I really hesitated to go out last night. I was tired and felt like crap, but I had a package that I had to drop off in Lajitas. So out I went.
The conditions were great. Probably upper 80’s as I left my house in Study Butte. Winds from the south. High humidity. No moon. Overcast skies. Ground mostly dried out, but numerous puddles from rain over the last two days. I should have been excited.
My first find didn’t spur any excitement. Perhaps even a little frustration. I’d have to drive slow and dodge these guys all night.
Red Spotted Toad (Bufo punctatus)
My second find was a very welcome, but slightly disconcerting sight. I look forward to these guys every year.
[img]http://www.fototime.com/72436CB4FA4F88A/standard.jpg[/img
]Neonate Mojave Diamondback (Crotalus scutalatus)
Continuing on, my main thought was, “I’ll have to be extra careful about letting the kids outside near sunset. The desert will be swarming with baby rattlers for the next month.” My mind was still not on herping. I just wanted to drop off my package then head home and get some sleep.
Then I happened on a mildly exciting sight.
Western Green Toad (Bufo debilis insidior)
I’d been wondering where these guys were hiding. Not an uncommon sight out here, but I think this was my first one this year. Not the best looking example, but a welcome sight. I was starting to think, “I’d rather be in bed, but at least the night is not a total waste.”
Continuing on, I started recalling my drive down this same road just two nights ago. Now THAT was a night to remember. I still can’t get over finding a second blond Suboc in one year. I drove this road dozens of times last year alone in search of blondes. Out of all those prior nights, I’d only seen one blond, and it was DOR. Now I’d seen two in just one year!
Approaching the spot where I’d seen that most recent blond, I started paying extra attention. All the sudden, I was thinking, “Damn, I must be hallucinating. That looks like another Suboc in the exact spot where I saw the blond!” Sure enough, it was a Suboc. Not a blond though. This one was a normal phase four foot female. Weird that it would be right in the same spot (OK maybe a few feet away).
I’d normally just take a few photos and watch as she moved off the road. However, a car was approaching, and she was in the tread zone. I quickly picked her up and moved her safely off the road as two more vehicles approached. Once she was safe and all the traffic passed, I got my five y/o son, Zack, out of the car (Josh stayed home –too bad for him). He was riveted as I was showing him the snake and snapping a few pics.
As I prepared to start shooting photos, I noticed movement in my peripheral vision. What the heck! NO WAY! The big blonde male from two nights ago was coming out to see me. I approached him slowly so as not to disturb him. He appeared to be stalking something. Slow and frequent tongue flicks, head swaying, moving slowly and deliberately. As I prepared to snap some photos, my son came running up and startled the big guy. He took off like a bolt just as it dawned on me what he was stalking. Before Zack disturbed him, he was on the trail of the female I’d just moved off the road!
Now I’d really gone a made mess of things. First, I moved the female 20 feet off the scent trail the male was following. Second, my son frightened the male and caused him abandon the pursuit. Maybe, the male would resume the pursuit after we left, maybe not. If he did, he’d soon find the end of her trail right in the middle of the road. Great, not only would they not mate, he’ll likely get killed as he hovered around the spot where I picked her up as tried to figure out what happened to her trail.
I saw only one ethical option. I sternly advised my rambunctious son to “sit down and stay still.” I then caught up with the fleeing male and picked him up as calmly as I could. I’d only have one shot at this, and I couldn’t afford to stress him any further. I then slowly approached the female, set the male down beside her, and held my breath.
Trans-Pecos Pair
They seemed to forget all about me and Zack. The male had other things on his mind and the female had to make a decision. The female seemed a little aloof, so the male decided to get her attention.
Surprisingly, biting her didn’t work.
So, he chased her down and bit her again.
She seemed to get the message this time and calmed down a bit.
She finally became receptive.
Ah, sweet snake lovin’
Followed by some wild action.
Slow and steady now.
Resting up for another go around.
Enough photos, I finally figured out how to use the video function on my camera. However, it’s taking FOREVER for the video to upload to YouTube. I’ll have to post the video in a separate thread if I can ever get it loaded.
Sorry for the poor quality pics. I normally just use my flashlight to help frame the shots then aim it away before snapping the pics. In this case (and again later in the night), I kept the edge of the light on the action in hopes of preventing the cycles of total darkness, flash, darkness, light, darkness, flash, etc from stressing and distracting the snakes. The result was that most of the shots were washed out. I tried to tweak them in PS, but I suck at photo editing. Maybe my wife (PS guru) can salvage them.
