Search found 497 matches

by Mark Brown
May 11th, 2017, 12:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: vehicle light bars for road hunting
Replies: 23
Views: 10450

Re: vehicle light bars for road hunting

I didn't want to see it again on my rounds but I bet if I go back tonight it will be right where I left it, unless an owl or hawk found it since, which is possible too. Bart If it's anything like Texas it was probably gone by morning. In south Texas you'll see dozens of DORs some nights and then wh...
by Mark Brown
May 11th, 2017, 10:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: vehicle light bars for road hunting
Replies: 23
Views: 10450

Re: vehicle light bars for road hunting

Wow! I'm sold! I liked the above comment about getting glare when they're roof-mounted. I hadn't thought of that and to be honest, I would much rather mount them in front anyway. It's just a lot simpler. I think I'll go ahead and get a grille guard to mount the light on and probably just bolt (or ev...
by Mark Brown
May 6th, 2017, 1:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Lifer King Cobra
Replies: 23
Views: 17274

Re: Lifer King Cobra

What an amazing thing to get to experience. Your video made my day - thanks.
by Mark Brown
May 3rd, 2017, 3:42 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: vehicle light bars for road hunting
Replies: 23
Views: 10450

Re: vehicle light bars for road hunting

I'm certainly with you 100% on the handheld LED flashlights. When I think back on the days of lugging around that Litebox and thinking that it actually provided enough light to make it worth the effort......I just love my Fenix. I don't think a cover for a light bar would be an issue for me, to be h...
by Mark Brown
May 1st, 2017, 11:46 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: vehicle light bars for road hunting
Replies: 23
Views: 10450

Re: vehicle light bars for road hunting

I think I would still want to cover it unless I did like the construction vehicle I saw, which had the light bar mounted with removable brackets on each side of the truck cab. If it was mounted on a grille guard it would be very susceptible to rocks on the highway, and even a roof-mounted one would ...
by Mark Brown
April 27th, 2017, 1:20 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: vehicle light bars for road hunting
Replies: 23
Views: 10450

Re: vehicle light bars for road hunting

This is one I'd love to hear input on, as well. I noticed a construction vehicle at our office complex last year with a full width LED light bar mounted on the front of the cab. Never did get a chance to find the owner to ask him about it. But my friend in west Texas got one and mounted it on his br...
by Mark Brown
February 5th, 2017, 1:27 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: name of a herping tool
Replies: 17
Views: 11040

Re: name of a herping tool

That would be a potato hook - you can Google it to make sure but it sure sounds like that's what you're referring to.
by Mark Brown
January 27th, 2017, 1:48 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Vipers of 2016
Replies: 12
Views: 7738

Re: Vipers of 2016

Fantastic photography of stunning snakes!
by Mark Brown
January 11th, 2017, 2:10 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Costa Rica Guide
Replies: 4
Views: 3191

Re: Costa Rica Guide

I recently got The Venomous Snakes and their Mimics of Panama and Costa Rica, by Ray, Ruback and Knight. A bit on the sparse side when it comes to verbiage but still not a bad book. She ends up describing quite a few non-venomous species, since it seems that a large proportion of snakes in the area ...
by Mark Brown
January 7th, 2017, 1:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Introduction and EOY2016 (Long)
Replies: 8
Views: 7375

Re: Introduction and EOY2016 (Long)

Welcome and nice photojournal. I love New Mexico and I'm hoping to spend more time there, but it's just awfully hard driving by west Texas.
by Mark Brown
September 22nd, 2016, 1:59 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Kids books for snakes
Replies: 5
Views: 2829

Re: Kids books for snakes

This is the book that set me out on my herping journey, almost 55 years ago. I still enjoy reading it.

https://www.amazon.com/All-about-snakes ... B0007DXL1A
by Mark Brown
June 30th, 2016, 2:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Road cruising question/observations
Replies: 7
Views: 3734

Re: Road cruising question/observations

I wouldn't say there's a "minimum" but snakes' activity levels typically start to go down when the temps are below 70, certainly. In the winter months, on warm sunny days, you might occasionally find a rattlesnake soaking up the sun's direct rays outside its brumation area, but chances are...
by Mark Brown
June 29th, 2016, 3:21 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Road cruising question/observations
Replies: 7
Views: 3734

Re: Road cruising question/observations

You didn't mention how much time transpired between the two legs of your drive, but at least in Texas, bullsnakes are typically crepuscular snakes during warmer months - active during early morning and late afternoon/early evening. Most of the time (but certainly not all of the time) you'll stop see...
by Mark Brown
June 26th, 2016, 2:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: NEW BOOK: Snakes of Mexico
Replies: 90
Views: 106982

