Center for Snake Conservation Fall Snake Count (Sept 21st - 23rd)
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The Center for Snake Conservation puts on snake counts twice a year, fall and spring. This year we went out for a day with the Director Cameron Young and his boys. Colorado was hit with a week of rain which resulted in flooding. Many areas were unreachable due to road closures, we still managed to add some data for the snake count.
Snake Pit Revisited (Sept 3rd)
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This inline canal clean-out located in northern Colorado known by state water employees as the snake pit, captures more than sticks and debris. Ryan and I had the opportunity to visit the site and assist with the rescue. Fortunately for the snakes that fall in the canal upstream, the state employees are snake friendly. Nice work.The lined snake in the bucket represents a range extension this location is 12 miles north of previous recorded species. This was our second visit to the pit, what a surprise.
Herping Colorado/Kansas Border (August 30th - Sept 1st)
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Cole Wild, Ian Jessup, Ryan and I were on a mission to find an Eastern Hognose Snake. Eastern hogs have been found in Kansas and Tim Warfel recorded a DOR in Colorado. Eastern Hogs like cool weather and it was extremely hot this weekend so we fell short on our goal, however killed it on observations. Coachwhips were hatching and snakes were moving. Great Trip.
Herping Colorado (End of August)
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Ian Bessell was visiting from Florida so we took him herping. This report is a combined report consisting of three trips. Sandhills and Raparian.
COPARC Survey Golden Gate Canyon (August 24th)
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COPARC's Final Field Trip/Survey for the 2013 season. Colorado PARC (Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) is a state chapter of PARC comprised of Biologists, Teachers, Hobbyists, Pet Trade all with one common interest, conservation of reptiles and amphibians in Colorado. Everyone is welcome, and we always have a great time together. Colorado Parks has partnered with COPARC and asked us to survey the canyon. Western Terrestrial Gartersnakes were plentiful and we documented Prairie Lizards, which was a county record. Beautiful location, great people, great day.
Herping Ryan's Birthday with Mason Carwin (Aug 17th)
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Ryan has been so excited for his birthday and really wanted to go herping with his friend Mason. After a great time at Mid Air Adventures we took a quick run out east. Great night and great fun. Thanks Mason for joining us.
West Slope Herping Colorado (Aug 9th - 11th)
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Group trips are a great way to get involved, meet people with similar interests and find lots of animals in a short amount of time. Tim Warfel invited us to herp the Westslope with him and we jumped at the opportunity. The continental divide separates Colorado. The Westslope has new sub-species and some new species we can't find out East. Our two main targets were the Striped Whipsnake, and Midget Faded Rattlesnake, skunked on both. We did find one new species South Western Blackheaded Snake and two new sub-species Western Racer and Great Basin Gophers. Lots of lizards and a couple of toads we also knocked off of our life list. Beautiful place to herp, can't wait for a return trip next year.
Snake Pit Rescue (July 24th)
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This inline canal clean-out located in northern Colorado known by state water employees as the snake pit, captures more than sticks and debris. Ryan and I had the opportunity to visit the site and assist with the rescue. Fortunately for the snakes that fall in the canal upstream, the state employees are snake friendly. Nice work.
The lined snake in the bucket represents a range extension this location is 12 miles north of previous recorded
species.
The lined snake in the bucket represents a range extension this location is 12 miles north of previous recorded
species.
COPARC Trip Herping Otero/Bent County (July 12th - 14th)
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Colorado's most diverse region is by far SE Colorado. Ryan, Hayley and I joined COPARC (Colorado Partners in Reptile and Amphibian Conservation) for a weekend annual survey trip. Great people and great fun. We had our most productive night of herping yet. Over forty snakes in one night, 8 species.
Herping Colorado Roadcruising (July 9th and 11th)
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Ryan and I like to get out early, gives us a couple hours of walking around and flipping things over time. Once the sun sets we usually hit the roads and cruise. Snakes like to come out on the pavement as temperatures drop to absorb whatever heat is stored in the road. Windows are short here in Colorado from sunset until temperatures drop to around 72 degrees. Hognose snakes have remained up on the surface, Prairie Rattlesnakes and Bullsnakes have been active as well. The later in the year the shorter the windows, we try to take advantage of the heat in July.
