Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As it is now December and temps are getting cold here in the Bay Area (with some odd, super hot days), I've decided to compile an "End of the Year" post highlighting some of my favorite herping finds. 2011 proved to be quite productive for me here in the Bay Area (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties), with the addition of a few lifers onto my life list of herps seen in the wild. In particular, the lifers in the snake department were the most stunning, both visually and in terms of how long I have waited to see particular species in the wild. Furthermore, alongside finding new spots and habitat to explore, I was also able to meet many fellow herpers. Great year, to say the least. :thumb:

Anyhow, here is a jumbled mix of pictures in no particular order.

(Rubber boa and Coast Gartersnake double flip on a cold, January morning in San Mateo County)

(Western Yellow Bellied Racer flipped under concrete slabs 10 minutes outside of San Francisco, San Mateo county)

(Gorgeous Diadophis from an outting with Ben Witzke in San Mateo county)

(A joint lifer Santa Cruz gartersnake for both Ben and me from San Mateo county)

(I believe I was the first to flip this 2010 yearling "Black Eye" Rubber boa that is now famous on the forums haha--found again in 2011)

(Pacific Gopher Snake- Although I have seen many gophers in the past, I have never flipped my own. Thus, a LIFER.)

(Me with the anaconda from the movie Anaconda)

(Pair of large adult Coluber)

(in-situ boa)

(Pair of San Mateo Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata. Hands down, favorite find of my entire herping career!)

(in-situ/"as flipped" Coluber)

(gravid Coast)

(CA kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula californiaie- LIFER found in 2000ft elevation in Santa Clara county portion of SC mountains.)

(Crotalus hibernaculum within wall of old barn/corral)

(SF Alligator Lizard- LIFER found 15 minutes outside of SF in San Mateo co.)

(Dicamptodon lifer photographed at the Soquel Demonstration Forest Survey in Santa Cruz county)

(Forest SharpTailed Snake LIFER photographed at Soquel Survey)

(CA Slender Salamander found in Golden Gate Park...and everywhere in my back yard)

(Newts breeding in pond)

(CA Red Legged Frog- LIFER)

Some really cool finds, Zach! I really like the little Rubber boa.
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really like the boas

,,,,,,,,,,,thomas davis
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Morphs... just like baseball cards BUT ALIVE, how cool is that???

my website www.barmollysplace.com

Congrats on all the great finds. For me, zonata would be the best find also as I've never found any. Have you ever tried the east bay (alameda county)?

Alameda whipsnake vs fence lizard and a couple of northern pacifics...Dave

I have yet to herp the East Bay on any serious level. I would love to though, as I am born and raise in SF, and no very little of the natural areas in the East Bay. There are some GREAT road cruising spots in the East Bay, where a variety of awesome species can be found- long nose snakes, glossies, etc.

Congrats on all the great finds. For me, zonata would be the best find also as I've never found any. Have you ever tried the east bay (alameda county)?

Alameda whipsnake vs fence lizard and a couple of northern pacifics...Dave

dont know how that happened...

Great year and great finds.

Wow Zach!...you had quite the stellar year with some incredible finds man!........

It's a good thing that anaconda didn't find YOU and have you for a meal like it did with all the expendable clowns in the movie, and then regurgitate you for a later meal..LOL!!

That movie was one of the most ridiculous movies I have ever seen, but then again...which movie (or TV program) isn't that ever involves "snakes"..HAHA!!

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

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

And it gets even better, Doug! Anaconda 3 or 4 was direct to TV and starred David Hosselhoff!

"And it gets even better, Doug! Anaconda 3 or 4 was direct to TV and starred David Hosselhoff!"

LOL!!!......Yeah, I will have to make a point of checking that one out for some sh!*s and giggles. If it stars Hasselhoff it HAS to be another awesome blockbuster emmy winner..HAHA!!

See, because this scary "Lion-burma-conda" looks pretty darn real to me!..HAHAHAHAAH!!!!!

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Great finds and pics zach. But i gotta mention that pair of San Mateo multifasciata is tremendous. You gotta give the whole story again. Did you find the pair together or on seperate days ..or locations?
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There is nothing worse than natural selection.

www.Bluerosy.com

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Congrats Zach. You did have a great year. If I remember, you flipped the Mateo pair together and I can only imagine the smaller is the male and was probably breeding or wanting to breed the female. Just a guess You mean to tell me the anaconda from the movie was fake? Darn. LOL

Joe

Joecop pretty much summed it up, haha. They were flipped under a large, old board on a HOT morning on June 16th, in the Santa Cruz mountain portion of San Mateo County. One was lying ontop of the other when I made the grab for what I though was only 1 snake. Needless to say, I was SHOCKED that I was then holding two of my favorite snake species in my hand! They would not hold still for pictures, so I moved them over to some "newer" boards for pics.

The ringnecked snakes are so cool. Wish they made better pets.

Nice finds. I live around that area too, but I've never gone looking for anything because I wasn't clear on the laws about if you could keep wild caught snakes or not, and because most of the snakes I have encountered when out hiking have been rattlesnakes, and I'm not in a hurry to bother those.

What ARE the laws? And what precautions do you take against rattlers?

A great website that details the rules and regulations of CA field herping is californiaherps.com. Gary Nafis has created (in my opinion) the most comprehensive guide to the native (and non-native) herps of California. Under the "Field Herping" section, you'll find the laws. For the most part, in CA, you need a valid Fishing License to pursue and capture herps (some say even to photograph). There is a bag limit on many species, and strict restrictions on others. Know the rules.

As for rattlers, I just keep an eye out all times. I know where my hands are going. I watch my step. I have a snake hook. Oh, and 20 eyelet steel toe Doc Martens all theway!

Excellent. Thanks for the info!

You are to be commended with such an awesome post!!
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Genesis 1:1

Wow there were some really neat animals you've found! Makes me want to get back in the field or roads. I don't get to do much herping anymore, maybe I'll make a oint to take a couple road trips this spring. Thanks for that cool collection of pics Zach!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Awesome pictures Zach. I think these picures were among my favorites in the last several months. I really loved the ground level, close up shot of the Western Yellow-Bellied on the road...stunning photo man. All of them.