Re: NEW BOOK: Snakes of Mexico

One small oddity I noticed about the book - the title on the binding is printed upside-down. So when it is on the bookshelf you have to tilt your head to the left to read it as opposed to the right, which is normal. Interesting.
by Mark Brown
June 25th, 2016, 7:02 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: NEW BOOK: Snakes of Mexico
Replies: 90
Views: 106982

Re: NEW BOOK: Snakes of Mexico

Received my copy today and I have to say, in my opinion, it's well worth the money. Very, very nicely done and a great addition to the herp book collection. One question - upon casually flipping through the volume, I noticed that it appears as though milksnakes have lost their status as a species (i...
by Mark Brown
June 22nd, 2016, 10:43 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: NEW BOOK: Snakes of Mexico
Replies: 90
Views: 106982

Re: NEW BOOK: Snakes of Mexico

Thanks for the book tip! My copy just shipped!
by Mark Brown
January 2nd, 2016, 8:37 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: We're Not Out of The Woods Yet (TX,LA,MS,AL,FL): 2015 EOY
Replies: 34
Views: 31871

Re: We're Not Out of The Woods Yet (TX,LA,MS,AL,FL): 2015 EO

Get down south sometime! Nothing quite like finding 60+ snakes on the road at night. To me, it sure beats the socks off staring at cuts. Oh, I spent many hours cruising down south before the fracking operations came along and trashed everything. But I really need to get farther down south and see s...
by Mark Brown
January 2nd, 2016, 1:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: We're Not Out of The Woods Yet (TX,LA,MS,AL,FL): 2015 EOY
Replies: 34
Views: 31871

Re: We're Not Out of The Woods Yet (TX,LA,MS,AL,FL): 2015 EO

Epic post - sure makes me want to finally get around to a far south Texas trip and/or a visit to the coast. Somehow, west Texas always seems to win out......
by Mark Brown
October 5th, 2015, 2:32 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Terry Wilkins hurt by python (updated)
Replies: 3
Views: 2809

Re: Terry Wilkins hurt by python

Thanks for the post. Terry and I were friends and field herping buddies about 35 years ago - haven't seen him since then but we had some good times in southern Ohio.
by Mark Brown
June 23rd, 2015, 2:21 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: RFI: Smallmouth Salamanders around Columbus Ohio
Replies: 5
Views: 3550

Re: RFI: Smallmouth Salamanders around Columbus Ohio

I did a good bit of vernal pool hunting in Columbus in the '70s and don't recall ever seeing A. texanum (nor do my field notes). Saw some up in the Toledo area, but that doesn't help you.
by Mark Brown
January 23rd, 2015, 1:48 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Any tips for herping in central Florida?
Replies: 4
Views: 2196

Re: Any tips for herping in central Florida?

And once you do the above, then let us know what specifically you're looking to observe. I could tell you where to find lots and lots of snakes around central Florida, but they would all be watersnakes and cottonmouths.
by Mark Brown
January 8th, 2015, 3:08 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Southeast Ohio, 2014 Edition
Replies: 17
Views: 8596

Re: Southeast Ohio, 2014 Edition

I never think of Ohio as a a herp spot Many people don't realize what a great state Ohio is, herpetologically, and more importantly, what a fundamental role it played in the early history of American herpetology. The SSAR began as the Ohio Herpetological Society and the list of important herpetolog...
by Mark Brown
January 8th, 2015, 1:53 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Southeast Ohio, 2014 Edition
Replies: 17
Views: 8596

Re: Southeast Ohio, 2014 Edition

Great stuff, Carl - I always get the biggest kick out of your Ohio posts. It's good to see that slab piles aren't gone completely and that a few are still being created.
by Mark Brown
December 19th, 2014, 2:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Any Big Plans For Next Year?
Replies: 20
Views: 8830

Re: Any Big Plans For Next Year?

Like Ryan, I hope to make my first Arizona visit this year. We've planned to for several years but something always gets in the way and we default to west Texas (which is not a bad thing). There's also a tin site locally we hope to visit as soon as we get some sunny warm days - acres of tin on the g...
by Mark Brown
December 19th, 2014, 2:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: EOY 2014 (Big DUW) Trans-Pecos, Arizona, Illinois
Replies: 7
Views: 5125

Re: EOY 2014 (Big DUW) Trans-Pecos, Arizona, Illinois

Outstanding photography, Ben! That's a killer close-up of the Blind Snake - I'm going to keep that to prove to people that those little guys are actually snakes, or to prove to people who are afraid of them that they're certainly nothing to be afraid of.
by Mark Brown
December 13th, 2014, 1:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Exploring Texas 2014: An East Texan forges new Trails (EOY)
Replies: 27
Views: 13487

