Sonoma County infernalis

[BLUESIRTALIS]

That's what i figured, but i would love to have some that look like her even though it would be impossible legally that is.

i would say probably not. Remember that people tend to post pics of the exceptionally pretty ones. Same goes for pugets. This can cause a skewed impression of what is actually out there in the field.

[ConcinusMan]

That's what i figured, but i would love to have some that look like her even though it would be impossible legally that is.

There's really no problem with that. it's legal to collect them in many counties but if you get caught by a wildlife officer you had better have a current CA fishing license and not be possessing too many of them. (there is a daily bag limit) I didn't have one at the time but then again I wasn't collecting. I didn't get hassled. In some places there were officers around but they seemed more concerned with checking people who were fishing or carrying firearms.

[BUSHSNAKE]

And I thought I was the philistine who had looked at the photo and thought... "nice infernalis, but what's so special about Sonoma County?", and "how can Bushsnake be so certain that no other infernalis line has originated from Sonoma County?".

So, what makes Sonoma County special, as opposed to this just being a beautiful infernalis?

I am not certain but im not stupid either. I know every garter breeder on this side of the ocean and i know our stock. I was still friends with Scott F when i got these.OK?? He said he had one that "looked" like a sonoma county by MY discription. Why would he want them anyway, people over here are only interested in Marin County infernalis.

[ConcinusMan]

Personally I think it's going far enough to make sure that you're breeding the same subspecies but I do know there are some purists out there that go so far as to keep locality lines pure.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I know you can collect 1 with a fishing permit, but i don't think you are supposed to sell them and i guess that's why you never see wildcaught infernalis for sale.

there's really no problem with that. It's legal to collect them in many counties but if you get caught by a wildlife officer you had better have a current ca fishing license and not be possessing too many of them. (there is a daily bag limit) i didn't have one at the time but then again i wasn't collecting. I didn't get hassled. In some places there were officers around but they seemed more concerned with checking people who were fishing or carrying firearms.

[ConcinusMan]

Well I'm not really sure how that would work. I think it's perfectly legal to keep some as pets and even move out of state, taking them with you. What if you sold them later then? Yes, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to collect for commercial purposes and export them from CA in that manner but I don't think they would care if you moved out of state and took some with you. I do know that if you're within the state of CA, they don't want you breeding them in captivity, selling them, importing natives from breeders in other states, or releasing them once they've been in captivity. Once you take them out of state I would think that none of that matters but don't quote me on that.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Im not real sure either. I would love to have some though! I have a good friend that lives in az and i have been begging him to take a trip and catch me a few!

[ConcinusMan]

Heck, I would love to take a herping trip again down the coastal route myself but it's way out of the way if I'm headed to Modesto/Bakersfield/Barstow/San Bernadino area which is usually the case when I go CA way. There's not only infernalis along the CA coast but there's some downright awesome spots for coast garters and atratus', and king snakes too. I know a spot right on the beach where literally thousands of coast garters congregate in the spring and also places near L.A. that have banded kings with unusually high band count/high white. All I tend to find inland is mostly gopher snakes and rattlesnakes.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

keep me in mind!

Heck, I would love to take a herping trip again down the coastal route myself but it's way out of the way if I'm headed to Modesto/Bakersfield/Barstow/San Bernadino area which is usually the case when I go CA way. There's not only infernalis along the CA coast but there's some downright awesome spots for coast garters and atratus', and king snakes too. I know a spot right on the beach where literally thousands of coast garters congregate in the spring and also places near L.A. that have banded kings with unusually high band count/high white. All I tend to find inland is mostly gopher snakes and rattlesnakes.

[ConcinusMan]

Sure but I don't think I'll be able to afford it anytime soon. If I go the coastal route, I'll either have to mostly sleep in my car since I don't know anyone along the coast, (except for one person clear down near Malibu) and/or pay for motel rooms, and the gas is outrageously expensive too.