Iowa Herping 5/09

[guidofatherof5]

4 of my kids and myself made a 25 minute drive to a place called Wilson Island. We have always found plenty of T. sirtalis here. For the first time I got skunked. The only Thamnophis was this dead radix. This was the first time I've ever found a radix at this location.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/P5090003_Quick_e-mail_view.jpg

Then we found this beautiful Bull Snake(Pituophis melanoleucus) along the road. She was very calm and spent the next couple hours with us before we released her.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/gabbybull.jpg

Here's a look at the area. Lots of frogs for the Garters here.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/wilson.jpg

This is the roadside area we usually find many T.sirtalis No such luck this day:(
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/wilson1.jpg

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow neat bull snake!!!! great pics:)

[drache]

that bull snake was a nice find
lovely area there - thanks for the photos

[Jeff B]

Sweet bull!

[guidofatherof5]

Sweet bull!

It was hard putting this girl back. The fact I think she had bred already and that it's illegal for me to keep her made it an easier call. It was still difficult. I've always been very fond of Bull snakes. Had a 6 footer as a child.

[gregmonsta]

She's a fabulous size :) good find.

[guidofatherof5]

Everytime we held her she gave us this very faint hiss. She never showed any aggression to me or my kids. She tolerated us.

[Sid]

Nice find, Steve. That habitat looks great for herps.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice find, Steve. That habitat looks great for herps.

It's a great place except for the over abundance of TICKS
I hate ticks. I don't go deep woods herping because of that.

[Sid]

Sounds like some of my spots, Steve. The only thing I hate more than the ticks are chiggers.:mad:

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I thank god every day that we don't have chiggers where we live! :o

[guidofatherof5]

Thought I would post a few more photos from our outting.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/bull2.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/bull6.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/bull4.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/bull7.jpg

[count dewclaw]

Wow, much better idea of just how big the bull snake is that you found. Thanks for sharing.

[prattypus]

See, call me a wuss, but I would have hated to take a hit from her

[Stefan-A]

Very nice Pituophis. :)

[guidofatherof5]

See, call me a wuss, but I would have hated to take a hit from her

When I first saw her I thought she was going to tag me good. The nice thing about that is once she has a hold of me I can get a hold of her much more easily. My kids stand back and say things like 'This ones going to get him" and once I'm tagged they're concerned about the snakes welfar. What about dad?

[Snake lover 3-25]

ha ha great pics:)

[Sid]

When I first saw her I thought she was going to tag me good. The nice thing about that is once she has a hold of me I can get a hold of her much more easily. My kids stand back and say things like 'This ones going to get him" and once I'm tagged they're concerned about the snakes welfar. What about dad?
Steve, When I do get "tagged" and one of the boys are with me, there's no concern for the snake. Just a big horse-laugh for my efforts.

[guidofatherof5]

Steve, When I do get "tagged" and one of the boys are with me, there's no concern for the snake. Just a big horse-laugh for my efforts.

Yeah, I forgot to say something about the laughter. They ask if it hurts, laughing all the time:D You would think that after seeing Dad tagged so much that they would jump right in after some of these snakes, but noooo! I must admit, my daughter Gabby jumped in the lake last year after a T.sirtalis and caught him.:eek: That's my girl.