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Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 27th, 2013, 12:21 pm
by Jeremy Westerman
Here is my most wanted list for this year 2013:
Utah Blind Snake- wanted for being so elusive as to question their existence and my sanity.

Regal Ringneck snake in Utah- wanted for stunning photos

Coachwhip in Utah- wanted for being faster than a camera shutter

Mojave Patchnose snake- wanted alive to one up Thomas' dead on boat photos

Western Leafnose snake- wanted for more records verified from Utah

Great Plains Rat Snake- wanted to tick off my lifer list

Utah Mountain Kingsnake- wanted to make Brian Hubbs and Bryan Hamilton envious

Utah Milk Snake- wanted for the crime of eluding Thomas for a long time

Western Blackneck Garter- to finish off the Utah garters for me

Ground snake-wanted to prove to Brian Eagar that some of the rest of us can get lucky too

Blackhead snake- wanted period. Seriously has anyone ever seen one in Utah in like forever?

Sonoran Lyre Snake in Utah- wanted for the rights to be hoisted to the shoulders of other chapter members as a conquering hero

Speckled rattlesnake- wanted because we didn't find one last time and I want to try and out do that smug Cameron Rognan with his absolutely unbeatable beautiful pictures

Mojave sidewinder pink variant- wanted because I took Chris York, Thomas and Rye to my best spot to find them and came up zilch making me look like a tool.

Grand canyon rattlesnake in Utah- wanted to make Jimi's eyes pop out like a cartoon when he is browsing the forums and comes across my killer photos

Desert Iguana in Utah- wanted so I can silence the naysayers

Gila Monster- wanted to get Tim and Josh Emms to plan trips to Utah and to show Jason Hull something besides my hand-painted replica Gilas

Rattlesnakes in general- wanted because they are seriously cool and I can use the photos to get Matt in trouble with his wife on facebook because he promised that his son Jake would be nowhere near one on the chapter trip

These outlaws must be located and photographed for their crimes of eluding me for several years of fruitless search. Lets round up a posse and hunt these varmints down and record them to the fullest extent of the database. Let no rock go unturned, no board go unflipped and no desolate road go uncruised until we have located and apprehended the bandits for photos and GPS coordinates. Justice must be done for the women and children. There is a substantial reward offered for info on their whereabouts, just see Tim Warfel or Mike Pingleton for payment as they apparently have money to blow for herp trips all over the place.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 27th, 2013, 1:27 pm
by Rancorrye
Pink sidewinders and horned lizards the size of hamburgers.....I don't know about your spot :lol:

You and I have a similar list. Let me know if you ever want company this year.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 27th, 2013, 2:13 pm
by ThomWild
Jeremy Westerman wrote:Here is my most wanted list for this year 2013:

Sonoran Lyre Snake in Utah- wanted for the rights to be hoisted to the shoulders of other chapter members as a conquering hero

Desert Iguana in Utah- wanted so I can silence the naysayers


Someone already beat you to these two this year. Here are pics of a live Utah Lyre.

Image

***This is not my picture, nor was it my find, but I can tell you with 100% confidence that it is a Utah Lyre.***

-Thomas

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 28th, 2013, 10:26 am
by Bryan Hamilton
That thar is a hefty list partner.

We will bring them to justice.

My most wanted list is a common kingsnake and ground snake in central Nevada and a ringneck snake anywhere in Utah or Nevada. Rattlesnakes are always welcome.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 28th, 2013, 11:08 am
by Brian Eagar
With a ton of hard work I've found everything on your list in Utah except the lyre and leafnose.
This will be the year of the lyre if it's the last herp I ever find.

Blackheaded snakes are easy and I find them every time I look for them and when I'm not looking for them. Mid april to early may under rocks all over washington county. They are quite sympatric with sonora and leptotyphlops so if you get into sonora chances are you will find a tantilla also and if you are especially lucky a leptotyphlops.
Focus on hills. Recent rain and early morning is key for all 3.

The hardest ones on your list will be the blind snake, lyre and gila in my opinion.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 9:13 am
by TimCO
A call to arms!

