Search found 159 matches

by Greg Theos
September 16th, 2022, 10:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Found a 10 foot long Rat Snake shed in TN. How big was the snake???
Replies: 1
Views: 1027

Found a 10 foot long Rat Snake shed in TN. How big was the snake???

Was with a fellow enthusiast about a week ago and came across an extraordinarily large Rat Snake shed. My boot is ~12" so I measured it with that and it appeared to be ~9ft. The skin was days old and starting to separate, but pretty much all of the shed skin from the belly was held in by the lo...
by Greg Theos
April 5th, 2017, 10:46 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: First Quarter
Replies: 8
Views: 4938

Re: First Quarter

Very nice. Have eastern kings been documented recently in your area?
by Greg Theos
November 15th, 2015, 7:41 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Replies: 13
Views: 10382

Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida

Great observations!
by Greg Theos
April 19th, 2015, 8:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Good start to 2015 in East Central Georgia!
Replies: 15
Views: 4530

Re: Good start to 2015 in East Central Georgia!

I have found a few in an area that were, according to Pierson Hill, from a reintroduced population. This was just a few years ago and it was not in AL. We cannot be certain that none of the other Indigos from repopulation efforts did not survive and reproduce in places where those attempts were made...
by Greg Theos
April 16th, 2015, 4:05 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Good start to 2015 in East Central Georgia!
Replies: 15
Views: 4530

Re: Good start to 2015 in East Central Georgia!

Indigos have been reintroduced in many different areas other than Conecuh.

Cary, I haven't seeny any EDB yet. But I haven't been out in the field THAT much, either.
by Greg Theos
March 31st, 2015, 8:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Rest of March
Replies: 5
Views: 1419

Re: Rest of March

Finding a Pine Snake (especially a young one) is like finding a needle in a haystack. They can be found every month of the year, but looking for them outside of their peak activity periods is like trying to find an even smaller needle in an even larger haystack. Fortunately, we still have quite a fe...
by Greg Theos
March 29th, 2015, 7:25 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: SSS - Snake Season Started
Replies: 19
Views: 4672

Re: SSS - Snake Season Started

The habitat I find the Simus in appears no different than the other 99.99999% of sandhill habitat where I find Pine Snakes and Eastern Hogs. It perplexes me.

Do you collect any of these snakes you find?
by Greg Theos
March 28th, 2015, 9:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Good start to 2015 in East Central Georgia!
Replies: 15
Views: 4530

Re: Good start to 2015 in East Central Georgia!

Good stuff, Cary.

Were the Indigos from a reintroduced population?
by Greg Theos
March 28th, 2015, 8:53 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ATL GA herping 2015
Replies: 5
Views: 2204

Re: ATL GA herping 2015

North Georgia has some beautiful country. I always wanted to find a Pine Snake from that region but never did. The pics of all the ones I have seen were of beautiful animals. Have you seen any up there?

-Greg
by Greg Theos
March 28th, 2015, 8:37 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: SSS - Snake Season Started
Replies: 19
Views: 4672

Re: SSS - Snake Season Started

Cool post. I have found >50 eastern hogs in Okaloosa Co. and they have ALL been melanistic. Oddly, most of the ones next door in Walton Co. (and Bay Co.) I have seen are patterned. The ones in the ANF are a mixed bag, and pretty rare to begin with. I can actually find Simus more predictably than the...
by Greg Theos
June 23rd, 2014, 9:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Pine snake in non-piney area
Replies: 23
Views: 6198

Re: Pine snake in non-piney area

Matt, Simus...very interesting observations. Interesting to me because of how different they are from my own. Bill, the excavation thing is on my bucket list. The one time I had that opportunity was when I hiked a pine that was looking interested in a burrow, but it was just so damn hot that I lost ...
by Greg Theos
June 22nd, 2014, 5:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The month of May and so far of June.
Replies: 12
Views: 2767

Re: The month of May and so far of June.

The SK pic in the tree is double ultra badass. I knew they were skillful climbers but have never heard of one being observed so high up.
by Greg Theos
June 17th, 2014, 5:14 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Pine snake in non-piney area
Replies: 23
Views: 6198

Re: Pine snake in non-piney area

Simus, I have found at least 15 pine snakes in Okaloosa county alone. It's interesting how different our experiences are. I always find them in mixed oak/pine habitat with plenty of canopy. Never found one in a real open area. Despite spending a similar amount of time searching for them during all p...
by Greg Theos
June 15th, 2014, 7:49 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Pine snake in non-piney area
Replies: 23
Views: 6198

Re: Pine snake in non-piney area

I have seen plenty of pics of rat snakes sneaking into outdoor rodent/chicken pens, but never a pine snake. Very, very cool. Some of the best areas in Florida to find pine snakes are miles away from the nearest pine tree, or any other tree for that matter. Right now is the best time to find them in ...
by Greg Theos
May 12th, 2014, 12:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Gulf Coast spring so far
Replies: 13
Views: 2012

