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I found this guy today (I actually have no idea if it is a guy or not) while I was hiking in southern CA. It has been in the high 70s here at the coast for the past few days. I found him in within about 10 yards from a spot I suspect is used as a den site. I look forward to finding out if it actually is.

I can't see very far in there, so short of seeing snakes go in and out is there a way to determine if you have found a den site? I've seen some of these guys in the immediate area this summer, and there have been a few sheds around.

This guy was out and about when I saw him, I don't know what he was doing, but I was not expecting to find snakes that active right now. I don't have a good reason for not expecting that - I just sort of thought the snakes mellowed out around now.

see ya,

Jake

Nice pix. You should be able to tell if it's a den if there's lots of activity. Your temps sound warm enough. I would think they would hang around the entrance some in the fall and more in the spring. Maybe you could even put some plywood or something down for them to hide under.

I made a post about massasaugas on another forum and why they're gathering in certain places at different times of the year, you might be interested in.

TC
massasaugas

Hey Terry
Never been in or near massasauga habitat. Interesting info.

Do hobbiests often keep these?

Hi, Mark. Thanks.

Michigan is a nice state to be in the months of June-August. My group and I see a lot of massasaugas 'cus it's one of our priorities on field trips, we have good locations, and several in our group are grad students with projects. However, this snake is protected in Michigan and throughout its range, I believe. You can only keep them with a permit in MI, and nobody in my group has been able to get a permit. I did help a zoo person collect a couple with her permit and also located some for the DNR to show them one of our locations still had the snake.

I don't know if there are any hobbyists keeping this species. Several herpers have asked me through the years for specimens, but I have to turn them down because of the protected status. I would think the snake would be very rare in collections because of the protection, but there may be some grandfathered in from earlier times when they weren't protected. I think it would be a lot easier to get Western massasaugas. I don't think they're protected as much.

Later....TC

>>Hey Terry
>>Never been in or near massasauga habitat. Interesting info.
>>
>>Do hobbiests often keep these?

I'll keep an eye on it for sure! I'm sure I will be posting pictures if anything exciting happens.

Jake

found a few crotes in november but from what I remember, most of them were around the beginning of the month. I do however reminding a cal king in decmeber around the 15th, it was flipped so it very may have been brumating in the brick pile, still a fun find when you gotta have pants, a sweatshirt and a beanie and still find a herp, lol Jon

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FREEDOM PEACE UNITY ONE LOVE
Rosy boas
1.0 01' Hypo borrego
0.1 97' San Gabriel
1.0 04' San Gabriel
0.1 00' Whitewater
1.0 01' Whitewater
0.1 03' Yorba linda
1.0 04' Hypo Whitewater
0.1 04' Het hypo Whitewater
1.2 05' Cerbats
1.1 05' Wide stripe trivs
1.1 05' Hemets
1.1 05' Het limburgs
1.1 05' San Felipes

1.1 02' Oregon rubber boas

>>found a few crotes in november but from what I remember, most of them were around the beginning of the month. I do however reminding a cal king in decmeber around the 15th, it was flipped so it very may have been brumating in the brick pile, still a fun find when you gotta have pants, a sweatshirt and a beanie and still find a herp, lol Jon
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>>FREEDOM PEACE UNITY ONE LOVE
>>Rosy boas
>>1.0 01' Hypo borrego
>>0.1 97' San Gabriel
>>1.0 04' San Gabriel
>>0.1 00' Whitewater
>>1.0 01' Whitewater
>>0.1 03' Yorba linda
>>1.0 04' Hypo Whitewater
>>0.1 04' Het hypo Whitewater
>>1.2 05' Cerbats
>>1.1 05' Wide stripe trivs
>>1.1 05' Hemets
>>1.1 05' Het limburgs
>>1.1 05' San Felipes
>>
>>1.1 02' Oregon rubber boas

We shall find out next Spring, eh? Nice picture. Sure glad the area isn't going to be developed. That is a rare situation anymore.

I wish our local Cal kings looked like the one rootsrok posted.

Last year I was in the same place we hiked and found this one...

I usually NEVER find what I am looking for but that day I did. A friend of mine was at my house checking out my snakes and such and started talking about how he only sees rattlesnakes and would like to see some of "the cool stuff that wont kill you!" I tried not to make him feel stupid and told him to get in the car. We were driving to particular spot of mine that I have had wonderful luck in finding 3 species (pituophis, hypsiglena and getulus) I asked him of all snakes what he wanted to find and immediatly he said "A KING!" I told him i'd see what I could dig up. low and behold after about 2 neonate gopher snakes and a baby helleri, we found the king! My buddy had a tank set up and everything, but something was wrong. I was so amped about finding it, it almost had the hypo vibe, and I dont usually care for cal kings too much. I couldnt tell you how shocked I was when he said hey, how come it isn't black and white, that BASTARD! I couldn't beleive I had just found probably the coolest looking coastal king of my life and he had to say that! I said fine, took 2 pics, put the snake back under the board and we left, needless to say, I have not been herping with him again. So in answer to the comments, that is definalty not a typical cal king, especially from that area.

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FREEDOM PEACE UNITY ONE LOVE

Keeping lichanura trivirgata since 2000