Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone locate Tantilla yet?

Yet? This year? In the three years that I've lived here, I have yet to see one at all. But, if you have the talent for finding them, or even if you don't and you want an extra pair of eyes one of these days, send me an email. I live in San Diego BTW.
Nathan P Hutcherson
foundnph@aol.com

Its on the top of my list of snakes to photograph this year. I have heard the key to finding the black-headed snake is persistence. Also, I have been placing habitat preferences together. One thing keeps popping up, and it is moisture -- moisture from rain or spring. There area east of Scissor Crossing has water, mater fact if I recall correctly, there is a relatively large marshy area there with considerable reed growth. Nathan, I keep you in mind when I travel to San Diego.

Will

The second one I found was about 1000 yards west of the crossing right before the first roadcut. It was at night and I thought it was a night snake. It was about 6 inches long.

The first one I found was walking the dog up Viejas Mt. How I noticed it, I dont know but I didn't even know what it was until I looked it up later.

That's it in 15 years of hunting SD county.

btw, both areas were dry.

>>Its on the top of my list of snakes to photograph this year. I have heard the key to finding the black-headed snake is persistence. Also, I have been placing habitat preferences together. One thing keeps popping up, and it is moisture -- moisture from rain or spring. There area east of Scissor Crossing has water, mater fact if I recall correctly, there is a relatively large marshy area there with considerable reed growth. Nathan, I keep you in mind when I travel to San Diego.
>>
>>Will
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I would see about one a year along San Felipe Creek, east of Scissors Crossing.

Found one in the O.C. about 3 years ago.

I found one in near Lake Elsinore once. It was in March and under a board, the ground was damp.

Roadcruising is the hard way to find them. They are very common in coastal Orange/S.D. counties. You are right about the moisture. The key is to find a rocky hillside in chaparral or desert and start flipping rocks (replace them of course.) You will find the tantilla under rocks laying on dirt. I have found several this way. They are usually laying in burrows under the rocks. You have to be persistent.....you will have to flip a lot of rocks to find one, but you eventually will.

FH

We find them all the time when running our pit traps-one of the most common snakes. I also find quite a few when flipping. They are not always under dry stuff, alof of times its damp, like w/ ring-necks. We find many in the later season (jun-aug., and again in sept-oct). I did find one under a rock about a month ago under dry dirt.

saw one a few days ago, how do you post a pic? need help

Very cold, in the 50's and cloudy. In a couple hours I flipped a neonate rosy, big ruber, and 5 Tantilla - as well as a bunch of lizards, P. regilla, and Batrachoseps. All 5 Tantilla were under one rock (moist underneath) - 2 adults, 3 hatchlings.

WoW!

You really know how to make a person jealous. I haven’t had many opportunities to go and flip rocks lately. But I have been reading about Tantilla and have heard they are gregarious animals. I recall Fundad (Brian) mentioning that he found two under discarded roofing tile last year, about this time of year. Tantilla appear to be relatively widespread and can be found under rocks and boards. To increase the odds of finding one, I am focusing on the Cabazon-Whitewater Canyon Area, an area where there are reports. It would be nice to educate myself as much as possible before heading out to flip rocks. So any additional pointers such as chief vegetation, rock type and other habitat patterns you may have noticed would be helpful information. Even a better place to search than the San Gorgonio Pass region would be helpful.

Will

Fieldnotes@hotmail.com

np