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Put another log on the fire the cabins getting cold. Montana, at least my end of the state, has been bitter cold. 5〫 for a high the other day, 3〫for the high today.

Gone are the warm days of spring when Jeff Hardwick was here to hunt for Pale milk snakes, and guess the size of a boot.

Old Man Winter has chased any basking turtles under ground to find warmth of some kind, along with even the hardiest Chorus frog. Not even Minnesota Hardwick wants to be here in this weather.

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This old codger has covered every tree and rock with his bitter bite.

The other day I posted this variable looking pair from Yellowstone County, they were thirty yards from each other. Here they are again.

This is the hillside them came from today. 3〫, so cold you wonder how these milks ever survive these harsh conditions today.

This wonderful rock line, which produced milks, bulls, racers, hognose is covered by 5 inches of snow.

Same rock line from above today.

I'm often asked why I like snakes, and other herps. And there are many answers to give to that question. One I've used is, I've gotta respect an animal that is cold blooded and can survive the rough weather here in Montana.

Again, another photo of a hillside today at three degrees, where we found milk, bulls, racers and rattle snakes on warmer days.

Pale milk from the above hillside this spring.

Hognose from close to the same hillside.

A few more serpents from warmer days.
Pale milk from Stillwater County.

Bullsnake from Carbon County. I'll bet she wishes she had that warm tin now.

A nice buzztail enjoying the warmth of a sun-drenched day.

A racer trying to look a lot like a rubber boa, at least in color.

Rubber boa, that came up under a rock to absorb some radiant heat from the sun.

Bundle up ya all. And enjoy your holidays. -Dell

3 friggin degrees! gaawd.

Wow!,.......more cool pics!

Yeah Dell, as you say, there are MANY reasons to like snakes and other animals.

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks Doug,
Glad you enjoyed the post.

-Dell

Fascinating tale in pictures. Might make a good movie. I enjoyed it.

--Dennis

Thanks Dennis,
I don't know about a movie, but its fun to put together a post that I've been thinking about doing for a long time now. I'm still amazed that herps survive the freezing cold at all, let alone thrive.

-Dell

It is pretty bizarre that we humans(allegedly the one's with the brains) would perish in very short order, yet all forms of animals somehow find a way to endure.

again, excellent post my friend!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Cool photo series Dell. It is truly amazing how these animals deal with these conditions and probably one of the many reasons I'm still fascinated by them after all these years.

I think we're all getting the itch already to get out in the field and its only November. A buddy of mine suggested we get out in the field and search for new spots during these cold months which I think will make us feel like we're getting out there and being productive. I thought it was a great idea.

I need something to get me through till spring!

Dave
DNS Reptiles - Milk Snakes

Thanks for such an awesome post Dell! It's great to see outdoor/out-of-deli-cup shots of Western Hognose and Rubber Boas as well as Milks. You've got all my favorites over there in that hill for sure.

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Adam Schroeder

That post makes it seem like you are pining for Jeff Hardwick. Dont get me wrong, great fella, but there has to be a Pam Anderson video somewhere in Montana right??

I'd rather hang with Jeff than Pamela plastic woman....

or is it just me?....

.....
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........JY

Depends on your definition of "hang" is!
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If more colubrid guys had balls (pythons) they wouldn't need to lie in police reports.

www.hognosefarm.com

That's a REAL scary thought!..LMAO!!

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Watch out! Jeff will soon become the kingsnake centerfold model!

.
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Haven't hit single digits here in Maine yet and I'm not looking forward to their arrival. Hate winter and snow. The other seasons make it bearable though... and with everything from the ocean to the mountains to explore here... I can live with one bad season.

A day or two of herping with Jeff Hardwick or anything to do with Pam Anderson for any amount of time... I'd be "pining" for Jeff as well.

Nice little post, shame it really can't ward off the winter months

Gerry

Nice little post, shame it really can't ward off the winter months

Thanks Gerry, and dam you're right, it hasn't helped ward off the winter blues as much as I'd hoped.

There hasn't been any pining for Hardwick but he is enjoyable to herp, and drink beer with, for sure. I don't know where that Pam A. thing even came from, sometime people miss taking their medication.

-Dell

Awesome post Dell, and the pics are superb!

Love that "old man winter" photo!..LOL!

I will guess locality-specific size 11-1/2's..

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks again Doug man,

Yeah I like that old man winter shot too. The boot is a non-locality introduced Texan, by way of Illinois working on his PhD.

-Dell

I still have this sitting in my fish photo line and show it to buddies that need to see a big Snook. Because it is BIG, and always impresses.

