Backyard Ranch herping 2010

[guidofatherof5]

Late afternoon today, Gabby came in and said she found 3 snakes. I went out back with her to the prairie grass area. She turned over a plastic stepping stone(I had put it there as a snake hide) There were only 2 snakes, now. Very nice dark brown phase radixes, a male and female. I took a few photos and had her return them to their hide. When she turned the hide over, the third snake had returned. It was a male lite phase radix. 80 degrees here and the radixes are on the move.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/gabby.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/gabby11.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/gabby2.jpg

[prattypus]

I know that's what I saw this weekend, now I have to stalk the creek to try and see her.

[guidofatherof5]

I was over at an elderly neighbors house trimming her lawn and came across a very nice looking male radix. He's a brown phase and the brown is very pronounced. His head is kind of a yellow/brown. I've got a female named Brownie. I think these two should get together. He's in quarantine for now and I'll do a full evaluation of him over the weekend. I like the brown phase radix, unless it's that dull brown I see so much of. This male has great color. Photo to follow.

[guidofatherof5]

My youngest daughter Hailee located these beautiful brown phase female. The brown phase has been dominating the area. This bigger female even has a brown head(never seen a brown head before) and a lot of brown in her facial scales. The photos don't do them justice. I wish these photos came with smell-O-vision. Both snake musked me a lot. I'm not sure what they've been eating but boy was their pungent.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/brown_phase.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/brown_phase_1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/brown_phase_2.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Both snakes are eating and adjusting well. The larger one is hand feeding. The smaller will be returned to the yard, that's if my daughter Hailee allows it:D The larger will be staying for awhile.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/brown_phase.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/brown_phase_2.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

You're playing right into their hands. You're doomed. They got you.

[guidofatherof5]

You're playing right into their hands. You're doomed. They got you.

Lovin' every minute of it.:) I have the most beautiful radixes right in my neighborhood. Right outside my front door.

Radixes are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.:D

[ConcinusMan]

Sometimes the chocolate is actually brown, huh?

[guidofatherof5]

This evening I made a special trip out to the backyard to locate some earthworms and slugs. While out by my wood pile I came across these two beautiful radixes.
This first photo shows a strikingly good looking girl.
Both snakes dump a load of musk on me. Both were returned to the my outside enclosure(the wild). I'll see them again as the year goes on.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/log.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/log1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/log2.jpg

[Kevinh583]

My youngest daughter Hailee located these beautiful brown phase female. The brown phase has been dominating the area. This bigger female even has a brown head(never seen a brown head before) and a lot of brown in her facial scales. The photos don't do them justice. I wish these photos came with smell-O-vision. Both snake musked me a lot. I'm not sure what they've been eating but boy was their pungent.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/brown_phase.jpg



She sure is beautiful. Definately one of my favorite looking snakes from what I've seen so far.

[ConcinusMan]

This evening I made a special trip out to the backyard to locate some earthworms and slugs. While out by my wood pile I came across these two beautiful radixes.
This first photo shows a strikingly good looking girl.
Both snakes dump a load of musk on me. Both were returned to the my outside enclosure(the wild). I'll see them again as the year goes on.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/log.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/log1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/log2.jpg

Eeeeew, gross steve!

[guidofatherof5]

They were just trying to make a point.:eek:
The problem for them is I don't care. Been musked too much to care.:D

[Snakers]

They were just trying to make a point.:eek:
The problem for them is I don't care. Been musked too much to care.:D
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL!I've been musked so many times I can barely smell it.

[guidofatherof5]

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL!I've been musked so many times I can barely smell it.

Oh, I can smell it.
I just like it now.:eek:

[Snakers]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/screwy.gif^.....................lol

[guidofatherof5]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/screwy.gif^.....................lol

That's "The http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/screwy.gif Garter Snake Guy"

[Snakers]

IS that what your neighbors refer to you as?

[guidofatherof5]

IS that what your neighbors refer to you as?

No, that's what me kids call me:(

[Mommy2many]

He's too modest. Look it up on Google. "Garter Snake Guy" results in "Steve from Iowa":D

[ConcinusMan]

Hmmm... I didn't get those results (nothing about steve) but the first result had this, worth reading:

News - gartersnake.info (http://www.gartersnake.info/news/)

[ConcinusMan]

Oh, I can smell it.
I just like it now.:eek:

Ditto. Don't mind it one bit. I go out, catch snakes all day, sometimes dozens of them, enjoy the heck out of myself and come home reeking of musk.

People waiting for me are asking "well, what snakes do you have this time" And I'm like, "None". And they can't quite understand why I would put up with such a smell if there was no snakes to bring home.

Well, I don't have to say it to most of you. It's just plain fun to catch and look at all the garters out there. The smell is a minuscule price to pay.:D Can't say I like it, but it's really not that offensive either!

It's really not that bad of a smell anyway.:D I've smelled human arm pits and feet that were far worse!

[Snakers]

No, that's what me kids call me:(
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/rofl.gifHAHAHAHAHAHAHA