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.


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.


Here's a look at the area. Lots of frogs for the Garters here.


This is the roadside area we usually find many T.sirtalis No such luck this day

[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.