Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, first off, no alterna. But lots of reptile activity all weekend. The strangely cool weather continues, and along with widespread storms conspired to make the River Road the best choice for the whole weekend. Altogether, for the whole weekend(listing only AOR's):

4 ground snakes
3 night snakes
1 glossy
1 longnose
4 subocs
1 splendidia (Xmas mntns)
2 atrox
1 blacktail
1 Trans-pecos copperhead (pictured below)
Diurnals (various spots in Brewster/Presidio counties)
1 Bull
4 Coachwhips
7 desert box turtles
2 prairie rattlesnake (not diurnal, but both out in daylight)

We considered it a pretty good list for a 3 nighter.

Was stopped by Warden Spears and had a good conversation with him. Seems knowledgeable about snakes, especially for LE. Also a very nice guy. Checked my license, but we didn't get into the new law much. (It was about 3 A.M., and after the long drive out and long night of herping , I wasn.t feeling that talkative lol). My impression is that he seems sympathetic to herpers-not to say in any way that he'll hesitate to enforce the new law when it goes into effect.....

Brad Chambers

Where did you spot the prairie rattlers? Any pics?

I've never found a prairie in this area and would love to rectify that situation.

Here's a prairie from the northern Presidio County grasslands, Sunday A.M. ....appeared to be gravid.

Brad Chambers

Dang, I was hoping for something a little closer to my area. Looks like I'll have to plan a road trip.

Has anyone ever found any in or near So Brewster? I'm trying to focus on finding herps from this area.

For what it's worth, I have not come across any praries in south Brewster in the 20 years of looking down there. However they can be found north of Marathon up 385.

DB

Ector, Midland, and Andrews county hold tons of prarie rattlers, real light phases in Ector county, off highway 385 on a road called 8000

Eric
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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herp'.

There are documented specimens of viridis from the northern portions of Brewster Co. and I have found a couple of DORs on Hwy 90 between Alpine and Marathon tears ago. But I am not aware of any coming from down in your part of the county.
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Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
www.southwesternherp.com

I guess that's what I expected. I just got excited when I saw Brad's post. All his other finds seemed to be from RR and 118, and I got the impression (wishful thinking) that the prairies were from here also.

there is even a record from Terrell.

I have found them in Presidio, Brewster, Jeff Davis, Hudspeth, Culberson and Pecos counties.

Grassland is the key. For Daryl the closest places are northern Presidio and Brewster counties.

Found a big DOR one morning on 90 just east of Alpine a few years ago, but none A/DOR south of there since then.
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Bill Cope
O'Brien, FL

The closest I've found viridis was N. of Ft. Davis ( I believe it was a bit N. of Wildrose Pass) and Van Horn.

just west of Alpine. Didn't realize we were at the edge of their range. It was actually near a cut on the south side of the road.

Hey Eby,
The closest to you that I have seen are in Dagger Flats, on the east side of the park (in situ only) and north of Shafter.
Are you going to be out tonight? Email me @ thesaddleshop@earthlink.net or call the cell phone 903-714-5628.
Later
Rick

Brad, was that you with your son?
We stopped (red Ford P/U) at an atrox you found, then moved on and didn't see you again.
Glad you had a good visit. We had similar luck, but heavy on subocs.
-Jack
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V.P.
Austin Herp. Soc.

No, that wasn't me-I was with my gf Alicia, in a gold Ford F-150 pickup with a black bedcap. I do remember seeing you, though.

Brad Chambers

that's pretty good action for December!

Must have been a bout of local global warming ...
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Bill Cope
O'Brien, FL

That is a nice copperhead. U find him before or after the big hill?

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Not too smart, not too dumb. Just right

Before-actually only about 2 miles west of Lajitas.....very cooperative girl, too....

Brad Chambers