Reptile & Amphibian Forums

After reading, many herp-hiking reports I got the itch to hike again (this was mostly Jeff's fault, quit posting those dang rosy pics! lol). I have gotten tired of seeing ruber after ruber behind the house so I decided to drive up to western Riverside Co. Nothing special, in fact it was a well-known spot. Parked the wife’s SUV, saw a dead by road Speckled on the way up the hill. Some guys in a maroon 4x4 were leaving as we were getting there, they could have killed it; it looked gravid too. Anyway, the wife read while I worked my way up the canyon, back and forth across a nice wash.

Stirred up a couple field mice and a Pack Rat. Stuck to the trail after a while because it was getting rougher in the wash and the weeds were high enough that I could not get a clear look of where my foot was going to be next. I'm not smart enough to be afraid, but I try to be careful. I stepped off the trail about one good pace to shine a light under some flat pieces of broken concrete and to survey the wash below. As I shinned the light I disturbed a rattlesnake under a piece of concrete to my left a few feet. I didn’t see it but it let me know it was there.

As I was about to step back up to the trail and to the left to get a better look, something made me look behind me towards the trail. About a 4’ ruber had just come over the trail burm and was about 18 inches directly behind my feet, crawling towards my feet and left. About the time I turned to see him he saw me too and jumped back into a half coil (he was pissed). This gave me a chance to dance right as he then danced left. He then went under the concrete with the other one (probably a pair?). At that moment, my thoughts were more with getting a good look at the second snake under the concrete (never got a look). However, after a little more hiking, it struck me what a close call that was. I have NO desire to be on Venom ER. I did a few “praise the Lord’s” and “thank you Jesus” on the walk back to the car.

I’ll take someone else with me next hike. The only other snake that night was a Longnose at about 9:00PM. I also forgot the camera so no pics, sorry.

sounds familiar, rick. last week i was in the sierras walking a granite dome when i heard loud rattling. a adult oreganus had crawled out from a rock crack and was about 3 feet crawling next to me. too close for me/jon

I usually herp alone alot,its storys like that though that make think sometimes it would be better to be with someone incase of a bite.Glad you didnt get hit though,
jeff

Jon and Jeff,
I usually hike alone too, I have made a few stupid mistakes over the years (put my hand on a Speck years ago rock climbing and but my hand on a baby ruber this year flipping a small rock) but for the most part I try to be very aware of where my feet are going (don't step someplace if you can't see what is there). It just never occured to me that, at high movement times, the snakes could be coming to me, not realizing I was there. It was a good reminder to watch where my feet go, even if it is where I just was. Good luck herping.

I definately agree with you Jeff. A couple weeks ago I took a nasty spill while herping and split my head open. Thankfully I wasn't alone.
It just goes to show, you never can be too careful!!
Glad you're OK Rick!
Ryan

hey,ryan did actually take a good spill,and one of the worst head gashes I've seen from herping,man it must of hurt for a little,I bet the next day was probably worst huh..?,I fell once when i was photographing rubber boas 2 years ago.I was sitting on this rock,stepped off to the side and the pineneedles slipped from under my feet,fell a good 10 feet or so-(not straight down,was a sliding fall) got soem nice rasberrys on my hips and tore my thumb nail half off,that sh*t hurt man,lol.Good times,good times.
jeff

Thanks for giving deeper details on my battle scar Jeff!! It's always nice to know that someone will be there to further humiliate you. Lol!
Ryan

Now you got us interested. Got any pics? lol
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Steve W.

You asked Steve!!
Ryan

LOL. Man that is sick. I was only kidding. I never thought you would have a pic of it. Yuk.
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Steve W.

OUCH !

That must have hurt !

Interesting story but I stepped out of the truck only about two inches from this cotton. It did not strike and I took this photo to show how close I almost came to stepping directly on it which would have caused it to perhaps strike. I was watching the water and not the road. Who would of thought of all the millions of places to stop that this would be sitting there?

Dan

One spring a few years back in Jasper County myself and my friend Brad (Stretchx) were walking towards an abandoned house to search for snakes (whoda thunk it). THe honeysuckle was so thick we were stepping down into it about five or six inches and conesquently, could not see where we were walking.

I stepped forward and Brad stopped me and said "Look out". I looked between my legs and in the honeysucckle I could make out a chevron.

Brad was at the head and he pulled out what turned out to be about a four foot canebrake.

weatch yer feets, fellars!

Chris