Love those ridgeline photos and the one of the old guy

OLD MAN WINTER

Funny thing is in the spring and summer I wish I lived out where you live in Gods country but when I hear about 5 degree temps I am glad I live in So.NY state.We had two 63 degree days this week
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"He's down in the basement staring at his snakes " My Wife

--< : < > < > < > < > < >~~~

Doug L

Thanks Doug,

I like the photo too.

Sometime this 5〫crap gets to me too. But w/ out old man winter❅❄✴❆⚡❈ there
wouldn't be water to fish in in the spring and summer, and the milks wouldn't be as tough as they are now. ☺

-Dell

wow.....good stuff....

so...you guys just lay there and wait for milks to crawl out from under rocks....?...LOL

...the pic just under the Jeff resting pic...snow and water...is there supposed to be a face ,closed eyes smiling in the snow outline there???....see it?...

...thanxx...I hate the thought of snow....and it was just barely sleeting here in S E PA today....

Happy Turkey Day....!!!!!
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........JY

Thanks Jeff,
Glad you liked the post. I wish we had that kind of command of the milks here but unfortunately we have to lift copious amount of rocks to find milks, which will make you lay down when the opportunity arises.

It looks like a face to me, hence the old man winter intro.

Peace,

-Dell

....I just didn't know if it was a face on purpose or not....
I thought it probably was........

Have a Great Day everyone.....

.....I am running to Lester Breininger's Pottery /house soon....

...Redware,....!
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........JY

I'd say that embodied the MT winter, fo sho! Cool post - I wondered what you did last night!

-Cole

What I did last night was try and stay warm. How bout you? What was it last night, like -10〫?

✌ dude.

-Dell

This is the hillside them came from today. 3〫, so cold you wonder how these milks ever survive these harsh conditions today.

Don't they snowbird down to Arizona for the winter?

and guess the size of a boot.

10 1/2 EEE

Great shots.I love the one of old man winter in the snow.

When I lived there at the ripe old age of 19 I loved the winter. Now much older, hopefully somewhat wiser and definitely more arthritic, I don't miss it at all.
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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 Big T,
I think you're right, they do snowbird down to AZ. Huh, never thought of that.

Arthritic: Yeah I feel ya man. I wish I didn't but I do.

Thinking warm thoughts. -Dell

Ouch! Your Arctic blast is bearing down on me right now and we're looking at the black Friday temps dropping to negative 15 (gasp!)with a high of 1 - 10 above. Grrrr.....
On the other hand, it's no problem getting the various cold rooms down to temp and I really enjoy thawing in the snake room.
Fond memories of MT in the spring and I have a hefty stash of vacation time saved already.....I'll buy the beer at Hanks and thrash out a dinner again anytime!!
My platter hefting muscles are "squishy" already.
Nice pics Dell, I assume you're not "on the water" these days?
-Jeff
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Let there be triangulum and lo, the milkhead was born.

Jeff, I knew you'd be getting cold there soon, nice to have the burmation room/s down to a coolish temp.

I did my last trip of the year a couple weeks ago, and fishing was okay to good, and the temps were bearable, thank the lord.

Sounds like you're wintering well. You still suffering from Chinese water torture every work day?

-Dell

Dell,

WAY cool post. It really does make you think how they survive. I am sitting her at 19 degrees and it got me hoping my little yard toad got burrowed nice and good.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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All the above makes these old bones thankfull that I'm in southern California, but I do miss the season changes and the beauty they bring.
theOLDherper
Pete

Woke up this morning to the world as far as I could see covered in a coating of ice... you're much better off it Southern Cal... you want reminders of how pretty the changing seasons can be I'll snap a few pics next time they come around just for you... some things, like the season coming around now, are better off just as a memory.

Gerry

Pete, we can't have it all. I like the changing seasons but would be very happy now for some of that Southern California warmth.

-Dell

Thanks Cindy,
I know what all herps need to do to survive, and it's still a wonder to me how it all works out by spring.

Let's see a photo of your yard toad next spring.

-Dell

>>Thanks Cindy,
>>I know what all herps need to do to survive, and it's still a wonder to me how it all works out by spring.
>>
>>Let's see a photo of your yard toad next spring.
>>
>>-Dell
>>

Will do. He and I have an agreement. He comes out when he hears the lawnmower and he gets to have a meal for free. Every time I cut the grass he comes and sits in the middle of the yard. I pick him up and put him in a cage in my yard so he doesnt get run over. Then I give him whatever insects I have in the house at the time. So far he has been safe and I have had a cute toad to talk to. Named him the uber boring name of Bufo. Needed to call him something.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

I LOVE the west...but I don't think I could deal with socked in snow like that for very long!

Maybe having two places to live is the way to go?

One in the Northwest (for the Summer and Fall) and one in the Southeast (for the Winter and Spring)!

-Rusty