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O/T Herping in the Snake Mtn. Range

niki_athena Aug 17, 2005 09:43 AM

Hello,

Just got back from a 20 mile backpack In the first quarter mile I saw juvenile Great Basin Whiptail and lots of Uta stansburiana, and then a KINGSNAKE! It was so beautiful, my husband gently removed it from a bush and it was as tame as a red tail boa. Okay it was more tame than a wild collared lizard. Makes me wonder if it was someone's pet. I wish I could have kept it, but didn't see any reptiles on the way back due to rain.

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-Nicole

2.1.0 collared lizards
2.0.0 side-blotched lizards
1.0.0 desert tarantula
small tropical fishes

Replies (8)

DeanBright Aug 17, 2005 10:58 AM

Nice finds! Is that an arizona mountain king snake? Were I live in southern Oregon we have the california mountain kingsnake, but they are difficult to find. Are yours very common? Those Uta stansburiana are beautiful but fast little lizards! How long were you gone? Sounds fun, your making me jealous hehehe.

Very exciting,
Morgan

niki_athena Aug 17, 2005 02:17 PM

I called Great Basin National Park and the last time the snake was seen was two years ago in the same canyon. My husband and I feel very lucky we got to see and hold it. I am not sure what kind it is but it sure looks a lot like the photo at the top of the forum
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-Nicole

2.1.0 collared lizards
2.0.0 side-blotched lizards
1.0.0 desert tarantula
small tropical fishes

rhallman Aug 17, 2005 11:14 PM

This is the Utah Mountain Kingsnake, Lampropeltis pyromelana infralabialis. I understand they are considered rare in that area. I live in Henderson (Las Vegas) but have yet to do much "herping" in that part of Nevada. Excellent find and picture. Thank you for sharing.

Randy
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Randy Hallman

niki_athena Aug 18, 2005 09:14 AM

My husband and I lived in Henderson with a friend for a little while while transitioning to Ely.

In fact that is where my little Cory, collaris bicinctores, came from. I caught him at the edge of a housing development on the mountain.

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-Nicole

2.1.0 collared lizards
2.0.0 side-blotched lizards
1.0.0 desert tarantula
small tropical fishes

lizard_lover Aug 18, 2005 06:11 PM

I think I need to move there! Cory is such a cutie, and that snake is so pretty that it might be worth abandoning my job and family to enjoy them, too.

élan
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0.3.0 Collareds
1.0.0 Mali Uromastix
2.1.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Chinese Dwarf Newt
1.1.0 California Newts
1.0.0 White's Treefrog
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
1.0.0 Fire bellied toad
2.1.0 Felines
1.2.0 Canines
1.0.0 Equine

niki_athena Aug 19, 2005 09:13 AM


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-Nicole

2.1.0 collared lizards
2.0.0 side-blotched lizards
1.0.0 desert tarantula
small tropical fishes

jeune18 Aug 17, 2005 11:33 AM

congrats on your cool find! it looks like that trip was alot of fun
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

PHEve Aug 18, 2005 08:17 AM

Hi Niki, out herping again hunh, COOL, love your pics! That snake is a real beauty,it's always nice to see that you and your hubby share this hobby

Hope your feeling well
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PHEve / Eve

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