Scutulatus - Spring Hike

[Crotalusatrox]

I have to apologize for not posting a picture however I was not under the assumption I would not see a crote on a Sunday hike. However I wanted to inform everyone that crotes are definetly out. It is amazing as to the location of this snake. I literally walked by it two or three times before noticing it. I always thought the location, of where I like to go hiking, was promising. I marked the area with a few stones and will be sure to visit it next weekend to do a more in depth search. I believe this location can hold numerous snakes. Plus I will be sure to bring the digital equipment.

Has anyone had any sightings this weekend? What type of locations, as far as rocky outcroppings or mesquite trees, does everyone find fruitfull?

Chris

[SWHerper]

I've found 5 Atrox just this month. I'm down here in NW Tucson and it's amazing!! No Scutes yet but keeping an eye out for them.

Austin

[KKC]

Just about everything is out now. The hot-line has been going crazy already.

[MRC]

So far ive found whie driving 3 Mojaves all DOR, numerous AOR and DOR Gopher Snakes. several Long Nose, AOR Sidewinder, AOR Coral, AOR Night Snake, all on the roads just before dark, while hunting for feeder snakes. These were all withing a week period. But now ive seen nothing for over a week. I usually see this stuff while driving to my night class. It goes through some beautiful desert, and i take the long way. The Speck was from above the Phoenix area and under a piece of debri keeping warm under the morning sun.

[FlagstaffHerper]

I have found a baby horned lizard and a some type garter snake last weeek and then woke up to an inch to two inches of snow yestaday. So I dont expect to be seeing in rattlers for a while.

[MRC]

James actually in the snow is the perfect time to look for those illusive white speckled rattlesnakes.

[cthulhu77]

aren't those the ones you have to use a black light to find??? "croiky, look at that one, ain't she a beaut?"
greg

[Cmpyrrhus]

I have found a baby horned lizard and a some type garter snake last weeek and then woke up to an inch to two inches of snow yestaday. So I dont expect to be seeing in rattlers for a while.

Hey, same just about here Mr. Hall. A couple weeks ago I found a gorgeous lil' baby horned lizard as well. Just tiny as all heck. Funny thing is, I should have taken a decent look around, usually there are several others to be found if one is. Been seeing many lizard species, wandering garters and my first pyro way deep in a rock outcropping! Aint to bad for my first 2 trips out in my local herping arena. On Saturday night we got a fair amount of rain and has been cloudy since then. Finally Sunday comes, my one day off a week, and no herpin. What a bummer. I was hoping for some rains, just not with a temperature of 43°. I did expect some last minute cold spells, and I guess it is finally here.

But, we are geting rain, and that is still just as nice as herps. I cannot complain about moisture for our dry state. If anything, I bet we all will have a bit more luck when the temps head back up. As for rattlers, I really hope to see some cerbs before I move out of this town. The forest service here romoves a few of them from the camps sites and what not during the year. I found a good number of cerbs last year in this area, most were young males with there young coloration still. Last year was not promising for females for me, just a huge DOR. Been a while since I have seen a fat girl loaded with youngins like a school bus. But seing all these young snakes at least shows there is females around to pop em out. Just have to see what comes around this year eh.....

[snake-hunter]

but the only bad thing about this rain is that when everything dries up again it will all be prime time for a fire!

[Cmpyrrhus]

Prescott National Forest then...

Go for a hike out here some day. The ground is inches deep full of Ponderosa pine needles, and many dead trees due to beetle infestation. Odd thing is, this forest thrives best with fires once in a while,and some of the plant life cannot reproduce without them. It really needs a good "healthy" fire, but that hinders other things of course.

[necoris]

Yea, in school I learned that before humans settled in Arizona, the forests weren't thick at all. They were grasslands with big pine trees every so often. The fires came naturally and burned the little stuff, but the big stuff survived. Eh, what can you do...