Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a friend who likes fly fishing, so I go out hiking while he's fishing and I look for snakes. We've just started checking out a place called Piru Creek (fed from Pyramid Lake). The fisherman there all warn us not to go "downstream" after winter because of rattle snakes - naturally we can't wait for spring. More than one fisherman has claimed that the canyon has the highest concentration of rattle snakes in the US. Obviously I doubt this, but I thought it would be worth checking to see if any of you have ever checked the place out.

If not...I'll let you know in a few months.

Peace,

Jake

Jake,

According to Stebbins, a dark green and a reddish color morph of the Two-striped Gartersnake occur on the Piru River in Ventura County, which should be the same area you're talking about. So keep an eye out for those along with the helleri, and get some pics for us.

Yes, there certainly are rattlesnakes (C. helleri) along Piru Creek west of Frenchman Flat. I got bit by one there about 15 years ago!! This was one of my study sites for almost 20 years. Thamnophis hammondii and Pacific Pond Turtles were common there when I started, but became incresingly rare after 1990. There are also occasional gopher snakes and kingsnakes.

Just be careful where you put your hands and feet!

I know that they are higher up in the ranges there, but I always thought Piru creek would have some riparian populations.

FH