Cuddles!

[ConcinusMan]

Around here we call them red or yellow racers based on their stripes, though I feel as though that is an inaccurate label. Cuddles would be a red racer, the one I saw today was a yellow racer, which is more typical in this area.

I'll definitely be making more trips to the nature area....and not just for the garters. There's nowhere else to see deer and rabbits in the middle of Portland, and I don't mind hearing the coyotes either.

Yeah, i run into that everywhere i go. i try to explain to people that they are all northwestern garters but they don't seem to understand the concept of polymorphism or the fact that true racers around here don't have stripes.

Where did you go? Forest Park? There's concinnus' there too but they tend to stay close to the water, or can be seen swimming on it.

Want to go herp Salmon Creek with me this week? (Clark county, wa) You'll spit a brick when you see the size of the snakes there. gianormous.

[acovert]

Powell Butte. It's just a block or two from my house. They have everything there...deer, rabbits, coyotes. And apparently garters!
They're doing a lot of construction around there right now, so I'm surprised I found a snake at all.

[ConcinusMan]

ahh. Seriously, you should check out Forest Park and Salmon Creek. Tualitin Hills nature park is awesome too. I see deer and tons of concinnus', northwesterns, turtles, amphibians, birds of prey, etc.

[acovert]

I've talked my boyfriend into Forest Park this weekend. I want to go to Smith & Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area. I'm not entire sure where Salmon Creek is. I've never heard of it. I'll have to take a look at Tualitin Hills nature park - I've never heard of that one, either, but I know that area a little. I'm gonna go up to my uncle's house in Woodland, WA at some point, too; he gets lots of nature there, and there are fish in the shallows of the river that might make good food for garters. I'll be going to some locations on the coast this summer, too. Powell Butte nature area is the closest to me. I can literally walk to it. Since we had to work yesterday, it was closest and the only one we could make it to. I also want to visit Sauvie Island and look around there for wildlife. I intend to get lots of pictures this summer!

[ConcinusMan]

Tualitin hills park is actually in Aloha. Worth the trip. Be sure to check out the grassy area at the eastern edge of the park, bordered by the forest. There's a seasonal pond there, not far from the MAX tracks. It's loaded with snakes in the AM. if its a sunny and very warm day, don't bother looking for snakes between noon and 5pm. They disappear during those hours, unless its cloudy and 60-70 F.

I found stripeless northwesterns there last year.

Salmon creek is where the north end of I-205 merges with I-5 in WA. concinnus' 3ft and larger are all over that place.

[ConcinusMan]

Tualitin hills park is actually in Aloha. Worth the trip. Be sure to check out the grassy area at the eastern edge of the park, bordered by the forest. There's a seasonal pond there, not far from the MAX tracks. It's loaded with snakes in the AM.

here it is:

[Invisible Snake]

Hey does the average CB Concinnus grow 3ft or larger?

[ConcinusMan]

I think that's a matter of genetics and environment. I don't usually see them that big in most places but for some reason it's the norm at that Salmon creek location. I also found the biggest ordinoides I've ever seen, at that location. 2.5 feet. This one (photo by Don Belnap)

[acovert]

I will definitely keep those places in mind. I love looking for snakes and I'm hoping to get good pictures. Those areas look promising.

[ConcinusMan]

I visit those places year after year. Never disappointing especially if you get there during the first warm month of the season. Like, now, while everything is still wet and green. Go in the morning while it's just starting to warm up.