Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It has been a while since I added anything here or just plain showed off.

Here are a couple Santa Barbara zonata. You do not see many of these in captivity. A tough locale to find in the wild. They tend to be more red than other coastal pops.

A central Sierra zonata hatchling

A couple Chiricahuan Mtn locale pyros

My first Applegate no black pyro.

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Rick Staub

A tough locale to find in the wild

Not to ask a stupid question. But why are these tough to find in the wild? Are they tougher than Santa cruz area multfasciata or Snata Monica mtn pulchra?

is it because there are not many known spots? There is no typical habitat like rock outcrops? Are they typically found only under A/C? Is distribution is spotty? Or is it just because nobody looks for this locale?
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www.Bluerosy.com

Definitely more difficult than Santa Cruz. The habitat is steep and rocky. They use the rocks but the weather pattern is rarely suited to flipping them there. Probably on par with the Santa Monica range for difficulty but with less access. Back in April 1995, three of us hiked for 4 days to find one animal. Interestingly, this population goes all the way from the ocean to the Grapevine on Interstate 5.
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Rick Staub

I have hiked known spots in Santa Barbara just outside the city while on vacation near there, and there is alot of pristine habitat. One outing I tried to get to a number of huge sunlit sandstone outcrops in the distance, but the chaparral was extremely difficult to navigate through - it stopped me. I've got to hand it to folks that have found snakes there - it cannot be easy. I tried the stream-side intstead. Didn't see anything but I know they exist there.

I did get access to private land on two occasions in north-west Santa Barbara county, unfortunately at not the best time of year to see snakes, but I went ahead anyway to get familiar with the habitat. Easier habitat to walk in, mainly because of the fire roads that allow a hiker to get to the areas you want to get to much quicker. I found many burrows and lizards under flat sandstone at various spots. I also found fresh big cat tracks on a fire road that went through an area flanked by low sandstone outcrops. Erie feeling being there and knowing the cat had been there, especially since I was alone. I found myself looking over my shoulder constantly after that, and it kept me from going off trail to the giant outcrops in the distance. A few zonata specimens have been found in a campground a few miles from this spot. Again, I really admire anyone who knows how to hunt these areas.
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Mark

Beuatiful snakes Rick!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

>>Beuatiful snakes Rick!
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>>King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
>> J Sierra
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Rick Staub

Man!, those are REALLY sweet Rick!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>Man!, those are REALLY sweet Rick!
>>
>>
>> ~Doug
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>>"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"
>>
>>my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com
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Rick Staub