Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's been a strange day. A cluster of sheds. 2 L. zonata and 2 T. (probably)atratus--one large, one small for each species--all within a few feet of the others. More interestingly, all within twenty feet of the roadside.

Lossa skinks and alligators and fences. Blah blah blah. Except for a grotesquely knocked-up Eumeces, which was interesting. You could actually see the eggs through the skin on her belly. Rather than vamoose, she waddled away as fast as her little legs would go.(Anybody have input on how to hatch them out if I go back and fetch her home?)

2 Coluber constrictor--both large, adult, robust beauties, one with an attitude that would do a taipan proud.

1 DOR Contia tenuis.

Not that I'm sad to report it because they make me nervous when I'm flipping for other stuff, but there's a dearth of crotalus (so far) this year.

Thass all.

If you cruise Mount Madonna you'll have better luck than most anywhere else in the south county, but you're not going to find zonata on the roadway like you would a crotalus. They are also being found (in the parking lot of all places)at Uvas reservoir. I've seen one of those and they're very black, at least by comparison to the Santa Cruz Mtn and Mt. Hamilton z's.

You asked about locality information on the DOR zonatas. They were located on the road. I hope that doesn't seem like a diss, but a lot of habitat is getting raked over by careless people. For example, someone has traveled the length of Almaden Creek trail and flipped every rock they could find. The aggravating thing is they didn't put anything back. Don't get me wrong--I'm all for kids exploring their world, but on the other hand...

Here's a hint though. If you prowl the area where Page Mill Rd. crosses Skyline and becomes Alpine Rd., you'll see something eventually. This is anecdotal, by which I mean that a lot of people already know it. Also, if you like to live dangerously, try the 1.5 mile stretch of Bear Creek Rd. between Zayante and Summit. The reference to living dangerously will become apparent when you get there. Wear a Cal-Trans vest and don't say I didn't warn you.

No, I'm not whats his name.

Hey-
I breed rosy boas and love field herping as well. I know dozens of spots in san diego (where I live) where I readily find gophers, red diamonds, southern pacifics, speckleds, kings, racers etc. i have been herping one time up north around the greenville area and fund several racers garters and a northern pacific. I was wondering if you would be able to show me some spots in the santa cruz mountains where you have found rubber boas and or zonata, feel free to write me a personal email, or if you could, give me some directions to some great spots. i am seeing a reggae show there in the middle of the month in june and will be there mon-fri, please let meknow asap
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1.1 Oregon rubber boas (02')
1.2 Hypo Borrego rosy boas (99')
1.2 Whitewater rosy boas (00')
1.2 Bay of L.A. rosy boas (98')
1.1 Ensanada Unicolor rosy boas (99')
1.1 Joshua Tree rosy boas (01')
1.1 Yorba linda rosy boas (03')
1.1 Desert Banded geckos

1.0 Holland lop "Pete" (rabbit)
1.1 African dwarf frogs