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Well, it's mid-January out here in California, so why not find a mountain king?! Actually, I wasn't trying to find a king, but instead a black salamander. However, we were looking for the sallie at a spot that I knew should someday produce z's. Wish granted! But who woulda' ever thunk it'd be on January 15th?

She's a gorgeous coast animal from the northernmost part of their range. I've only found a handful of animals from San Mateo Co., so today was something special. After a few belly scutes, and a tail tip she went on home.

Unlike on the milk snake forum, I correctly posted this at the kingsnake forum. Enjoy the rest of the winter everyone!

Mitch

Wow, just wow! That's ....wow! One of the nicest wild caught snakes I have ever seen, so very clean! Did I say WOW?
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Todd Hughes

Lovely animal. Thanks for sharing the find and leaving it where found.
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

>>Well, it's mid-January out here in California, so why not find a mountain king?! Actually, I wasn't trying to find a king, but instead a black salamander. However, we were looking for the sallie at a spot that I knew should someday produce z's. Wish granted! But who woulda' ever thunk it'd be on January 15th?

>>She's a gorgeous coast animal from the northernmost part of their range. I've only found a handful of animals from San Mateo Co., so today was something special. After a few belly scutes, and a tail tip she went on home.
>>
>>Unlike on the milk snake forum, I correctly posted this at the kingsnake forum. Enjoy the rest of the winter everyone!
>>
>>Mitch

Great Photos Mitch, was it out in the open, or did you uncover it. And was the sun out. That really seems early in the year concidering the weather we have been having. I Know the San Mateo Area, You must have been above the cloud line. The Costal Z's seem to be really clean in that area.
Thanks for posting.
Bob

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Wow Mitch, she is a looker too!! That is so crazy to find in January. I was just talking with Phil Patton about this yesterday ,after reading FR's response to a post about brumation. He had stated he had found mountain kings at all times of the year. Guess he was right!! Awesome find and thanks for the pics and insight.

droooool!

Did you find it under A/C, sandstone, rock?
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www.Bluerosy.com

"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8".

"They that can give up essential liberty, to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety." -Benjamin Franklin

Thank for the comments. She was found under rock in a natural habitat. I've found that black salamanders prefer natural cover, as opposed to boards and tarp. Therefore, I was trying my hardest to find areas that consisted of nothing but natural rock piles surrounded by grass. The sun was definitely not out, and the temps were in the low-fifties. She was a January dummy!

Mitch

>>Thank for the comments. She was found under rock in a natural habitat. I've found that black salamanders prefer natural cover, as opposed to boards and tarp. Therefore, I was trying my hardest to find areas that consisted of nothing but natural rock piles surrounded by grass. The sun was definitely not out, and the temps were in the low-fifties. She was a January dummy!
>>
>>Mitch

Thanks for the reply.
Bob B

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Nice find, and wow is she a looker! It's kinda of a bummer that
such a nice looker, with few scars, as far as the photo shows,
had to give up the tip of her tail, for science?
Thanks for sharing, and great pics Mitch.
Stories like this are what help me get through winter.
-Phil
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Work is the curse of
the drinking class!