Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Got out last week, and found a few things on the move. I'm guessing this Striped Racer is the same one I found while on an outing w/ my probation youth guys. I used to be an activities coordinator for a probation facility. My boss loved me cuz most of the outings I took the boys on were hiking & herping (& were routinely under budget). Back in 2006 on an overcast May day I flipped a Striped Racer in the exact same place under the exact same shet of metal as this one. I believe this is the same snake. If so, it's nice to see that he's managed to avoid predation and apparently been thriving since last our paths crossed.

reako45

Took my daughter out right after it rained to flip tin in a spot where I've found Kings and flipped this little Night snake. It was under a small metal box that my daughter wanted to flip, but I was going to pass up cuz it looked too small. I'd heard we had them in Chatsworth (from friends who'd found them), but in 2 years of serious hunting had never been able to find one.

reako45

The Nightsnake again.

reako45

My daughter's target species: She loves these for some reason. Thank God for kids that are easy to please.

reako45

Always good to see an old friend, meet a new one and have your kids easily amused! all in all, a great herping day! congrats on finding the Hypsi!
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Todd Hughes

Yeah, I really like those little skinks too when they still have a blue tail. Nice post, man!! I also found me a Striped Whipsnake (I hate calling them Racers. lol) the other day. They are pretty tough to find out in the parts of Riverside where I hunt. I haven't found one out there in 3 years! I see more Tantilla and Coachwhips then them. Its been really slow in Riverside Co. as far as board flipping goes this year, but I've still found a few cool looking snakes. Its just taken a lot of hunting though. It was nice and moist out there a month ago but that's still too early to see things because of the night time lows. Now that the temps have stabilized and are warm enough, its too dry in most places. Same thing happened last year. Hows it been out your way?
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You hit the nail on the head, Ross, w/ your description of the conditions in Riverside. Things have been pretty similar out this way too, and I'm sensing that's the case all over (except maybe out in San Diego). We hit Kern County & the Lake Isabella (for boas) area, and got skunked except for a Nightsnake and a Coachwhip. I haven't seen any Kings or Gophers in this area. Both those snakes were found either right before rains or right after rains. Happy herping.

reako45

Ever try and keep one of those?
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Mark

Cool stuff man! I especially like the racer

Dan Eby

Nice find!

Matthew