My longtime friend Brad Anderson & I took a trip thru New Mexico & on into West Texas last week. We had a good time, saw a good number of snakes, & talked to & saw several friends. We road cruised and walked some areas over 7 nights & observed the following numbers of snakes:
27 - Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (2 in NM, rest in TX)
5 - Blacktail Rattlesnakes (1 in NM, rest in TX)
4 - Prairie Rattlesnakes
1 - Mottled Rock Rattlesnake
2 - Transpecos Ratsnakes
5 - Great Plains Ratsnakes
6 - Bullsnakes
1 - Hooknosed snake
2 - Texas Longnose snakes
1 - Coachwhip snake
1 - Central Texas Whipsnake
1 - 30" Graybanded Kingsnake
Also, Brad found a adult Great-Plains Skink one night in Hudspeth county, as it was crossing the highway there. We went as far West as El Paso & finished our last night in Terrell & Val Verde counties. The trip was great, other than the gas price shock that everyone endured. We hope to make a trip again next year. Below is photos the 30" male graybanded kingsnake that we found East of Lozier Canyon, in Eastern Terrell county, our last night of the trip, last Saturday, at 11:36pm, 81F.......John F.
My son, John, Chris and a few new herpers herpcamped at Ft. Davis state park for 1 night..I cooked, as usual..Holister complained bout the food (for those that know him he always complains bout something) Anyway that night Chris consumed 2 baked potatos, a steak, half a loaf of French bread, soft drinks, and whatever else he could find in my food box(s). Next morn he took on bout 4 pancakes, coffee, part of a steak and anything else he could find! Then he decides to go for a jog UP the campground hill and jag back down which as he did- he was going so fastI feared he may terip and turn into a human snowball. He then ask whats to eat..and comsumes a couple baked potatos from the previous night, part of a steak and again whatever else he could find. As I do usually carry more food than I need, by the time we got bacxk to Oregon I had to replenish my food stock - 3 times over..but Chris is my old herp'n buddy..if ya see him, tell him to find his way back to my chatroom, #kingsnake.
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