Herping Colorado Smooth Green Snakes (July 6th)
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Mission Complete. Tim Warfel put together a Green Snake Mission. Green Snakes have eluded us so far, this was one of the few Colorado species left on our list. The Colorado Crew visited a known locale and came out successful. Herping Green Snakes is the best, Riparian, high altitude species. Who wouldn't want to go hang out by a river in the mountains. Along with 6 Smooth Greens we found quite a few Wandering Garters, very photogenic.
Colorado Herping Hognose Madness with the Colorado Crew (July 5th and 9th)
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The Colorado crew got together for a trip to eastern Colorado. Attending group field trips is a great way to meet people and get started. Colorado has a couple reptile and amphibian groups who are knowledgeable and conservation minded. I would recommend looking up COPARC (Colorado Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) or the Center for Snake Conservation for information regarding upcoming field trips. Group trips are a great way to see and learn about lots of animals in a short amount of time and meet people with similar interests. Even if herping is slow collectively, results can be good. This trip resulted in Hognose craziness, we found 7 and a Prairie Rattlesnake.
Ryan and I had so much fun we went back a few nights later and found 6 Hognose snakes, 3 Prairie Rattlesnakes and 1 Bullsnake.
Ryan and I had so much fun we went back a few nights later and found 6 Hognose snakes, 3 Prairie Rattlesnakes and 1 Bullsnake.
Herping Colorado with California (July 2nd)
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Rich was vacationing in Colorado from California. Rich loves herping and joined us on an Eastern Colorado adventure. Targets were Western Hognose and Prairie Rattlesnakes. Half of herping is relationships. It has taken Ryan and I close to 3 years to earn the trust of the herping community with this comes information and locales, which makes life much easier. We have had a ton of fun figuring things out on our own, eventually you need a little help finding a certain species, or location. Driving 6 hours targeting a species is fun, more fun if you actually find it. Developing relationships and sharing information is very helpful, making new friends in other areas opens doors for future trips. We have made lots of new friends and visited lots of new places chasing these critters. Hopefully are experiences inspires others to get out and enjoy nature. Rich thank you for the visit.
Colorado Herping Platte River (July 1st)
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Ryan and I love going adventures, seeing new place finding new species, but herping close to home is just as rewarding. We have spots near our house, in populated urban settings that we visit regularly. Visiting the same spots often, allows us to really get to know an area, individual animals, and habits. For instance we have 3 mile stretch of the Platte River that we walk a few times a month, Ryan knows of three hibernaculars in this stretch. He can walk up to a particular rock and catch a handful of Wandering Garters, just down the way Plains Garters, and down from that Red-sided Garters. 3 Species in 1 mile radius. Without frequent visits at different times of the year it is hard to really know what is in the area. Ryan finds the same 2 snakes basking near a rock, for the past 3 years and has named them, we look forward to seeing them. A pond or lake close to home is a great way to get started, learn and have fun outside.
Colorado Herping Stormy Night (June 28th)
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Stormy nights equals great herping if you can stay ahead of the rain. Storm clouds, lightning, and warm weather gets snakes moving and us out of the house. This night we found a gap between storms, lightning shows to the north, south and west. We were not disappointed finding 4 species. We use the weather bug app to look at radar and make decisions based on storm movements. Once out in the field we work around the storms, if nothing else makes for an exciting night storm watching. Clouds hold in heat and extend herping time later into the night. We usually herp until temps drop down to 70 or we quit seeing animals.
Colorado Herping (June 14th)
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Between work, Center for Snake Conservation, COPARC, it has been tough finding time just to go herp. I took all the kids out one evening hiked around a little and road cruised a bit. Productivity was down, things have not been moving much. We had a great time, and managed a few finds. The best thing was having Karissa join us (Ryan's oldest sister) for a Father's Day present.
Colorado Herping (June 2nd - June 11th)
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Colorado is warming up, this week has reached high 90's. This means one thing road cruising season. This report consists of a multiple trips, some road cruising, walking ponds, rock flipping, and hiking. We traveled up north to Larimer County and herped some new areas, crossed the state line into Wyoming. Visited Ryan's Grandma in Colorado Springs and herped the pond next to the hotel. Joined the CSC in Boulder for some survey work, last but not least a couple road trips to Weld and Morgan County.
Herping Yuma County, CO with COPARC (May 31st - June 2nd)
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COPARC (Colorado Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) participated in a survey of Yuma County this past weekend. Spent time near Wray, CO around Stalker Lake, and visited a few parcels of State Land Board land.
