Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here are a few shots of some of the animals caught in the 376 funnel traps we have out in the Boot Heel of New Mexico for a project I'm helping on this summer. I actually head back out (from here in Tucson) for another 10 day plus stint on Monday.

Black tail rattlesnake
Crotalus molossus

Prairie rattlesnake Juvenile Crotalus viridis Any one else notice how bitey the juvies are of this species but how calm they are as adults? would be interested in seeing if this is the same across their wide range

Glossy snake Arizona elegans

Juvie western diamondback Crotalus atrox

Texas horned lizard Phrynosoma cornutum

Short horned horned lizard Phrynosoma hernandesi

Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum

Here are some other cool animals caught in the traps that I got to see.
Pocket gopher Geomyidae sp. cant think of the species right now but these guys are really cool.

A Shrike Lanius ludovicianus, really cool bird who has the habit of sticking parts of the lizards and mammals it kills on barbed wire or on the thorns of trees.

Walking stick

Re-introduced Black tailed Prairie dog in its town.

Here are two sunsets looking north toward the Animas mountains

Flower of a cholla

There not many snakes nicer than blacktail rattlesnakes. If you can, get some pics of the skrike's trophies pinned on the thorns. I've never seen that before.

MH

A peromyscus that didnt get away.

Way cool! Did you see it actually happen, or just get pics after the fact? I'd love to get video of them doing this!!

Thanks

MH

Chip, as always, your pics are absolutely PHENOMENAL! Thanks for sharing (I personally love the coachwhip!).

Are you using a certain type of funnel trap for this study? We are looking at doing something similar up herebut haven't found one that we like yet.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>Here are a few shots of some of the animals caught in the 376 funnel traps we have out in the Boot Heel of New Mexico for a project I'm helping on this summer. I actually head back out (from here in Tucson) for another 10 day plus stint on Monday.
>>
>>Black tail rattlesnake
>>Crotalus molossus
>>
>>
>>Prairie rattlesnake Juvenile Crotalus viridis Any one else notice how bitey the juvies are of this species but how calm they are as adults? would be interested in seeing if this is the same across their wide range
>>
>>
>>Glossy snake Arizona elegans
>>
>>
>>Juvie western diamondback Crotalus atrox
>>
>>
>>Texas horned lizard Phrynosoma cornutum
>>
>>
>>Short horned horned lizard Phrynosoma hernandesi
>>
>>
>>Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum
>>
>>
>>Here are some other cool animals caught in the traps that I got to see.
>>Pocket gopher Geomyidae sp. cant think of the species right now but these guys are really cool.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>A Shrike Lanius ludovicianus, really cool bird who has the habit of sticking parts of the lizards and mammals it kills on barbed wire or on the thorns of trees.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Walking stick
>>
>>
>>Re-introduced Black tailed Prairie dog in its town.
>>
>>
>>
>>Here are two sunsets looking north toward the Animas mountains
>>
>>
>>
>>Flower of a cholla
>>
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Rob if you would like to get all of the actual specs let me know and I will have Kevin email you all of the details (wish I would have taken some pics for you now of them). Basically it is as follows. The arrangement is in the shape of a Giant T
with one row going North the other south and the last west to shape the T. each section is about 30 to 50 m long and has a total of 4 funnel traps. one on each side at the ends. The traps have a lid that flips up that has a styrofoam like cover on the lid to provie shade. there is usually about 10 to 20 meters between sections heading in each direction. that the T junction point where the traps head west the two traps right at the junction are open at both ends (i do think this may let a few coachwhips or whipsnakes get out easier as they may just bridge the distance.) If you want email me and I will try to get into greater detail with everything. I head out Monday but will take pictures of the traps for you. I dont get email out there but will be gone for about 10 days but that may become longer. Take care.

Chip

Damn those are some nice pictures. That gopher in particular seems completely thrilled to see you Quick question, are those coachwhips the nasty buggers I've heard they are? Nice looking snakes, but I've heard they're prone to strike at anything that moves, and I know they're fast...
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0.1.0 Ball Python - Shaman
1.0.0 Green Iguana - Ike
1.0.0 Tokay Gecko - Fang
2.2.0 Cats - Pumpkin, Furball, Pixie, Stitch
1.0.0 Cockatiel - Ozzy
0.1.0 Budgie - Tweetie
1.0.0 Dwarf Rabbit - Floyd, R.I.P. Rascal
0.0.1 Rat who was too friendly to be eaten - Scabbers

Way cool series Chip!! You're one of the best field photographers I know. Just fantastic pictures mate!

Al
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Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

It is Thomomys bottae not Geomyidae. Thanks for the compliments Al. See you soon when you come out to AZ.