Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today was the third consecutive day with a reasonable amount of sunshine. So despite temperatures in the low 50's, went out with a graduate student at Ore. St. U. this afternoon. We encountered two juvenile S. All. Lizards, one adult male Rubber Boa, and two juvenile Sharp-tailed Snakes.

This is the 34th straight year I have encountered one or more boas during the month of February in N.W. Oregon.

Richard F. Hoyer

Wow. I am going out tomorrow! I'm on the panhandle of FL, so pretty much- "what the hell am I doing inside?!" Thanks for the inspiration-Brett

nice finds richard, hope you can get down to my area (northern cal.) in march or april/jon

Our plans are to again travel to S. Calif sometime during the last part of April.

Found a second boa this afternoon at a different site when I went back to release the one found yesterday. It was sunny all day and probably reached 55 degrees F. or thereabouts.

Richard F. Hoyer

>>Our plans are to again travel to S. Calif sometime during the last part of April.
>>
>>Found a second boa this afternoon at a different site when I went back to release the one found yesterday. It was sunny all day and probably reached 55 degrees F. or thereabouts.
>>
>>Richard F. Hoyer

Wish we were looking at snakes instead of a couple feet of snow cover. I assume you'll be looking for boas and sharptails in s. CA in April. Do you have a digi, yet, to get pics of those guys?

Later...TC

Terry:
I essentially completed my major efforts with respect to Sharp-tailed Snakes as of the end of Feb., 2002 which ended my 4 year field study of Contia tenuis in Oregon. I will continue to document locality sighting, particularly of the new species (Forest Sharp-tailed Snake) and what possibly appears to be a possible new subspecies I discovered while looking at preserved specimens. I am still in the process of organizing data and preparing a draft to officially describe the new species.

My major efforts with the boa have been to collect evidence that will demonstrate that there are two reasonably distinct size morphs of the species.

No camera as of now as I have left that department up to my sons Ryan and Rich Jr.

The weather has been fickle to say the least. Thursday was totally sunny with a high of 55 when I found the second adult male boa. Yesterday it was totally overcast with a high of 39. Began to rain some in the late afternoon and warm up some. Today is partly sunny and a high expected back into the low 50's. It is forcasted to reach 57 degress early next week and then we will probably see some garter snakes emerge along with the Sharp-tailed Snakes, Rubber Boas and S. All. Lizards. This is what is great about living in Oregon west of the crest of the Cascade Mts.

Richard F. Hoyer

Richard,

Very interesting stuff. I very much want to read your research papers.

I have no experience with the Northwest, but it sounds fantastic. I have a little experience with s. CA. Once we move to AZ in about five yrs. I'll probably make annual trips to CA and maybe up to Oregon. Can't wait.

I might be able to go to AZ in about five weeks for Spring Break. Also, we're planning on doing some investigations on Bois Blanc Island, ongoing, in Lake Huron. I'll be working with a study group on the Butler's Garter Snake this spring too. Other trips will include going to Ohio and possibly some other islands in Lakes Michigan and Erie. Plan to keep busy, haha.

I'll send you an email later. I want to ask you a couple things. Til later then,

Terry

richard,on your way to so. cal you are more than welcome to stop by or call, and we could go to the sonoma county area where ive seen rubbers/jon s.

Jon:
Either on the way down or back, I wish to be able to take elevation and GPS information on the approximate sites where the boas were observed in Sonoma County. Will get in touch with you sometime in April to coordinate plans.

Richard F. Hoyer

Posted by: jon101 at Sat Feb 14 12:14:49 2004 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

richard,on your way to so. cal you are more than welcome to stop by or call, and we could go to the sonoma county area where ive seen rubbers/jon s.