FINALLY! First snakes!

[ssssnakeluvr]

I finally found my first snakes!!!!! I went to do a show with my friend's Reptile Rescue and the farm it was on had a garter snake den! the little snakes were coming out and crawling about. we caught close to 50 of them. most were released after the show, we kept a few for the rescue and I kept a couple nice looking ones....plus 2 hypermelanistic males!!!!! my daughter Nikki found them!!! OF COURSE there will be photos....will take them tomorrow before work and get them posted. These are wandering garters, got more distinct striping than the ones here in SLC. these guys were found in northern Utah. We also made a pit stop on the way home to look for valley garters, only found one male...yes, will post pics of him too!!!!!!:D

[adamanteus]

Sounds like you had a great day, Don. Looking forward to those pictures.

[drache]

that sounds like so much fun
can't wait to see the photos

[Sid]

Congratulation, Don. Can't wait for the photos.

[zooplan]

hey Don,
even the indiction of photos is exciting:D

[GartersRock]

Oh, oh!! Are any for me? lol! =)
Amanda

[ssssnakeluvr]

yea....got 1 girl and 2 boys for ya....total of 4 snakes :D may look for another female here in the valley.

[anji1971]

Alright Don!! See, all that waiting for the snow to leave was more than worth it!;)

[ssssnakeluvr]

yes....turned out better than I expected....I have 2 females from that den that are in with the 2 males, hoping that they carry the genes for the hypermelanism.

[SerpentGirl]

Congrats! :D

[GartersRock]

yea....got 1 girl and 2 boys for ya....total of 4 snakes :D may look for another female here in the valley.

Whoot! I am jumping up and down here!! :D:D:cool:

[Snaky]

Looks like you had a great time! Don't forget the pics ;)

[bulrush]

What does "hypermelanistic" mean?

[NikkiSixx]

thanx dad for saying that i cought the snakes!!!!!!:D love ya!!!

[ssssnakeluvr]

OK, OK...here's the pics......

female
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/female_3_1.jpg

another female
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/female_1_1.jpg

another shot of the same female
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/female_1_2.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/female_2_1.jpg

[ssssnakeluvr]

male #1
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_1_2.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_1_1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_1_3.jpg

male #2
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_2_1.jpg

[GartersRock]

Way cool!!!!!

[ssssnakeluvr]

male #3
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_3_1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_3_2.jpg

male #4
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_4_1.jpg

male #5
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_5_1.jpg

[ssssnakeluvr]

male #4
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_4_2.jpg

male #6
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/male_6_1.jpg

[ssssnakeluvr]

my 2 hypermelanistic males.....

#1, full stripes, real cool looking!!!! :cool:
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/hm_1_1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/hm_1_2.jpg

male #2....much more black!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/hm_2_1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/hm_2_2.jpg

[ssssnakeluvr]

these wandering garters have more distinct stripes than the wanderings found here in the Salt Lake valley. real nice snakes!!!!! I have the 2 hypermelanistics in with 2 females from the same den, hoping they carry the same genes!!! :rolleyes:

[ssssnakeluvr]

and here's some shots of the valley garter I caught.....he's still a little dirty from coming out of hibernation.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/valley_3.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/valley_1.jpg

close up of tongue shot
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/medium/valley_2.jpg

head shot
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/valley_4.jpg

belly shot....lots of orange!!!!! (and musk....little snot musked me bad! also, found out that clorox wipes remove the musk smell from your hands!!!!)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/valley_5.jpg

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

nice, i always use lemon juice but to get of them musk smell

[Sid]

Very nice finds and photos, Don. I really like the Valley Garter.

[anji1971]

Wow, incredible finds, Don! Love the hypermelanistics!

[drache]

fantastic, Don
the hypermelanistics - amazing

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

omg, WOW! those are some really gorgeous wanderings!

[ssssnakeluvr]

Thanks! love them myself!!! here's the (finally) first garter from the Salt Lake valley....lone male at a den site.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/wandering_1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/wandering_2.jpg

[drache]

waiting for his date to show . . .

[NikkiSixx]

yeah you found another!!!!!!! how exciting!!!!:D:D:D

[Thamnophis]

Nice finds! I'm jaleaous

[NikkiSixx]

ohh yeah!!!! jkjk

[GarterGirl]

Awesome find!!