Re: Exploring Texas 2014: An East Texan forges new Trails (E

Man, what an epic post. How in the world did you manage to get those three Masticophis to sit side by side for a photograph? It's usually hard enough to get one to sit still (unless they're half frozen!).
by Mark Brown
November 19th, 2014, 1:37 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Need help
Replies: 26
Views: 9148

Re: Need help

FloridaSerpent wrote:I just feel like humans will build until there is no land left to build.
Certainly nowhere more true than where you live......seems like every patch of dry land in Florida is developed and the wet patches are catching up fast. :(
by Mark Brown
November 17th, 2014, 9:11 am
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: NOW IN STORES: My book "A Cobra Hijacked My Camera Bag!"
Replies: 49
Views: 85733

Re: NOW IN STORES: My book "A Cobra Hijacked My Camera Bag!"

I sure do love reading your work, Hans. To me, you're a real artist and your mastery is even more remarkable considering that English isn't your first language (IIRC). You've got a far better handle on the language than the vast majority of native English-speaking folks I know.
by Mark Brown
November 17th, 2014, 7:06 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
Replies: 40
Views: 19463

Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1

Whenever I get to spend more time on the West Coast, you'll see that it's just as impressive. Then there's the odd Eurycea radiation in and around Austin, Texas. That one greatly intrigues me. You should come and explore - it's a wonderful place to visit (and to live). I worked closely with a guy b...
by Mark Brown
November 15th, 2014, 2:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
Replies: 40
Views: 19463

Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1

That's a fantastic project! Salamanders were never given short shrift in my world - when I lived in salamander country (Ohio) I enjoyed them nearly as much as snakes, and now that I live in a place where they're not nearly so common, they're about the only thing I miss about the Midwest. Do you have...
by Mark Brown
November 8th, 2014, 5:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Big Atrox?
Replies: 11
Views: 6515

Re: Big Atrox?

It's safe to say that no rattlesnake weighs forty pounds. A good average for a large adult would be closer to ten pounds and a true whopper might go fifteen. I get the biggest kick out of some of those faked photos where the poster claims the snake weighed 90 pounds or some nonsense like that, usual...
by Mark Brown
October 27th, 2014, 6:37 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best Temp for Snakes/ General HELP
Replies: 35
Views: 11379

Re: Best Temp for Snakes/ General HELP

This is a pretty interesting thread. I've struggled as well with finding AC that can be accessed. Google Earth is a pretty good bet. What I've found so far in OR at least is oftentimes you can find the occasional abandoned structure and often vehicles but it is usually fairly intact and overgrown w...
by Mark Brown
October 5th, 2014, 1:34 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Quiz - Identify the Species and Morph (Wild-Caught in AR)
Replies: 4
Views: 2656

Re: Quiz - Identify the Species and Morph (Wild-Caught in AR

I'll go with Diadophis, too.....the light yellow ring around the neck was a tipoff. Or a hatchling Virginia, possibly.
by Mark Brown
October 4th, 2014, 7:56 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Interesting place to find a Bairds Ratsnake..
Replies: 12
Views: 4749

Re: Interesting place to find a Bairds Ratsnake..

I don't have a citation but I'm pretty sure Bairds are documented bat-eaters, utilizing the typical bat-eating technique of snagging them out of the air as the bats leave or enter caves.
by Mark Brown
October 4th, 2014, 1:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Interesting place to find a Bairds Ratsnake..
Replies: 12
Views: 4749

Re: Interesting place to find a Bairds Ratsnake..

That's cool as hell. My old boss' family has a bunch of property out near Fredericksburg and he showed me photos one time from a cave on their land - looked a lot like the inside of the cave you found. Did you contact anyone about the cave? I'm pretty sure there's an agency that keeps track of these...
by Mark Brown
October 2nd, 2014, 4:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Texas the Big Bend
Replies: 22
Views: 11162

Re: Texas the Big Bend

First, we were there for almost 2 weeks. That's got to be a big part of it.....I've never been able to spend more than four or five days at a time. I'm a little surprised you didn't see any pictigasters during your stay. Fall is usually the best time to see them out there. Now you have a good reaso...
by Mark Brown
October 2nd, 2014, 9:08 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Texas the Big Bend
Replies: 22
Views: 11162

Re: Texas the Big Bend

I've YET to find either an alterna or a lepidus in 18 years (on and off) of lookin'. I'm jealous. Now I don't feel so bad. Found an alterna on my very first night out there, over 20 years ago, and I'm still waiting for number two. Funny how some folks find them every trip and the rest of us just wa...
by Mark Brown
October 2nd, 2014, 2:03 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: AC Materials
Replies: 12
Views: 4490

