I have been looking for snakes for about 6 months and I've found a few, but usually I'm just hiking around in an area that seems good and I see one on the trail or near the edge. The last 6 or so snakes that I've caught I've really paid attention to the sounds they make when I let them go. I've decided that when you hear a slight breeze, but don't feel one you've found a good sound. Today I was walking in some high grass and I heard the breeze, but nothing was moving. I saw a few birds fly away and thought they were responsible for the noise, but I could still faintly hear it. I tossed a stick in the direction of the sound to see if was a rabbit or bird (very common here), but nothing moved. I decided to investigate and I was about 30 feet off of the trail when I spotted about 5 inches of the snake exposed among the shrubs. When I could get a beter look I saw that it was a Southern Pacific Rattle Snake. It was about 3 1/2 feet long and DARK with a green tint on the bottom (these are very common here also). It never rattled! This is first time I feel like I really found a snake instead of just happening upon one. It was very rewarding.
Jake