After witnessing all this excitement, I was no longer tired and eager to go home. Luck was shining on me and I wasn’t about to turn my back. I quickly delivered my package and decided to check out the first few little cuts just west of Lajitas.
Shortly after Lajitas, I saw a small DOR on the road. Something about it seemed odd. I wound up doing a double take, a triple take, shook my head, and looked again.
Blotched Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster) ???
What the heck was a Blotched Watersnake doing in the extreme SW corner of Brewster County? I knew they were documented in eastern Brewster, but I never expected them this far west. I’ve since heard from Rick Green that has also seen one in the area and Dixon has a few reports, but to Rick’s knowledge none have been vouchered. The little DOR is now in my freezer awaiting preservation. Perhaps mine will be the first voucher for the area.
Anyone want to help me check out nearby Presidio County for a voucher from that county?
Luck was still smiling. I decided to extend my trip out to the Big Hill. I’m damn glad that I did! Crossing over a bridge near the Big Hill, I noticed what appeared to be a DOR suboc. It looked like Lady Luck finally frowned. Disheartened, I park my car and headed back to the bridge in order to remove the tangled corpse. My disappointment deepened when I realize it was ANOTHER BLOND. Too late I guess. Then I shouted (to who I’ve no idea, my son was sound asleep in the back seat), “WTF, it’s not dead. It’s constricting a mouse!” I practically skipped as I ran back to the car to get my camera. I could not believe my insane luck. Three Subocs, two of them blonde, breeding action, possible range extension, now feeding action.
I had to force myself to calm down and slowly approach the feeding snake without disturbing it. He either didn’t notice me or didn’t care. He was busy.
Look closely at the top photo. That black spot is actually a drain or vent hole in the bridge. The third shot shows a series of those holes across the width of the bridge.
After it stopped constricting and started to feed, I zoomed in for some closer shots. Looking at the view finder, I had yet another major surprise.
The snake was eating a BAT.
Swallowing a bat can’t be comfortable.
After finishing, he headed straight for that little vent hole. It looked like I was about to get my final shots as he disappeared beneath the bridge.
Then I made another surprising observation.
He wasn’t leaving. He was foraging. He crawled halfway in and started probing every nook and cranny in that hole. Unfortunately, he didn’t find any more. However, if you look closely at some of the photos of him swallowing the bat, you’ll notice a bulge. That bat was at least his second for the night.
He emerged from his honey hole, looked around, and headed back in for another look.
I was content to keep watching, but a truck was approaching in the snake’s lane. I made my second rescue of the night.
Then I realized that I was faced with a dilemma. What should I do with this snake? What would you have done?
1. Release it back at the capture sight so it could continue to forage and possibly get run over tonight or on a future night.
2. Release it in its home range beneath the bridge where it could easily find its way back to those little holes full of tasty treats and paved by a trail of death.
3. Release it at another location where it would have to establish a new home range, and face a high mortality risk while trying to get reoriented.
4. Remove it from the wild (in violation of a senseless law that was passed by corrupt tactics) and try to find a breeder with a locality mate.
Now, I was more excited and more determined than ever to keep milking my good fortune. However, it was getting late. I decided to go just a little further. Unfortunately, the far side of the Big Hill turned up nothing other than a couple more night snakes and tons of toads. I was tired and decided to just herp my way home.
Coming back down the hill, I spotted yet another surprise!
Southwestern Black-headed Snake (Tantilla hobartsmithi)
Maybe not exciting for some of you, but this was a sort of a lifer for me. I’ve seen lots of Tantilla in years past, but never paid attention enough attention to ID the subspecies. I was psyched.
I was still a long way from home, so back in the car I went. I almost didn’t stop for this guy but decided to grab a couple of shots.
Continuing from there, I saw another neonate scute, and neonate atrox, two more night snakes, tons of toads, a female earless lizard sleeping on the road, and a DOR Blacktail.
Arriving back in Study Butte, I realized I was too pumped to go home. Why not check out the Christmases? No luck up that way, except for a bunch more toads and this stupid lizard.
Southwestern Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus scitulus)
Sound asleep on the pavement (when will they learn?). I decided to move it to the rockcut on the shoulder. Apparently the safety of the rockcut wasn’t good enough for this guy. He bolted and ran directly under my car. I tried to locate and chase him out, but there was too much low brush to spot him. I’m guessing (but hoping I’m wrong) that he ran right under my tires. DOH!
If you’ve read this far, you probably need to take a potty break now. Thanks for coming along with me on the BEST HERPING ADVENTURE OF MY LIFE –SO FAR.
STAY TUNED FOR THE VIDEO -I'm having trouble with YouTube
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Maybe it's good I wasn't there. (Yeah...right...)