Re: AC Materials

If you have to choose between one or the other (painted/finished or unfinished) you may as well choose the unfinished. But if you have access to both, grab them all and put them all out if you have places to put them. I doubt the finish on the boards would have a significant negative impact and if i...
by Mark Brown
October 2nd, 2014, 1:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Texas the Big Bend
Replies: 22
Views: 11162

Re: Texas the Big Bend

Very cool post! The old west Texas beginners luck is still extant....if you want to see an alterna in west Texas, take along a newbie! :thumb:
by Mark Brown
September 10th, 2014, 2:00 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: So far in SoCal 2014 - a tale of drought and fire
Replies: 6
Views: 4244

Re: So far in SoCal 2014 - a tale of drought and fire

That was great, Kent - a thoroughly enjoyable read! Thanks!
by Mark Brown
September 4th, 2014, 2:18 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Big Atrox?
Replies: 11
Views: 6515

Re: Big Atrox?

Forced perspective - used by fishermen for years to make their five-pound bass look like ten-pound bass. Here's an interesting webpage put together by Dr David Steen to talk about forced perspective photos and to debunk giant rattlesnake fakes. He's a nice guy and if you forward him that photo, I'll...
by Mark Brown
September 3rd, 2014, 1:51 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps in the Home
Replies: 14
Views: 5253

Re: Herps in the Home

Here is a thread I can definitely contribute to. I live in Southern Mexico in a semi-jungle habitat. Our house has a certain "open air quality" to it, though it is screened. Somehow a pretty wide menagerie of animals manages to get inside. Often the amusement or dismay of my two indoor on...
by Mark Brown
August 29th, 2014, 1:36 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps in the Home
Replies: 14
Views: 5253

Re: Herps in the Home

I get baby Med Geckos in the house several times a week - drives the cat nuts. This spring something sorta unusual happened - I found four tiny Blind Snakes in various places in the house over a two week span. I've lived in the house for 16 years and had never seen one before.
by Mark Brown
August 27th, 2014, 6:44 am
Forum: News
Topic: Snake head fatally bites chef.....karma is a b!tch
Replies: 8
Views: 6149

Re: Snake head fatally bites chef.....karma is a b!tch

I didn't make any implication of "happy" but I guess I see your point.
by Mark Brown
August 27th, 2014, 5:59 am
Forum: News
Topic: Snake head fatally bites chef.....karma is a b!tch
Replies: 8
Views: 6149

Snake head fatally bites chef.....karma is a b!tch

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... er-4088634

Notice in the cobra milking video (embedded in the story), it appears the fellow milking the cobra has had his share of difficulties - his forefinger is missing.
by Mark Brown
August 13th, 2014, 2:13 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: La Culebras de Madre de Dios... My first taste of Peru
Replies: 12
Views: 8533

Re: La Culebras de Madre de Dios... My first taste of Peru

The Real Snake Man wrote:Woah, bushmaster! Everything was great, but when I see a bushmaster I just kinda forget that other stuff exists! Lachesis are amazing. Great stuff.
Couldn't have said it better. Thanks for the great photos.
by Mark Brown
August 3rd, 2014, 12:07 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The thrill of the hunt, or the prize at the end?
Replies: 23
Views: 8218

Re: The thrill of the hunt, or the prize at the end?

There was very little to recommend south Texas aside from the herps, at least compared with west Texas, and a fruitless night in south Texas was a very long night I have to disagree there. There didn't used to be many slow nights in STex and in my experience most West Tx nights are slow unless you ...
by Mark Brown
August 3rd, 2014, 1:36 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The thrill of the hunt, or the prize at the end?
Replies: 23
Views: 8218

Re: The thrill of the hunt, or the prize at the end?

I think a lot of this probably has to do with how long you have been herping. I defnitely agree here, and I think an even more important factor might be WHERE you herp. Perfect example.....if I'm going to south Texas (remember when you could actually herp in south Texas?) I was unquestionably focus...
by Mark Brown
July 22nd, 2014, 1:19 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Pure Michigan
Replies: 9
Views: 5640

Re: Pure Michigan

The mosquitos were pretty bad in some places haha. No melanistic garters unfortunately :( When I lived up there it wasn't the mosquitos - it was the deer flies and sand flies. Little bastards would dig down into your scalp and bite like hell. We used to run back to the tin areas at full clip, wavin...
by Mark Brown
July 21st, 2014, 2:03 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Pure Michigan
Replies: 9
Views: 5640

Re: Pure Michigan

Very cool - makes me a little wistful for my days in the Toledo area. That's neat that you found your Fox near a rock pile.....rock piles were always my favorite places to search up there. Do you get melanistic E. Garters in that area? How were the insects.....bitey?

Congrats on the lifers!