Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We went west for a few days and had some luck. We cruised for ten nights and found these two in ten minutes. Thursday the 9th, after cruising Luna Vista for a few hours, at 11:59 we found the first one (the one with the most orange) on the north hill crossing the road and after doing the alterna boogie, on the next pass, at 12:09, we found the second one, also crossing the road on the north hill.
We saw alot of other snakes and spent some time with good friends in a great place. Hugh (HKM) and his son James (Bigwhitefeet) stayed with us at Wild Horse. Mrs. Hammer and family seem to be doing OK. She was moved by the response from the herp community after the death of her husband. If you are in that area, Wild Horse is a great place to stay.
See You In The Dark
Rick and Melissa

Two scorchers! Last time I was there on the Luna Vista Escarpment (maybe 8 years ago?) there was some road work being done where I thought some of the east-facing cuts were in jeopardy - in fact, I was going to alert TPW about it because those cuts were the only place I have seen reticulatus in TX. Anyway, when I got back home to Phoenix I totally blew it off. How is it through there now? What were the other conditions like temp, wind and pressure when you found those two? Finally, boy, girl, what? Inquiring minds want to know...

RP

The road work did change things but they seem to be getting back to normal. I am happy to say that the population of retics on the north and south hill are still there. There are a few other plces that I have seen them in Brewster and Presidio Co. and they too have been altered by the road crews. That must be a tuff little lizard sinsce they have come back in all of those places also.
The temp when we collected the two alterna was 76.9 and 78.7 degrees with a slight breeze from the north. It rained all around early that afternoon but only sprinkled on Luna Vista.
The one with no orange is a male and the one with the most orange is a female.
See Ya In The Dark
Rick

Thanks for the info. Really nice find. Hope they're both adults and 'together' in a place where they can tango in private...RP

Hey pal,

They look pretty good for a couple of "butt ugly" alterna. LOL!!!! Next trip you need to remember how James and I drove right past both of them so you two could catch something (i.e. It will be our turn). Besides, if we caught them every year one would think this is easy. This year, we will be the celebrities as they only folks who DIDN'T catch one!!

A great week for both of us as it always is whenever we get together. James is now off to poach, oops.... I mean observe, milksnakes in New Hampshire for the rest of the summer.

Happy Father's Day bro!!! Hugh

I particularly like the first one.

Also, 10-4 on Wildhorse and Louise Hammer. Louise always treats us like family and the Wildhorse has to be the most herper friendly Lodging Establishment in all the Trans Pecos. Followed closely by The Outback Hotel in Sanderson which is of course owned by a Herper.

I ought to start a page on the Alterna page for Herp Friendly Businesses in the Trans pecos as a small favor for those that help us out and to point herpers that don't know where to go.

Forky

You know, starting that page is not a bad idea! There are several places in the Bend that are herp friendly. We prefer Wild Horse but we stay at Easter Egg and Longhorn also. They also know what we are doing and are glad to have us.
Another thing we should talk about is etiquette. We need to remember that even though we are there enough to think we are locals, in fact, we are only visitors to their back yard. Being fried by those extra driving lights that we are so proud of or coming over the hill at 60mph to find a car stopped in the middle of the road with the door open and some guy dancing with a skinny dark chick with orange bands sending them into a skid that can only be stopped by a road cut taller than their vehicle will not make them want to welcome you back. I can totally understand both sides since I have danced with that orange banded chick and I have been one of those locals but I think we still need to talk about it. It should be a good time for all of us, but try to consider those in your path, locals and other herpers.
What do you think?????
See You In The Dark
Rick

You bet- Betty at the Longhorn and even the easter Egg have always been great. I think I will start these pages we are talking about.

I also agree we need to work on our image with the locals in Terlingua. (It should be noted that I am both sides of the fence as a land owner in Terlingua).

My two worst herping experiences with locals were both right at Luna Vista.

In the first experience, as I was driving down the road at the bottom in between the hills, shots were fired (at me) from the house and bullets wizzed over my head. This was back when Sunny was sheriff and when I called him to the scene he simply said "I'll talk to them, but they weren't shooting at you otherwise they would have hit you". Sheriff martin Wylie would have none of that these days however, he always takes care of any problem the right way.

The second experience I was walking the Luna Vista cuts with my brother when two large drunk scruffy locals pulled up in an international scout w/o a top and were looking to pick a fight with us two snake hunters. They had a mastiff in the car too, or a rotty, or some large dog which was as imposing as they were.

I was able to BS my way out of that one. The 18" machined aluminum flashlight full of D cells over my shoulder may have had an additional impact on their thought process as they decided against a rumble that night. It still left an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

It was shortly after those incidents that I decided to start looking for some land of my own to herp on. The beauty of owning your own land is that you can legally spotlight for herps from a motor vehicle on your own property if you like. I still prefer walking, but it's fun to cruise around the dirt roads on the property on an ATV and spotlight if I want to.

Sorry for the ramble, but those incidents left a lasting impression on me, and a desire to bring about some change down there. Folks do listen to what I say when I tell them I'm a herper that bought my own land to herp on down there because I was tired of being treated like a red headed step child by the locals. We could go a long way to improve relations in a bunch of counties out west. A few bad herpers ruin it for everyone.

Forky

That's a creat idea, Joe! Your work certainly is appreciated! Thanks,
Todd Hughes
P.s. Where's DinoJay? Found a clutch of eggs in his backyard so to speak and they might be theat illusive speck/desert I been searchin' for!

Todd,
Check your e-mail and send me your phone number. I have some tips for you RE your request.

DinoJay is all over the place, but I don't where at this exact moment. His cell phone is the best way to reach him. I'll give you that number when I talk to you if you don't already have it. He's been seeing some cool stuff down on the coast lately from the last time I talked to him.

Forky

Wow Rick, those are fantastic looking animals!! Congrats again. It was good talking with you out there this year and I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Nathan Wells

Wow a pair of Christmas' in one night, what a great trip. Thanks for sharing the pics.