Know anywhere...

[frostyftw]

Anyone know a place in Washington that I can find snakes?

Just wondering.

It's just..

I keep finding the same ones over and over.

Thanks.

[RedSidedSPR]

You seem to be doing fine.:rolleyes: you have found more snake this week than I have all year, stupid dry weather.

There's really only a few kinds you'll find...

[frostyftw]

Okay, I just wanted to see / catch others.

Washington Herp Atlas (http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/herp/speciesmain.html)

A list of WA reptiles and amphibians..

[katach]

Eastern WA you'll find other kinds. Over here you're only going to see what you've seen.

[ConcinusMan]

You seem to be doing fine.:rolleyes:

yeah, no kidding. :rolleyes:

If you ever get down this way try Salmon Creek park in Clark County in the spring. It's loaded with huge concinnus'. 3 footers and bigger are everywhere in April or May. The Dupont/Ft. Lewis/Olympia area has some stunning blue pugets and even wandering garters.

Mercer slough is a good place too.

Eastern WA any wetland or water habitat will have plenty of fitchi.

[frostyftw]

Thanks for the information.

I'm planning to go look somewhere besides places less then a mile from my house. ;)

Besides, if I go other places, I will probably see different garters and other snakes.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah it's kinda nice where I am because I don't have to travel far before the herps change. I can east, north, or south for less than an hour and find snakes that are different from what I find here.

[frostyftw]

Wow! Lucky.

There are barely any places that I can find snakes around where I live.

The good thing is - the places with snakes have plenty around. :D

[ConcinusMan]

Well I live right smack dab in a highly urban area. I don't exactly find snakes around my house either, although I did find a dead northwestern in the road a few blocks away about a week ago. But I don't have to go far. Perhaps 1/3 mile to the nearest "greenway" with a creek running through it. Plenty of concinnus' and northwesterns there.

Some of the best spots I know of in Oregon are just fragments of habitat surrounded by highly urban development. Heck, one really good spot has light rail service if that tells you anything. Highly urban.

[RedSidedSPR]

I find more snakes some years in my yard than not. There's a few rat snakes livin under the house (awesome), a racer that shows up (really awesome), and the occasional rough green snake in the woods (back yard), but have found any in my yard this year

[frostyftw]

You guys are lucky...

One thing...

What state is the Salmon creek park thing in?

I looked it up in google maps. In Washington, I saw it in Burien.

Even then, it is like a 20 mile distance from my place.

I can't really go that far, especially just for snakes.

Besides, what if I get lost? Haha.

[RedSidedSPR]

You guys are lucky...

No. No I'm not. I'm probable the unluckiest guy in the world when it comes to herping. I have only found 1 rat snake, and 2 worm snakes ALL YEAR.

[frostyftw]

That's not bad. You probably just do not have them around where you search.

[RedSidedSPR]

3 snakes all year. That IS bad. Cause they do live here, it's just so dry and hot.

[frostyftw]

I meant there aren't any where you are searching. Maybe you should check elsewhere?

[RedSidedSPR]

No, i know that there are snakes in these areas. I've seen them last year etc. It's just so hot and dry so there's no water, the ground is cracking, there's just no life out.

[frostyftw]

Oh...

Well, Aren't there supposed to be more snakes when it's hot, they are cold blooded and are more active in warmer weather?

[RedSidedSPR]

Not this hot. I'm talking 109 degrees, and dry as heck.

There's a creek within walking distance that dried up in April.

I go other places but it's the same everywhere.

[frostyftw]

Oh. Sorry, I should have asked about how hot it actually is.

I didn't know it was that hot around where you are.

My bad.

[guidofatherof5]

They like it warm not hot. They seek cooler temps in the heat of the day.
Very few snakes would be out in 90+ temps and if they are it's just for a short time.

[frostyftw]

Okay, I can understand that.

[ConcinusMan]

Oh...

Well, Aren't there supposed to be more snakes when it's hot, they are cold blooded and are more active in warmer weather?

Most diurnal snakes become crepuscular or nocturnal during hot weather.;)

Even when it's just in the low 70's garters around here disappear by noon and don't come out again until after 5pm. They avoid the mid day sun. If the temperatures are in the 80's or 90's, there's no need to bask in the sun to warm up so again, they disappear.

Remember, cold blooded not only means they can't function at cold temperatures. It also means they can't be active in hot weather and must seek cooler temperatures underground or some other way, such as spending time in cool water in the shade or they will overheat. They have no way of cooling down like we do.(sweating)

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, 2 out of 3 of the snakes ive found this year were late evening or night.

Oh.. I just remembered it was 4 snakes this year, I forgot this guy. Favorite find this year!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/nerodiaattackPNG2.png

[frostyftw]

That snake is angry.. :O

[RedSidedSPR]

Yup he is.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/nerodiaattack9.png

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/nerodiaattack.png

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/nerodiaattack8bite.jpg

xZKv4FONy1Q&view

[frostyftw]

Dang.....

I have never seen a snake so mad...

Not through capturing them myself or seeing pictures / videos from someone else..

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, that's water snakes for ya. That's why I love them.

That was a small one.. There are 4 footers there that I want to catch.:D

[frostyftw]

You love them because they are angry and want to kill you for picking them up?

[RedSidedSPR]

No be they are not afraid to bite, they defend themselves instead of fleeing. And they have means of makin bites worse, like ripping sideways to tear your flesh and they have anti-coagulant venom that makes you bleed like crazy.

I have a baby garter (cb) that bites. He's tame and calm, but he's just more inclined to bite.

Yeah, I'm weird.

[ConcinusMan]

It's not anger. It's fear. They are afraid and in their minds, fighting for their lives.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, there's no anger in a snake.

[frostyftw]

Hmm.. I guess you're right.

Does anyone know a youtube channel where someone does a lot of looking around for snakes?

I'm kinda bored and would like to watch that. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

I don't know of many good channels completely dedicated to it... just search of individual videos.

Here's two good ones that are nothing but herping.

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. (http://m.youtube.com/#/profile?desktop_uri=%2Fxxxherperxxx&user=xxxherperxxx&gl=US)

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. (http://m.youtube.com/#/profile?user=Reebbo)

[guidofatherof5]

Do a search on Field herping.

[RedSidedSPR]

That'll bring up a lot of good videos.

[ConcinusMan]

Hmm.. I guess you're right.

Does anyone know a youtube channel where someone does a lot of looking around for snakes?

I'm kinda bored and would like to watch that. :D

Here's a couple of good channels to get you started. Dylan (first link) does herping at the infamous "snake road" which is really cool.


Reebbo's Channel - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/Reebbo)

oh0na's Channel - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/oh0na)

[frostyftw]

Thanks everyone. :D