Herping in local parks.

[Millinex]

Herped a local park today called "Garden of the Gods" known for snakes..

Ran across this one and another which I relocated to a safer part of the park:


Took it back to the parking lot of the park to grab the camera and took the chance to educate some of the local bikers/hikers/tourists about summer + rattlers.
I encourage the rest of you to take the chances when they appear to shed some light on snakes and whatnot, it's a great feeling and the public really enjoyed it today (except 1 terrified lady who abandoned her fascinated family in fear).

[guidofatherof5]

Nice job and awesome snake.

[Mommy2many]

We have rattlers here and I have yet to see one. Maybe some day, on good terms!

[mustang]

what good terms
oh hey mr.rattlesnake oh you look so ccute im gonna come pet u
ouch you taggeed me you little son of *pass out*

[Millinex]

Nice job and awesome snake.

She was surpassingly mellow for me having captured her twice, dug her out of a tiny little hole next to the path, and being mid shed, the other smaller one was just the meanest sucker... When I found him nothing but once in the box.... Wouldn't dare handle one that small with my hands!

We have rattlers here and I have yet to see one. Maybe some day, on good terms!

I go looking for them and this was the first time I found them. I heard they come out in the morning but it seems early afternoon is prime time, when an area i normally herped very well suddenly had them. Good terms are what I got with the first one, hand catching a 3 foot prairie without stick was a very humbling and amazing experience.

what good terms
oh hey mr.rattlesnake oh you look so ccute im gonna come pet u
ouch you taggeed me you little son of *pass out*

I wouldn't advise anyone tries to handle such a snake with there hands unless they are experienced, I knew the snake was big enough, me faster enough, him mellow enough etc that I could "tail" him and move him around that way. I got lucky with a mellow snake, no one should ever try to pet a hot in the wild.

[Didymus20X6]

I would suggest one of those metal claw thingies that I sometimes see professional herpatologists use on TV, but those things cost a few pretty pennies.

However, I found a nifty little tool I have often used in my own snake capturing, and believe it or not, you can get it at your local mega-type department store for about $10. It's basically designed for lazy people who drop their TV remotes, but I have caught a few snakes with it. It's a bit flimsy, and the suction cups do tend to break off, but I fixed mine by filling the screw holes with crazy glue, and haven't had a problem since.

[Millinex]

I would suggest one of those metal claw thingies that I sometimes see professional herpatologists use on TV, but those things cost a few pretty pennies.

However, I found a nifty little tool I have often used in my own snake capturing, and believe it or not, you can get it at your local mega-type department store for about $10. It's basically designed for lazy people who drop their TV remotes, but I have caught a few snakes with it. It's a bit flimsy, and the suction cups do tend to break off, but I fixed mine by filling the screw holes with crazy glue, and haven't had a problem since.

I'm actually working on creating my own snake hook, taking a golf club apart and putting a heavy duty hook on the end. I guess I should clarify above. I had a stick with me both times. The first time a hiking stick, the second time a golf club (because it was hooklike) and at one point during both encounters I worked with the snake without it, and I probably could have moved it safely without it both times, however it was there "just in case".

Not a huge fan of tongs, only reason I see for them is people who want to hold it by the neck for grabbing it up there, I don't believe in holding a snake like that and do a more Steve Irwin approach with the tail/stick thing, and it worked very well today. Should work even easier on large diamondbacks!

[gregmonsta]

Wow good job.

[adamanteus]

'Free handling' venomous snakes in the wild is crazy, dangerous, unnecessary and self-indulgent. An accident waiting to happen.

[Millinex]

'Free handling' venomous snakes in the wild is crazy, dangerous, unnecessary and self-indulgent. An accident waiting to happen.

Not really. Not all of us believe in the whole holding behind the head thing. The snake needed to be moved and I feel confident in my years of experience to do this. I'm going into the herpetology field, and I will be keeping hots in a few years when I move out. To me this was a great chance to learn on a relatively docile specimen, it is part of my line of work, doing it will need to happen at some point, especially since I don't believe in holding a snake behind its head for situations like this.

Wasn't unnecessary, unless you feel leaving a deadly snake 5 feet from the trail with 2 school busses full of kids in the parking lot 30 feet away is perfectly safe for them, or the countless uneducated tourists who wander off path and have no idea what it is. Far from self-indulgent either, to educate people and move the snake safely.

Just because others can't do it safely doesn't mean I can't