Went out herping with Ryan (serpentryan) yesterday in St Charles Co, MO. I was hoping to see a Gram's Crayfish Snake and/or a Plains Leopard Frog, both new species for me. The first snake found was the biggest Northern Water Snake I've ever had the pleasure of catching. The next snake found I thought had to be another Nerodia due to the sheer size of the section of body I could see. I went ahead and grabed ahold of it, but due to thick brush I still couldn't see most of the snake. The stripes I could see told me crayfish snake but it was just too big. I expected a big water snake head to come out and give me a good bite at any second. Insted a tiny little crayfish snake head poked out and comfermed my first Gram's Crayfish Snake. After a long photo session we released the very large, very gravid crayfish snake back where she was found. Later I went on to catch my first Plans Lepord Frog. Not a bad day herping for July in MO.
A big thanks goes out to Ryan for letting me in on his crayfish snake spot.
Mike