Re: Gulf Coast spring so far

Not associating you with your screen name, I was reading this thread and thought to myself "Damn, I've seen that stray dog, too. What are the odds? ". When did you find the Coral? I don't recall you mentioning it. And the distinctive snake track is actually that of an Apalachicola Kingsnak...
by Greg Theos
April 30th, 2014, 10:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: NAFHA Trip
Replies: 15
Views: 3193

Re: NAFHA Trip

Cool post. Your Garter looks more like a typical panhandle specimen to me. All of the Bluestripes I have seen from Wakulla/Taylor/Jefferson counties have neon-blue coloration. Do you have any other pics of it? Also, was that Hognose found in the ANF? That would be an unusual find for the area, since...
by Greg Theos
April 28th, 2014, 7:43 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ANF Teaser: A PAIR OF CONTRASTING APALACHICOLA KINGSNAKES
Replies: 7
Views: 3532

Re: ANF Teaser: A PAIR OF CONTRASTING APALACHICOLA KINGSNAKE

I can see the pics in this thread on my laptop but not on my iphone. Not sure why that is. Will try to fix.
by Greg Theos
April 21st, 2014, 9:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ANF Teaser: A PAIR OF CONTRASTING APALACHICOLA KINGSNAKES
Replies: 7
Views: 3532

ANF Teaser: A PAIR OF CONTRASTING APALACHICOLA KINGSNAKES

A couple of my friends, Jason Thweatt and Jason Adams, are in town visiting and suggested that I post some Apalachicola Kingsnake "teaser" pics for the upcoming ANF gathering. So, I picked a pair that I found and felt was thought-provoking. (Note: I'm not disclosing any locality informatio...
by Greg Theos
March 10th, 2014, 8:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 2014 NAFHA Spring trip: ANF!
Replies: 132
Views: 26916

Re: 2014 NAFHA Spring trip: ANF!

I am also sorry to hear about your father, Bree.

I am planning on being there with my friend Jason (celinder72) and look forward to seeing everyone. I may also bring my nylon-string and bust out some soothing brazilian compositions, as well as toasting brews around the campfire.
by Greg Theos
June 26th, 2013, 8:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Carolina Tiger Beetle Feeding on Squirrel Tree Frog
Replies: 11
Views: 2265

Re: Carolina Tiger Beetle Feeding on Squirrel Tree Frog

DD-I stay busy, so the website (as well as snake-hunting) has become a pretty low-priority for me. I might dedicate some time to it when I happen to have a day off + bad weather.
by Greg Theos
June 26th, 2013, 12:31 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My first HOT!!!
Replies: 9
Views: 1897

Re: My first HOT!!!

I grew up in Memphis and visited Natchez Trace a few times. It is an interesting and beautiful natural area, so just reading about it induces nostalgia. And though I can no longer claim to be an admirer of cottonmouths, I so vividly remember how excited I used to get when I would actually catch and ...
by Greg Theos
June 25th, 2013, 11:56 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Carolina Tiger Beetle Feeding on Squirrel Tree Frog
Replies: 11
Views: 2265

Re: Carolina Tiger Beetle Feeding on Squirrel Tree Frog

Daniel...I first saw this when you posted it on Facebook. I did not sleep for two days afterwards.
by Greg Theos
June 25th, 2013, 11:53 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Do racers do this?
Replies: 10
Views: 2529

Re: Do racers do this?

I have seen racers do that *dozens* of times here in the panhandle and when doing so they look like scrawny, wannabe Indigos.
by Greg Theos
June 24th, 2013, 3:24 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...
Replies: 25
Views: 4814

Re: Guess the county

County lines are arbitrary, unless some major barrier like a river separates them. Two snakes could be found from within the same county and still be 30 miles apart from eachother or could be found in two different counties a few feet from eachother. An actual straight-line distance would be a more ...
by Greg Theos
May 11th, 2013, 8:50 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: April in lower Alabama (same as SE Chapter post)
Replies: 24
Views: 6888

Re: April in lower Alabama (same as SE Chapter post)

I am not posting pics here but will post them on my website (which is down at the moment) if and when I have time. I don't have any pics of the cannibalism, which I am assuming was about to take place since one of the snakes was dead and they were right next to eachother. I do have pics of those sna...
by Greg Theos
April 30th, 2013, 4:36 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: April in lower Alabama (same as SE Chapter post)
Replies: 24
Views: 6888

Re: April in lower Alabama (same as SE Chapter post)

I actually found two more today...one trying to eat the other! The dominant one was the most beautiful snake I have ever found and one of the largest Kingsnake I have ever seen.
by Greg Theos
April 29th, 2013, 9:03 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: April in lower Alabama (same as SE Chapter post)
Replies: 24
Views: 6888

