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Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 22nd, 2011, 11:48 am
by cameron.rognan
I got lucky to find this sidewinder giving birth last August. Well, it wasn't all luck, I was stopping by its burrow a few times each week in anticipation of the babies. Unfortunately the burrow is right on the edge of an active ATV route, so it gets a lot of disturbance. But the snakes still seem to be doing well and I have not seen any squashed ones yet. I arrived at its burrow around 8:30 pm and 9 babies were already out squirming around and exploring their new world. I watched the 10th and final snake of the brood come out a few minutes later.

Cameron

Videos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameronrognan/6134805509/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameronrognan/6167682111/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameronrognan/6167665593/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameronrognan/6167639089/

Pictures Below:
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Mojave Desert Sidewinder Giving Birth by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder and Scorpion by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

The next photos are a few days later:
Image
Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

Image
Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

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Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

Image
Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

Image
Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

Image
Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 22nd, 2011, 2:18 pm
by occidentalis
me asusta, pero me gusta!
very cool post.

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 22nd, 2011, 9:17 pm
by ADCIII
Really, REALLY neat. Fabulous work on this project. Thanks for sharing, Art

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 22nd, 2011, 11:13 pm
by RobK
How cool is that?!? Awesome to come back and see them a few days later. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 23rd, 2011, 1:39 pm
by PNWHerper
I got say, this is one of my favorite posts I have seen! Awesome luck with getting to see this happen!

I am excited to come see that area with you in Spring. Looks like the time off of work is likely a go. I will PM you the details soon.

You did not happen to get pics and measurements of the tracks left by this process, did you Cameron?

Fil

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 23rd, 2011, 2:40 pm
by ThomWild
Stuff like this is why I keep throwing my short supply of money at field herping. Thanks for sharing the experience!!!

-Thomas

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 23rd, 2011, 2:54 pm
by Jason Hull
Great observation and pics. What's the story with the scorpion in the fifth shot? Did it come out any further or did it retreat?

Jason

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 23rd, 2011, 8:06 pm
by cameron.rognan
I was wondering if someone would notice the scorpion. It came out briefly, but retreated back into the burrow. I think it was likely bothered by all the little snakes going in and out of the burrow, or maybe it smelled some of the fresh egg sacs and was looking for food. I'm sure it came out again after I left. Anyone know if desert hairy scorpions would eat the egg sac remains? I figured they ate mostly insects and other bugs, but I'm no expert.

Cameron

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 24th, 2011, 9:19 am
by Bryan Hamilton
So cool.

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 24th, 2011, 9:42 am
by cayrip
AWESOME POST! Thank you for sharing!

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 24th, 2011, 10:25 am
by TheRivermunchkin
Incontrovertibly anomalous and miraculous! Thank you for bestowing photographic illustration of such a miraculous event. Sanguinely the future will yield similar observances as spectacular as this, for me.
:thumb:

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 25th, 2011, 6:49 am
by bgorum
Between you and Brendan I'm having a severe inferiority complex. Neat stuff!

Bill

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 25th, 2011, 6:50 pm
by mikemike
Awesome post and great shots! Thanks a lot for sharing such an observation.

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 26th, 2011, 7:18 pm
by Carl Brune
Awesome.

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 30th, 2011, 3:01 pm
by Ross Padilla
Wow, this is one of the coolest posts ever. Great shots and Video. What's really cool to me is the color of the ground and that Sidewinder. Absolutely incredible! If this hasn't been posted on the main forum, it should be there. I hardly ever check out other NAFHA chapter forums, so I'm really glad I did today. :thumb: :beer: :thumb: :beer:

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 30th, 2011, 3:47 pm
by sjfriend
Beautiful post. Can't wait until I can get back in that part of the state and herp. Love the color of those cerastes.

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 30th, 2011, 4:34 pm
by MassHorridus
Best Ever :thumb:

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 9:34 am
by Fundad
:thumb: :beer: Awesome stuff.. Its interesting to me that she would have them out in the open like that.

Outstanding work...

Well we be seeing this observation in the NAFHA Database?

:D
Fundad

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 3:48 pm
by TimCO
Great set of pics.

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: November 2nd, 2011, 7:40 am
by Correcamino
Awesome stuff Cameron!

I was a little concerned about the Hadrurus possibly eating one of the babies! I've seen them eat Uta's before.

Best,

Rich

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Posted: November 3rd, 2011, 3:51 pm
by Porter
Nice :thumb: Best post I've seen man :beer: