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Old 07-12-2018, 12:23 AM
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Arachnodisiac Arachnodisiac is offline
 
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Default Herping 2018!

I believe I was remiss in posting a thread last year with my various snake-related adventures! Anyway, here it is now, and these photos are from last year, as well as from this year so far.

I often go alone, but sometimes my son can come with me and we shed hunt together. His goal was to find 20 sheds this year, but he ended up with 16.


Western hognose (Heterodon nasicus)


And another one. I was really lucky last year and found two – which is two more than the last 12 years I have searched for them in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Prior to this, I found three all at once in Manitoba in 2005.


Some beautiful scenery. I live near the mountains and drive away from them as quick as I can every chance that I get. I love the rolling hills and coulees. It is the only landscape that feels magical and like home all at the same time. One day, I hope to live there again.


Greater short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) These guys are an absolute delight to find. When it gets too hot for rattlesnakes, I will sometimes zip over yonder to find them. People sometimes refer to them as "horny toads".


Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus).
This cool little (big) dude was chilling at my campsite one day.


Portrait of a bull snake - they look a little crazy. (Pituophis catenifer sayi)


Now we are getting to the stuff I'm really into. (In other words, venomous.) This is a western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus.


Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). Despite what urban legends you may or may not have heard, we do not have any other rattlesnake species in Alberta or Saskatchewan.


A rattlesnake dispersing to summer feeding grounds, through an area that was burned last year.


Three rattlesnakes sharing some den space. Recent research actually shows relationships between individuals, and adults that will protect unrelated young snakes from harm, demonstrating a more social animal than perviously thought.



This year I haven't taken as many photos, but posting these might motivate me to lug that camera around some more with me.
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Old 07-12-2018, 12:25 AM
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Nice photos, looks like a few fun times
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Old 07-12-2018, 01:55 AM
32-40win 32-40win is offline
 
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Cool, wasn't actually aware we had black widows up here. Nice to see your pics.
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Old 07-12-2018, 05:40 AM
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Very well done, jeepers most head the other way when seeing these critters, you dive right in and get some great pics...the den one is a place I would want to slip into
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Old 07-12-2018, 06:10 AM
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Talking moose Talking moose is offline
 
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Very cool pics!
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Old 07-12-2018, 06:18 AM
goldscud goldscud is offline
 
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Great pics. Thanks for sharing. Do you see many lizards, or are they very low in numbers?
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Old 07-13-2018, 06:22 PM
Cow Town Bill Cow Town Bill is offline
 
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Default Black widow

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Originally Posted by 32-40win View Post
Cool, wasn't actually aware we had black widows up here. Nice to see your pics.
Are these black widow spiders dangerous to humans?
Great pics---thanks for sharing.
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Old 07-13-2018, 06:54 PM
reddeerguy2015 reddeerguy2015 is offline
 
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Cool thread.

I used to go with my dad in the fall to the rattlesnake den sites.

Wasn't uncommon to see 100 rattlesnakes on a sunny September afternoon.

Have found everything on your list (including the little scorpions) except the lizard... On the to do list!!

Thanks for the flashbacks
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Old 07-13-2018, 09:31 PM
Remi3006 Remi3006 is offline
 
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Great pics! Is that Black Widow in Alberta? Med Hat area? How common are they? Are they the same as the Black Widow we are all thinking of??
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Old 07-13-2018, 08:36 AM
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Can you still trade a horny toad for an old yeller dog?
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Old 07-13-2018, 08:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewey Cox View Post
Can you still trade a horny toad for an old yeller dog?
That depends. With rabies, or without? Rabies will cost you extra.

(Great novel, great movie!)
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Old 07-13-2018, 08:49 AM
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They made that movie into a book?
I’ll have to read it...
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Old 07-13-2018, 08:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewey Cox View Post
They made that movie into a book?
I’ll have to read it...
The book came out a year before the movie.
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Old 07-13-2018, 09:48 AM
DLab DLab is offline
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We had our 3rd. Annual Open House at Medicine Hat Rifle and Revolver club on June 23rd.
These two showed up and decided it was time for some procreation on the drive way 12 feet across from the main entrance to the Club house .We posted a Member to stand on guard to warn passers by and give them as much privacy as possible ,although they didn't seem to have any problem concerning that.
About 1.5 hours later{not like bunnies ,for sure} we nudged them to the other side of the fence where this photo was taken.
Lots of people had a look ,some had never seen Rattle snakes before, never mind while mating.
A nice added bit of nature bonus to a great day of shooting.
It's not unusual to see snakes on the Range ,but due to the construction next door we're seeing a few more this year.
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Old 07-13-2018, 04:50 PM
DougC DougC is offline
 
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I found some of those scorpions on a dry hillside in the Porcupine Hills a few years ago. I didn't believe what I saw until I got home and confirmed that Alberta does indeed have scorpions. Now I just need to see one of those lizards!
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Old 07-13-2018, 05:40 PM
Donkey Oatey Donkey Oatey is offline
 
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Great photos and story Archnodisiac. Sure missed ya posting.
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From road hunters vs "real hunters" to bowhunters vs rifle hunters, long bows and recurves vs compound user to bow vs crossbow to white hunters vs Native hunters etc etc etc
.....

Enjoy the easy ride, anti hunters. Strange to me why we seem to be doing your job for you.

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Old 07-14-2018, 12:01 PM
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Arachnodisiac Arachnodisiac is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DougC View Post
I found some of those scorpions on a dry hillside in the Porcupine Hills a few years ago. I didn't believe what I saw until I got home and confirmed that Alberta does indeed have scorpions. Now I just need to see one of those lizards!
I am super curious to know where! I have not seen them outside of the river areas associated with rattlesnakes, and that type of habitat.
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