Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just as my Pituophis hobby is winding down for the year, along comes this little gem (a 2010 neonate Sonoran). Found during a short hike in the desert late yesterday afternoon.

Sweet find, what a way to end the season.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Thanks Bigtat!

Nice quote too. Here's a similar one from the late John Wayne: "Life is hard, it's even harder if you're stupid"...

Always a nice find anytime of year. Its over already up here in UT. We had snow last Monday and Tuesday.

Jason

When I was younger and lived in other places, I tolerated snow and cold weather. Then I moved to the Sonoran Desert and never looked back...

Sweet Find! I wish we had Pits here in Charlotte, but then again, many would love to have Eastern Kings and Black Rats where they live... Beautiful snake!
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BULLS: Pr normal (KS&TX), 1 Pr Northern (M Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada & F Minn), Pr Kankakee Co, Ill, CORNS: Pr Okeetee, SC, FOXES: Pr Western, KINGS: Pr Black Eastern (L.g.nigra) Todd Co. KY, Pr. NC Eastern Chains-NC (M from Union Co. & F from Mecklenburg Co.), Pr."Goini", Franklin Co. Fla, Pr. Costal Cal (M Hypo & F normal) Pr Speckled, Harris Co. TX, PINES: Pr Louisiana (pure descendants of Terry Vandeventer stock), Pr Southern (F light & M leucistic), PYTHONS: Pr normal Ball, RATS: Pr Black, Henderson Co. NC, Pr (M White Side & F Leucistic), F Western Green (Mt. Hopkins, Cochise Co. AZ), OTHERS: 10 Tarantulas, 150 Orchid plants, 40 assorted tropical plants and violets, 3 Freshwater Planted Aquariums with West African Dwarf Cichlids and 2 condo-porch gardens with Bonsai, Roses and etc...

You're not very far from populations of northerns but they can be and are, notoriously hard to find. As for gophers, they seem to be abundant in a variety of habitats and are relatively easy to find. My first ever wild caught snake was a three foot eastern king (May, 1969 in east/central Virginia). Never will forget my first black rat either...

Very cool. Great looking little Sonoran. Neo Gophers seem to be out in pretty good numbers this time of year, at least here in the SFV. I've run into a couple (no pics) just getting some excercise hiking. My friend even found one in the hallway of his apartment in Warner Center!

reako45

Thanks Reako! I've heard of neonate Sonorans here active well into November but I'm always amazed when I find one of these tiny gems free ranging in the vastness of the Sonoran Desert.