Re: April in lower Alabama (same as SE Chapter post)

That kingsnake is amazing. Most of us will never find anything so unusual. It makes the ANF / Meansi kingsnake I found today seem unexceptional.
by Greg Theos
October 1st, 2012, 8:36 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Western KY March-August 2012: Snakes
Replies: 20
Views: 9479

Re: Western KY March-August 2012: Snakes

Some have looked almost just like adult black ratsnakes but most adults have a very discernible pattern and vary in different shades of brown with reds and even yellows mixed in. I found one years ago that was actually more yellowish than anything and had somewhat reddish blotches. One of the meane...
by Greg Theos
September 30th, 2012, 11:48 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...
Replies: 21
Views: 4947

Re: See if you can guess where this kingsnake was found

Yeah, I found them by the most rewarding method of all...hiking. Unlike most of their brethren to the east, these were BIG, robust and just generally healthy snakes that were out foraging. I will post them up on my website http://www.floridaherping.com when I get a chance. For those who have already...
by Greg Theos
September 30th, 2012, 11:14 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...
Replies: 21
Views: 4947

Re: See if you can guess where this kingsnake was found

Gulf County, although I did find 2 Apalachicola Kingsnakes (i.e., Goini) from Gulf county recently that looked nothing like this one that you have posted.
by Greg Theos
September 29th, 2012, 10:38 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Apalachicola; Places to stay?
Replies: 4
Views: 1685

Re: Apalachicola; Places to stay?

There are many lodging options around the ANF. It is good that you want to stay somewhere "cheap", as most of the places around there are just that. The ANF is bound by 4 highways: 65 to the west, 319 to the east, 20 to the north and 98 along the coast. In the extreme SW section, there is ...
by Greg Theos
September 29th, 2012, 9:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Visiting Destin, Florida
Replies: 4
Views: 1537

Re: Visiting Destin, Florida

I see you are playing with the son of one of the all-time greats, Louis Prima. His musicianship (and raspy character voiceovers) on the original "Jungle Book" alone was nothing short of amazing. What a soul. Being from SoCal, I don't suppose you are familiar with the Zoe and Alexander Band...
by Greg Theos
September 13th, 2012, 6:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Anyone up for the ANF 9/17-9/21?
Replies: 0
Views: 796

Anyone up for the ANF 9/17-9/21?

I will be in the ANF next week from Monday-Friday (9/17-9/21) roadcruising, hiking, kayaking, etc. If anyone is interested in meeting up, let me know. It has been a very rainy year and should be "better" than usual for snake-hunting.
by Greg Theos
September 13th, 2012, 6:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Legal to maliciously kill an EDB in Florida? I ask because
Replies: 23
Views: 7417

Re: Legal to maliciously kill an EDB in Florida? I ask becau

Jimi...I think I went kayaking once this year. I have worked on average ~80hr/wk this year, so my hobbies have been on the backburner. That changes next week, at least for a little while. I'm not sure how this snake ever made it to the size it did in this area. I have seen maybe 30 EDB's, and only 3...
by Greg Theos
September 11th, 2012, 11:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Legal to maliciously kill an EDB in Florida? I ask because
Replies: 23
Views: 7417

Re: Legal to maliciously kill an EDB in Florida? I ask becau

I don't know the legality of it, but I can't help to wonder how you were able to hold it together and talk to this idiot without blowing it and telling him off or worse. I didn't say it was easy. Believe me, it wasn't what I wanted to do. I am all too happy to be confrontational with someone like t...
by Greg Theos
September 10th, 2012, 9:33 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Ever seen a (DOR) Mud Snake this big?
Replies: 21
Views: 8274

Re: Ever seen a (DOR) Mud Snake this big?

Dave, I laid the snake out in the road and observed it from the rearview mirror of my truck for about a minute...at which point some really cool mofo that was trying to make the world a better place violently swerved in such a way as to make certain the snake was extra dead. No gender data, either. ...
by Greg Theos
September 10th, 2012, 9:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Legal to maliciously kill an EDB in Florida? I ask because
Replies: 23
Views: 7417

Legal to maliciously kill an EDB in Florida? I ask because

...as I was driving down a rural NW Florida road, I saw this unfortunately familiar sight. Only seconds earlier, this guy had killed this beautiful 5-foot EDB. My plan was to pull off the road, pretend to be a proud and like-minded ignorant "good ol' boy" and just let the guy get comfortab...
by Greg Theos
September 4th, 2012, 10:11 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Ever seen a (DOR) Mud Snake this big?
Replies: 21
Views: 8274

Re: Ever seen a (DOR) Mud Snake this big?