Ryan and I learned more about Colorado, especially habitats. Despite cooler temperatures and crazy wind we turned up quite a few finds. The species everyone seemed to be targeting which was the Yellow Mud Turtle turned out to be fairly easy.
Collectively COPARC recorded 46 individual animals , 20 different species.
Ryan and I learned more about Colorado, especially habitats. Despite cooler temperatures and crazy wind we turned up quite a few finds. The species everyone seemed to be targeting which was the Yellow Mud Turtle turned out to be fairly easy.
Collectively COPARC recorded 46 individual animals , 20 different species.
Herping Mills Canyon, NM with the CSC (May 23rd - 27th)
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Joined the Center for Snake Conservation on their group trip to Mills Canyon in Harding county New Mexico. Mills Canyon has great diversity, unfortunately this part of New Mexico is in the midst of an epic drought. When we first arrived the Canadian River was not flowing, just scarce pools of water. Overnight Colorado released water which crested the bank and made the river impassable. Despite these conditions, we managed to find some gems and had a ton of fun as well. Great people, great food, great fun.
Snake Week CSC Spring Snake Count (May 18th - 27th)
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The Center for Snake Conservation hosts a bi-annual snake count, spring and fall. Like the bird count by the Audubon Society focuses on birds the CSC is promoting conservation for snakes. The CSC has partnered with Project Noah, a citizen science organization funded by National Geographic. Project Noah makes data collection easy via a smart phone app, take a picture, send it in. All data from the snake count records to a mission Snakes of the United States - Center for Snake conservation. Data collected provides a snapshot, ecology health, range extensions or species degradation. We see this as an opportunity for our hobby to assist science. It would take a biologist a lifetime to provide the data collected in one week of the count. Ryan loves snake week it gives us an excuse to get outside.
Herping Colorado River Walk
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The weather is so nice, no way can we stay indoors. Ryan has been making the decisions on where he wants to go, he use to defer this to me. It's really cool seeing him make educated herping decisions based on what he wants to find or do, meaning flip rocks, walk around, or road cruise. I know I said this before, it's true. Colorado has never been this fresh, green, and beautiful. Amazing what moisture provides. Anyways we headed out to the Platte River to walk around and flip rocks, what a great evening. We found 2 species of Garter snakes, in this same locale we have found 3, a sub-adult Yellow Bellied Racer and a Racerunner. People ask me all the time where to find stuff, it's easy to find access to the Platte and rarely are we disappointed.
Eastern Colorado (May 1st-15th)
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Finally, Colorado is warming up, hopefully the snow is a thing of the past. We have cabin fever and have been itching to get out. Temperatures have been approaching 80 degrees, spring showers coupled with recent snow have made the plains a different place. Wild flowers, green grass absolutely beautiful. Box Turtles, Bullsnakes, Rattlesnakes are on the Crawl. Lizards everywhere Earless, Prairie, and Racerunners. The highlight so far was our first Hognose Snake on May 13th.
Massasauga Trip (April 27th)
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Ryan and I got an invite to join Tim Warfel his son Josh and John Ruyak on a Massasauga trip to SE Colorado. This was a chance to get a lifer off our list. We were so excited for the opportunity to herp with such nice and knowledgeable people. Massasauga's a small rattlesnake in the pygmy genus, species of concern. We had a great trip and found 1 Neonate Massasauga. This species has a unique defense, they cock their head back and twitch when approached.
1 Massasauga
1 Prairie Rattlesnake
1 Many Lined Skink
1 Fence Lizard
2 Earless Lizards
1 Massasauga
1 Prairie Rattlesnake
1 Many Lined Skink
1 Fence Lizard
2 Earless Lizards
Herping Colorado Repticon (March 30th)
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The Center for Snake Conservation reserved a booth at repticon to educate people on the Colorado herp laws, snakes, especially Colorado snakes. We had the task of capturing 4 of the 5 species you can legally collect and handle. The 5 species are Racer, Bullsnake, Western Terrestrial Garter, Plains Garter and our favorite the Hognose. Colorado has 25-27 species and these are the snakes not under protection. The weather warmed up just enough to look and we got lucky, had all 5 for the show. Ryan, Hayley and myself joined the CSC for a fun weekend talking about snakes.
