We only found 2 snakes and both of them had huge meals in them. Both were also juveniles. We did find evidence that the snakes, in general, were on the move by the tracks we found in the dirt of the road we were walking.
This San Diego Gopher was the first snake we found and was about 2 feet long. It was late in the day and the snake was probably heading someplace to digest the obvious meal it had just consumed.
After it got bored with the photo shoot the snake turned tail and scrambled up this embankment that had a 90 degree vertical slope. Even with the meal that snake had no trouble getting up the slope quickly. It blew me away to watch this animal do this.
On heading back, which I didn't want to do, we ran into another herper in one of the tunnels. (This can be un nerving sometimes because the area is frequented by illegal immigrants.) He mentioned that he found a small Rattlesnake earlier in the day. I offered him a ride back to his car and asked him if he could show me where he saw the snake in the off chance that it was still there.
As it turns out... it was still there after I don't know how many hours. It also had a big meal in it. The snake was a Red Dimondback Rattlesnake that was about a foot and a half long. Unfortunately, it also looked like it was opaque.
I can't get enough pictures of these also.
Some herps are just a blast to photograph and Rattlesnakes are one of them.
All in all it wasn't a bad herpin' trip. It was nice to get out.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