Mark, I don't think I am with you on this one. The snake measured over 6ft when lying on the ground and without attempting to stretch it's corkscrew-kinked body...at all. It was also 2+ days old and basically petrified from the rigor mortis, so when it was being held from it's tail there was absolut...
by Greg Theos
September 3rd, 2012, 11:52 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Ever seen a (DOR) Mud Snake this big?
Replies: 21
Views: 8274

Ever seen a (DOR) Mud Snake this big?

I know what you are thinking. Yes, my sense of snake-hunting fashion is impeccable, but try and focus on this beast I found lying dead on the side of the road. It was probably 2 days old when I found it and it was too long for one person to get an accurate measurement, since it's body was so kinked ...
by Greg Theos
August 23rd, 2012, 5:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...
Replies: 29
Views: 5055

Re: Some ANF finds over the past few weeks

Sean, I never suggested they were abundant or even common for that matter. It seems to me that (at least since they were popularized) they have always been an uncommon/rare/ultra-secretive/whatever kind of snake. Almost all of the Kingsnake populations throughtout the entire state have either delcin...
by Greg Theos
August 18th, 2012, 9:03 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...
Replies: 29
Views: 5055

Re: Some ANF finds over the past few weeks

You know I understand the variability among these kings, but most of these here look "different" from the others I have seen you post. Are you exploring new, or perhaps less familiar areas? Just making somewhat educated guesses here... -Your first Kingsnake does not look like a Liberty/Fra...
by Greg Theos
July 17th, 2012, 10:27 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Guess the snake track....Theos?
Replies: 33
Views: 9824

Re: Guess the snake track....Theos?

What? You didn't create any tension at all. Maybe I need to start placing more of those "smiley-face" emoticons in my posts. As a final note, I gotta say it seems almost impossible that track was made by anything less than a large snake, judging by the distance between the peaks and troughs.
by Greg Theos
July 16th, 2012, 6:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Guess the snake track....Theos?
Replies: 33
Views: 9824

Re: Guess the snake track....Theos?

Hey, hey...easy,now. I cannot give away all of my secrets. Otherwise, who is gonna buy MY book when I get it published?
by Greg Theos
July 3rd, 2012, 8:24 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Guess the snake track....Theos?
Replies: 33
Views: 9824

Re: Guess the snake track....Theos?

I think some snake hunters make tracking, at least here in the FL panhandle, out to be more scientific and complicated than it really is...it isn't.;) It is far too problematic. Since many different individual snakes of the same species can leave many different types of tracks, I find that the tempe...
by Greg Theos
July 1st, 2012, 10:34 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Guess the snake track....Theos?
Replies: 33
Views: 9824

Re: Guess the snake track....Theos?

I have found Indigos, though I have yet to track one, so I cannot offer any insight from that angle. I can tell you it does not look like any track I have ever seen, and since Indigos (and perhaps Canebrakes) are the only brutes that inhabit sandhills in your region but not mine, that is an exciting...
by Greg Theos
May 15th, 2012, 10:48 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...
Replies: 17
Views: 2951

Re: Gopher Tortoise/burrows in the ANF

My comment had absolutely nothing to do with his decision to collect kingsnakes or any other snake, and it was not directed specifically at him. To (sort of) answer the original question, there are at least two areas within the ANF (and another a few miles outside, not including the big one to the n...
by Greg Theos
May 13th, 2012, 8:21 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...
Replies: 17
Views: 2951

Re: Gopher Tortoise/burrows in the ANF

It sounds like the question you are really asking is "Where can I find Pine Snakes and EDB's in the ANF?" I hope that noone is foolish enough to divulge that information to you or anyone else.
by Greg Theos
April 17th, 2012, 9:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...
Replies: 15
Views: 2960

Re: Not much moving lately but...scratch that...edited!

If you are having a harder time finding Pines vs ANF Kings, I suspect it is because you are spending a far greater amount of time searching for the latter. Pines may not be easy to find but they are much more predictable than those kings. I recognize one of those habitat shots, too...I uploaded a si...
by Greg Theos
March 5th, 2012, 4:30 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Sandhill Fanatical
Replies: 6
Views: 1775

Re: Sandhill Fanatical

Thanks. I'll be adding some new stuff to the website in a few days. Found an incredible Eastern x Florida Kingsnake intergrade over the weekend. For you guys that wished you lived in Florida, the snake hunting here (at least in the panhandle) is tough. Very tough. I've lived here almost a year, surr...
by Greg Theos
February 27th, 2012, 4:08 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Sandhill Fanatical
Replies: 6
Views: 1775

Sandhill Fanatical

I have put together a personal field herping website, Florida herping.com, where I will be posting many of my past and all of my future "snake hunting" experiences. Only one link, "Sandhill Fanatical", is currently active. The new site will be updated frequently, probably beginni...