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Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 10:01 am
by monklet
Of all the N.A. snakes we see here, I recall only one Baird's Rat Snake posted ...in fact, we've seen more Rainbow's, Florida Pines, Short-tailed Snakes, Thornscrub Hooknose, not to mention alterna and just about everything else. ...including Black Pine even!

...what's up with that? Are they that rare, or is it just that no one is hunting in their range - or not posting for some reason? I need to know :?: ;)

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 10:14 am
by chad ks
I haven't found one since my first trip to the Bend back in 2001, they sure are cool beasts though!

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 10:18 am
by Mulebrother
Most of their range has been under a horrendous drought for the past several years...although its currently listed as just "abnormally dry" by the US Drought monitor...I bet thats part of the reason right there.
That is a cool freakin snake...on i still have yet to check off my list! But i'm like you, cant remember the last time I saw one posted.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 10:19 am
by Mike Pingleton
From my second visit to Texas, back in the last century:

Image

We saw three AOR that magical night....scanned film image does not do this serpent justice.

-Mike

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 10:21 am
by monklet
Thanks guys for the input. Just remembered I could check the NAFHA database ...

1. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 1985-06-00 Val Verde County TX US
2. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 1997-05-00 Terrell County TX US
3. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 1998-07-01 Bandera County TX US
4. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 1999-05-19 Val Verde County TX US
5. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 1999-05-19 Val Verde County TX US
6. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 2001-05-09 Val Verde County TX US
7. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 2001-05-15 Val Verde County TX US
8. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 2002-04-27 Edwards County TX US
9. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 2002-06-05 Edwards County TX US
10. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 2007-05-13 Bandera County TX US
11. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 2008-07-05 Jeff Davis County TX US
12. Pantherophis bairdi
Baird's Ratsnake 2009-06-14 Crockett County TX US


...still not many. Looks like Chris H. has found a few very nice ones.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 10:22 am
by monklet
Wow Mike, scanned or not, that is one flamin' awe-inspiring bairdi! Thanks:) ...what a night that must have been. What else did you have?

...I vaguely recall your's being the post I referred to?

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 10:34 am
by Mike Pingleton
This gnarly Blacktail:

Image

I sure miss west TX.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 12:47 pm
by Don
Mike,

That's one snazzy looking chicken snake!!

:thumb:

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 1:50 pm
by Mike Pingleton
monklet wrote:
...I vaguely recall your's being the post I referred to?
uh....I dunno, somewhere in the 4000+ lost posts I made back in FHF 1.0 ?

I miss those posts. :cry:

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 2:31 pm
by KevinS
I've also wondered why Bairds aren't better represented on here. They'd be at the top of my list if I lived anywhere near them.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 27th, 2010, 8:38 am
by RAK
Nah they are common in fact on of the more common snakes where they are located. Look at most of the Texas posts and they are originating from areas with no or low bairds populations. Also like the original poster mentioned - many TX herpers are just no posting for obvious reasons.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 27th, 2010, 9:50 am
by bobassetto
i've done the texas swing since 1976......in certain locales the baird's can be counted on to appear.....sometimes before dusk!!!!

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 27th, 2010, 10:00 am
by Daryl Eby
bobassetto wrote:i've done the texas swing since 1976......in certain locales the baird's can be counted on to appear.....sometimes before dusk!!!!
They can be found on the crawl mid-morning in at least one remote location in south Brewster county. I suspect they are much more crepuscular or even diurnal in some conditions than most herpers realize.

I'd be interested in hearing about any other daytime sightings.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 27th, 2010, 5:55 pm
by mjd123
I caught one in April of 1966 on the crawl during the day in Val Verde County. It was the first live one I'd ever seen. No photos or other verification. It ended up at the Los Angeles Zoo.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 29th, 2010, 5:55 am
by Lindsay
I've seen a few during mid-morning hikes in BBNP in May-June. always near trees. One was cooperatively crawling on the rock wall directly in front of my bumper in a parking area. Such great skill I had to find that one.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: August 29th, 2010, 9:43 am
by BillMcGighan
Daryl Eby
They can be found on the crawl mid-morning in at least one remote location in south Brewster county.
All I've ever found (but, that's only about 5 adult animals) were crawling early to mid morning or just at dusk, with the exception of YOY hatchlings at night.
.
Image

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 9:00 am
by Aaron
I found 2 this year on a 4 night trip to TX. They haven't seemed any more uncommon than any other snake to me, over the last several years. In other words, if stuff was moving I'd find 'em if nothing was moving I wouldn't.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 10:13 am
by monklet
Thanks all for the informative replies.
Aaron wrote:I found 2 this year on a 4 night trip to TX. They haven't seemed any more uncommon than any other snake to me, over the last several years. In other words, if stuff was moving I'd find 'em if nothing was moving I wouldn't.
Given that, it's interesting that there are so few posts and entries in the NAFHA database?

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 10:53 am
by Mike Pingleton
Road Trip!
:thumb:

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 12:48 pm
by monklet
Me? Road trip? ...hmmm, novel idea Mike :idea: Unfortunately I've already squandered my opportunities this year so it'll have to wait. Hopefully next season:)

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 2:46 pm
by Don Cascabel
I have seen a few in Texas (3) and about the same number in Nuevo León. Unfortunately the Mexican ones were DOR so I don't think I photoed them.

