Here's another unknown frog, a sad death of an old friend and some life after a cold front still not ready to call it quits for the winter. Headed out today to search for warmer temps, and the sun came out here. So I kicked around close to home in my county, Nueces, and my regular haunts in Jim Wells county, Texas. First herp of the day were predictably, the Carolina anoles out sunning in the 68 degree afternoon. I saw 4 but I am sure I was being watched from everywhere! I flipped a few skinks but my shots sucked. I did find one large female Cnemidophorus which I guess was a Texas spotted whiptail in the process of regenerating almost her whole tail. She needs a good winter's nap! I saw 3 green tree frogs, one out and sunning and two in a well. I flipped a very tiny Checkered garter snake under some a/c and bark and found a large shed from a South Plains rat snake. Also flipped a black widow. I moved on to a familiar spot in Jim Wells county, was photoing some Rio Grande leopard frogs in a culvert when I smelled something dead close by. I look to my left and saw the heartbreak for this year. So far, I had been spared any dor indigos, but hanging half in a tree was the large male that I have photoed at this spot a few years in a row. I guess he was hit and crawled off the road and fell into the tree where he died. I would see this snake drink and eat frogs at this culvert more than a few times, and was very sad to see him go. One can only hope he sewed his seed before the Turkey day travelers got him. I look forward to seeing his progeny carry on using his territory. I next found a very large Gulf Coast ribbon snake but he saw me before I saw him, so he had too much of a head start. This would be the only snake seen on the surface today and the last snake of the day. At my tin site, I noticed all the mice gone and only a few cotton rats left, something cleaned out the mice and some of the rats since the last time I was here. Maybe Br8knitoff's Bull snake had a snack before lights out! There were literally 20 mice families under that tin. Last herps found were at least 5 sheep frogs found inside a stump. I put them back and replaced the stump as best I could, then buried the edges in soil and leaves to try to keep a moisture seal intact. I hope these guys make it, they were very large, at 2" nose to butt and very fat. Not bad for a few days after the front passes through. It was 68 degrees at 5:00 p.m. when I was heading back to town.
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Todd Hughes
