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.
Herping 2018!
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