Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just returned today from a another enjoyable trip to West Texas. Here are the day to day results of what my son Chris & I saw, things started slow, but then improved.

Sat., May 31, Arrivved at 277-377 junction around midnight from Rocksprings, No snakes seen tonite on 377 or 277, but at least 9 other vehicles were on 277 that we saw.

Sun., June 1, Went to Sanderson, No snakes here tonite, but did watch .30 of rainfall & nickel to dime sized hail fall around 5:30pm in town that day.

Mon., June 2:
1 - 3' Blacktail Rattlesnake 12:18am, West of Sanderson
1 - 20" Texas Longnose snake DOR 2:45am, East of Sanderson
1 - 15" Gray-Banded Kingsnake 2:57am, East of Sanderson, Chris found this snake.

Tues., June 3:
1 - 3' Blacktail Rattlesnake 9:38pm, West of Sanderson
1 - 14" Great Plains Ratsnake 12:41am, East of Sanderson

Wens., June 4:
1 - 20" Western Diamondback Rattlesnake 9:40pm, West Sanderson
1 - 24" Western Diamondback Rattlesnake 10:10pm, West Sanderson
1 - 3' Western Diamondback Rattlesnake 12:05am, West Sanderson
1 - 2' Mottled Rockrattlesnake 1:57am, East of Sanderson
1 - 15" Great Plains Ratsnake 2:05am, East of Sanderson

Thurs., June 5: Intense Wall clouds & rainstorm passed over Sanderson at 8:15pm, rain was falling, as were temps, so off East we headed on 90. At 15 miles East of Dryden, we overrun the frontal clouds that were tracking E-NE, so we drove through Palma-Lozier but the front caught us, so we sped on to West of Langtry, found 2 snakes less than 5 minutes apart before the front hit us, bringing rain, winds & 10-15 degree temperature drops.
1 - 24" Bullsnake 9:44pm, West of Langtry
1 - 22" Texas Longnose Snake 9:47pm, West of Langtry

Friday., June 6:
1 - 14" Texas Night snake 9:15pm, East of Palma Draw

This was again a very enjoyable trip, but after seeing no snakes the first 2 nights, we were really ready to see some. I would estimate Sanderson received almost .50 rain while I was there last week, but other areas received much more rain than that, which the areas needed badly. Got to see some old & new friends this year including Jeff (aka: Tank/Tanks), Sharon & Chris Adams, Gerry Salmon & Mary, Shannon Brown, Aaron Matheson, Roy Engeldorf (New Owner of Outback Oasis Motel in Sanderson), Jason Pinney & family, Tom (aka: Coach) & Maureen Eisele. The fajitas that Tank & Sharon made were the Best I ever ate & everyone that had them will never forget that meal.

The photo of the dark blairs is unfortunately a little blurry, but was taken "in-situ", as it was found on a cut by my son Chris.

Here is a "in-situ" or as it was found lepidus that was on a rockcut East of Sanderson last Wensday nite.

Nice to see the pic of the alterna crawling the cut, even if it is a little blurry. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing the photo and notes. Sounds like you had a fun trip too. Rain was heavy near Comstock during the same days, but south in Coahuila. Comstock area got sprinkles. Awesome shot of the alterna in the cut. I didn't know hwy 90 still produced with all of the traffic. My dad hunted there alomost thirty years ago!