temperatures), they become crepuscular and noctural to a great extent. This can be viewed even in captive specimens at mid summer in which the boas remain hidden under cover objects in their enclosures only to be seen wandering around in the enclosure at night.



Knowing the above, I rarely go out during day light hours during mid summer, warm weather. Where I can sometimes find upwards of 30 - 40 boas during the day in the spring, I am lucky to find one during this time of year. And I have a huge advantage over most individuals in that I make use of artifical cover objects in order to find all of my specimens locally.



In my studies of the SRB in the San Bernardino Mts. of S. Calif., even during the spring when it was going to be warm on any particular day, I would purposely start early in the morning around 8:30 - 9 AM then quit around 1 PM or thereabouts as from that point on, making searches was essentially futile as the boas would invariably retreat underground when surface tempertures became too warm.



I have not gone to driving roads much at night but I know a number of individuals that have found a good number of specimens in this manner over the years. I picked up two last fall north of Bishop, Calif. driving roads. It seem to be particularly effective with cloud cover and/or after a rain.



Shaun V. showed my son Ryan where he had observed the 17 adult males but it must be emphasized that this was in the spring. Go back to the same spot now during mid day and I would very much be surprised if anyone could locate even one specimen.



But I am the first to acknowledge that others may have different experiences and techniques that work in their particular region so those in Utah will know far more than myself about their area.



Richard F. Hoyer

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