Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hunting eastern milks in the mountains of NC last April. I was flipping rocks on a Sunday afternoon. Air temp was around 73*. Overcast conditions. Rain a few days before. I told my wife that we were looking for a small, red, black, and white snake. I flipped a rock about the size of a small car hood and heard my wife scream "Honey, Honey, Honey!!!" I could tell from the excitement in her voice that it was something good. I shifted the weight of the rock to one shoulder so that I could look underneath and saw this...scarlet snake found about 100 miles outside of the known range. Ended up finding another about 100 yards from this one the same day. Good stuff. Highlight of 2007 herping for me. Not a milk, but I figured you milk enthusiasts would enjoy anyway.

Michael Coone
Conover, NC

Nice find Michael! I bet that was a rush!
-Phil
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Work is the curse
of the drinking class!

Yeah Phil, it was totally unexpected. I found some cool stuff last year...New Hanover Eastern King that looked like an OBK, a nice scarlet king in Carteret Co (just across the sound from where folks have found temporalis)...but those scarlet snakes in the mountains were unbelieveable!!!

I'm surprised that we haven't seen scarlet snakes in the sandhills yet. I've seen them closer to the coast.

Just a few more weeks...

Michael

Those New Hanover Easterns are really nice. I just might have to buy a pair if you produce any. Howie Sherman, from Strikers Herps, and I both have some Virginia Beach Easterns that have a lot of speckling like the OBX kings. The cool thing is that it didn't show when they were first born, and developed everytime they shed, just like the OBX kings. Pretty cool stuff.
Come on Spring!
-Phil
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Work is the curse
of the drinking class!

Scarlet King????

John

... love to see a shot if you have one.

Thanks,
Chris

I actually collected him and he's still brumating now. I will snap a few photos when I bring him up. I have to warn you guys...I'm no photographer. Will do my best for you guys though.

Thanks,
Michael

No worries -- something is better than nothing....

Thanks again,
Chris

very cool Mike. The Moles are doing great by the way. The little ones are eating machines. Thanks agan for them.
Mike Panichi
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honesty is my only policy

Hey Mike,
Glad to hear they are doing well. The pair of '06 animals that I held onto refused ft pinks twice, so I put them back down for another month or so until the worm snakes and skinks come back out.

Keep in touch.

Michael

well it worked. They are each eating two frozen thawed pinks at a time and to be honest, I definately can see the male being up to breeding size for next spring. They are really cool snakes.
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honesty is my only policy

Hey Mike,
I'm interested when those breed for you.
Michael's Mole Kings are definitely nice.
-Phil
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Work is the curse
of the drinking class!

no problem. With the way this male is eating(and the 06 female as well, come to think of it), he should be ready to breed next season. I have the adult WC female from the same locale just waiting for him to get up to size. Of course Mr. Coone gets first pick of the babies though. I'll be posting pics as these guys grow. They are some cools ass snakes. Thanks. Mike Panichi
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honesty is my only policy

I was with Michael when I caught my first Mole King in Moore Co., Nc. This was just after he showed me one of the males from his '06 clutch. I've been hooked ever since. Here's a pic. I'm still very greateful to Michael for introducing a new species to my little world. LOL!!!
-Phil

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Work is the curse
of the drinking class!

Very, very nice!
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Todd Hughes

you'll find another at the same site if you hit it when conditions are right. Good food source there (lots of skinks and rodents), plus fewer predators and competition based on the immediate surroundings.

Let me know if you have any luck this spring. I have found 5 males for every female in the western Piedmont.

Thanks,
Michael