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 9:59 am
by simpleyork
looks like we need to set up a spring trip down to Washington county, I'm thinking right after finals. who's up for that? let me know and I'll try to get a date set that I can do it.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 3:42 pm
by herpseeker1978
I'll probably be heading down there sometime this spring, but it depends on when my family wants to be down there. We have a tentative plan to spread my grandma's ashes down there, if it happens to be the same weekend you guys plan that would be awesome!

Josh

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 4:57 pm
by simpleyork
I'm thinking the first weekend, so the 3-5th of May.
Jeremy sorry if i'm hijacking this thread.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 5:03 pm
by Jimi
I have a work trip to Bryce the week before the weekend of 3/23-24. Could do Wash Co. flip-trip, a rocket run to Borrego or other low desert that weekend.

Along those lines...anybody here know/been into the Chemehuevi's? I'm curious what the specks there look like. The hills themselves are very exciting, to my aesthetic sense. So even seeing no herps would be fun.

Cheers,
Jimi

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 5:20 pm
by simpleyork
is it warm enough then down in saint george in march to flip snakes? as I do have spring break around that time which could work as well

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 6:27 pm
by simpleyork
have some friends that have found a few lyre snakes down in southern Utah

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 7:24 pm
by Brian Eagar
I hope to be down there the weekend of the 3-5th. That would be a prime time to be there.

Simple, you can flip snakes in March if the conditions are just right. Extended, warm overnight lows and less than 80 durring the day. I've flipped blacknecked and ground snakes in March as well as whiptails, utas, spiny lizards, geckos and various toads. Much better than just finding garters and boas durring that same time period in Northern Utah.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 7:44 pm
by Jeremy Westerman
I still want to help Bryan Hamilton out with his survey not sure when that is but thought it was May. I would be interested in a SoCal rocket run or St. George trip also though.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 8:00 pm
by Jeremy Westerman
Tentative stuff brewing so far:

May 3-5 St. George flip trip
March 23-24 SoCal rocket run
May Dinosaur area chapter trip May 11-12?
May Hamilton kingsnake survey Eastern Nevada May?
I will be canyoneering in April Southeastern Utah Moab or south of green River and Zions late August
Backpacking high Uintas early August
Sept chapter trip?
April den checks

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 8:07 pm
by simpleyork
I have March 11-17 off from work and school so might head down there then as well. just need a break from the hectic life right now.
Might shoot down there then to try my luck. Still need to find a live night snake as well.

So definitely May 3-5
and possibly some time in the week of March 11-17th
for me

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 10:09 pm
by Rancorrye
Count me in for St. George May 3-5. I should be off work that weekend.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 10:39 pm
by simpleyork
sounds good

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: January 30th, 2013, 8:42 am
by TimCO
We will certainly do a fall chapter trip, something awesome. I encourage all of you to make all of your outings this year NAFHA trips, mini or otherwise. The HERP Mobile app makes record making incredibly easy if you have a smart phone, and the manual way isn't much harder.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: February 1st, 2013, 3:53 pm
by simpleyork
Just found out today that my wife's sister is getting married on May 3rd, with a reception May 4th
I'm going to move the date I go to the weekend of
April 26th-28th
Sorry about any inconvenience this may bring
let me know who will be going on this changed date.
I may have room in my truck for carpooling if the wife decides to stay home

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: February 1st, 2013, 9:55 pm
by occidentalis
i've found a couple utah lyres. now wish i would have appreciated them more at the time.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: February 4th, 2013, 11:43 am
by Rancorrye
I'll probably still head down to St. George May 3-5. I don't think I can make April 26-28.

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: February 6th, 2013, 10:05 am
by ThomWild
Rye I may be down there with my family that week I don't know the dates exactly yet but I might be able to meet up down there. I will keep you posted.

-Thomas

Re: Wanted: elusive critters of the West

Posted: February 6th, 2013, 8:00 pm
by Rancorrye
That would be great Thomas. Let me know