Bull!

Took my son out to Jordan Creek and on our way back I spotted this snake coming out into the road. I had to go down to the next exit and swing back to get him. He was a beautiful Bull Snake. 62 inches long. I don't normally move snakes from their habitat but he in in the middle of a major thoroughfare and would have most likely been run over. So I took him to a beautiful spot not too terribly far from where we got him that is far from roadways and it is just the kind of habitat he will love...sandy prairie! Here are the pics:

Another trip out to Banner...

I spent an incredibly difficult day working outside when I wanted to be herping the whole time. I was on a farm in Truro, IA and was outdoors all day, but I had little time to herp. So, even though I was exhausted, I took a drive out to Banner when I got home, as the sun was setting. I found a couple snakes DOR (Dead On Road)...which bummed me out...one of them was a really large Eastern Garter Snake. The other was a baby Northern Water Snake. Both probably the underserved recipients of someone purposefully running them over in their vehicle.

But I also found a juvenile Eastern Garter snake alive, hunkering down for the night under a piece of plastic I flipped. Here's the pics...

Back at it!

I didn't post at all in 2010. I don't know why really. I maintain another blog and had even limited my posts on that last year. But that doesn't mean I didn't do any herping.

I recently purchased the DVD Herpers! and was excited to see some of the focus on field herping. That's what I do and love. I don't proclaim to be an expert. I am just someone that loves to go out in the field and look for reptiles.

I have been out a few times this Spring already. I have caught a few snakes. I went out with my family this evening and did a little road cruising at night. I am going to put the pics of the snakes (from a few days back) and the pics from tonight here for you. I intend to do quite a bit more posting this Spring. In June I am taking a Mission Trip to Show Low, AZ and I am very excited about doing some herping out there. Here's my latest:

Plains Leopard Frog

There are three types of leopard frog distributed throughout Iowa (the Southern Leopard Frog, the Northern Leopard Frog and the Plains Leopard Frog). There is another species very similar that often is labeled as a leopard frog, the Pickerel Frog.

Today I caught a little Plains Leopard Frog a good distance from the water, which is why I was able to catch him. Here are the best of the pictures I took (after I was able to get him to calm down).

Another Herp Trip

Today, May 16th, was a cooler day. The high only reached 60 degrees. So in the early evening I asked my sons and their friend who was staying over if they wanted to go on a snake hunt. They were all game. I had seen a new spot recently and wanted to check it out so off we went. We mostly came across brown snakes and garters but we also saw some cool spiders. Here are the pics...

This next Eastern Garter was a beauty! She was over 30 inches long and had a real deep copper color. She was real docile as well because of how cool it was. The person holding it at the end is Noel, this was his official FIRST find on his own. He was a little hesitant but he overcame it and caught the biggest snake of the day!

Recent Herping Trips

Here is a video from one of our most recent herping excursions...

Here are some pictures from that same trip:

My most recent herping trip was today (May 14, 2009). I had a little success. No video but here are the best pictures I shot:

Nice Surprise!

On Friday, May 1st, we were at a local softball field at Fort Des Moines County Park getting in some practice. Afterwards we took a walk around one edge of the lake. Of course, I was on the prowl for any snake I could find.

I came across these two Northern Water Snakes sunning in the grass. They couldn't have been more than three feet apart and they were actually about ten feet or more from the shore. They were in a pile of rocks off shore.

Each snake was well over 40 inches long. The one in the photo with the dark belly was the longest (and the meanest). It was a nice find on a really pretty day!