They seem to be moderately abundant where they occur, but it is usually mid elevations and I always end up finding road killed specimens while looking for other stuff.

Don Cascabel

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 4:23 pm
by r.edwards
hmmm....bairds....here is what works for me....
Zero have graced my headlights or my flashlights after dark, however I have seen many during the daylight hours. Try walking around an hour before dark, or as mentioned earlier, in the morning around 8 to 10 AM.
Most herpers in the region are cruising for alterna after dark and some do not even bother to leave their margarita machine before darkness falls.

hope this helps

r.edwards

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 6:38 pm
by Brian Hubbs

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 8:45 pm
by monklet
Yes Brian, I've seen those ancient records ...but what have you done for ME lately? ...oh yeah, you "Rick Rolled" us here ...which I vastly appreciate. Love that guy! I wanna be HIM! Bet he sees more tail than everyone on this forum combined!

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 9:25 pm
by Aaron
Monklet I haven't gotten around to putting them into NAFHA but I will. As far as pics go, the most recent ones were insitu, on the road and not very good; thanks TPWD! I will be happy to post them if you like.
Without checking my records I can say that I haven't noticed any decrease in all my years hunting TX. I've hunted there every year since 1996, except I missed 2009 due to work. I found 0 in '96 and '97 but starting in '98 I've found approx 2 to 4 per year. The notable exception being 2006 which was extremely dry and all snakes were down. In fact I only found 7 snakes total that year and I hunted for 7 nights. That 7 even included diurinals(= 1 skinny coachwhip) and DORS. It was a horrible year but there was a bright spot, one of those 7 snakes was an alterna, praise the lord!

Oh yea, I find plenty of Baird's after dark. About 75% of mine were found after dark. The rest were at dusk. They are the second prettiest North American ratsnake, IMHO, after green rats. They also make excellent captives, very hardy, tame easily, easy to breed and the babies always took fuzzy mice without any coaxing. I don't know why they aren't more popular. At one time they were $150 but I was lucky to get $35 when I bred them. That, in a nutshell, is just about everything I know about Baird's, lol.

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 9:28 pm
by Paul White
2006 was the only time I went to South Texas--I thought it was frigging wonderful...if that was ab ad year :shock:

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 9:52 pm
by Aaron
Paul I was in west TX, south TX could have been completely different conditions?

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 11:15 pm
by Brian Hubbs
OK Monk, I just won't add anything to your stupid discussions in the future...(I'm just not appreciated here...hmmm...I wonder what they're doing at K-snake.com?) :lol:

ImageImageImage

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 4th, 2010, 12:04 am
by Ross Padilla
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Brian, I'm pretty sure those from NJ don't claim you as one of their own. :lol:

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 4th, 2010, 8:42 am
by monklet
Aaron wrote:Monklet I haven't gotten around to putting them into NAFHA but I will. As far as pics go, the most recent ones were insitu, on the road and not very good; thanks TPWD! I will be happy to post them if you like.
Without checking my records I can say that I haven't noticed any decrease in all my years hunting TX. I've hunted there every year since 1996, except I missed 2009 due to work. I found 0 in '96 and '97 but starting in '98 I've found approx 2 to 4 per year. The notable exception being 2006 which was extremely dry and all snakes were down. In fact I only found 7 snakes total that year and I hunted for 7 nights. That 7 even included diurinals(= 1 skinny coachwhip) and DORS. It was a horrible year but there was a bright spot, one of those 7 snakes was an alterna, praise the lord!

Oh yea, I find plenty of Baird's after dark. About 75% of mine were found after dark. The rest were at dusk. They are the second prettiest North American ratsnake, IMHO, after green rats. They also make excellent captives, very hardy, tame easily, easy to breed and the babies always took fuzzy mice without any coaxing. I don't know why they aren't more popular. At one time they were $150 but I was lucky to get $35 when I bred them. That, in a nutshell, is just about everything I know about Baird's, lol.
Hope you didn't think I was jumping case over not posting or entering into database. I was just noting that it made them seem to be a rare find. Yep they are awesome! I've got one CB that is as good a pet as a golden retreiver, same personality:) ...ugly little toad though.
Image

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 4th, 2010, 8:44 am
by monklet
Brian Hubbs wrote:OK Monk, I just won't add anything to your stupid discussions in the future...(I'm just not appreciated here...hmmm...I wonder what they're doing at K-snake.com?) :lol:
Whatever :roll:

"Like, I dated Hubbs once..."
Image

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 4th, 2010, 9:51 am
by infidel
I've found two this year...this one was from a while back:
Image
Jason

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 4th, 2010, 11:05 am
by monklet
Thanks Jason. What county (if you may say)?

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 4th, 2010, 11:49 am
by infidel
monklet wrote:Thanks Jason. What county (if you may say)?
Lets just say its a "Real" County. :lol:

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 4th, 2010, 2:37 pm
by Brian Hubbs
I never dated that woman. She's lying...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol9_0sch ... re=related

Re: Baird's Rat Snake Status?

Posted: September 5th, 2010, 8:09 am
by monklet
God I miss that gang :cry: Those were the days weren't they. Never thought I'd think of Larry as "that young guy" 8-) ...good night.

Brian Hubbs wrote:I never dated that woman. She's lying...
...something about DNA but they cleaned the carpet.