Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

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cameron.rognan
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Joined: August 12th, 2011, 11:36 am
Location: St. George, Utah
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Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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

Image
Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

Image
Mojave Desert Sidewinder by cameronrognan, on Flickr

Image
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

Image
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
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occidentalis
Posts: 39
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:13 pm
Location: the west

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by occidentalis »

me asusta, pero me gusta!
very cool post.
ADCIII
Posts: 100
Joined: August 26th, 2010, 10:56 am

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by ADCIII »

Really, REALLY neat. Fabulous work on this project. Thanks for sharing, Art
RobK

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by RobK »

How cool is that?!? Awesome to come back and see them a few days later. Thanks for sharing.
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PNWHerper
Posts: 667
Joined: July 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
Location: King County, WA

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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
ThomWild
Posts: 352
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 10:42 am
Location: Utah

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by ThomWild »

Stuff like this is why I keep throwing my short supply of money at field herping. Thanks for sharing the experience!!!

-Thomas
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Jason Hull
Posts: 203
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:43 pm

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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
cameron.rognan
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Joined: August 12th, 2011, 11:36 am
Location: St. George, Utah
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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
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Bryan Hamilton
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by Bryan Hamilton »

So cool.
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cayrip
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Location: Denver, CO

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by cayrip »

AWESOME POST! Thank you for sharing!
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TheRivermunchkin
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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:
bgorum
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by bgorum »

Between you and Brendan I'm having a severe inferiority complex. Neat stuff!

Bill
mikemike
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by mikemike »

Awesome post and great shots! Thanks a lot for sharing such an observation.
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Carl Brune
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by Carl Brune »

Awesome.
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Ross Padilla
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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:
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sjfriend
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Joined: February 20th, 2011, 1:38 pm
Location: Alaska

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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.
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MassHorridus
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Joined: September 2nd, 2010, 6:31 am
Location: Dallas TX

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by MassHorridus »

Best Ever :thumb:
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Fundad
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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
TimCO
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Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:27 am
Location: Colorado

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by TimCO »

Great set of pics.
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Correcamino
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Joined: June 10th, 2010, 12:50 pm

Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post 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
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Porter
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Re: Live Birth of Sidewinder in Utah

Post by Porter »

Nice :thumb: Best post I've seen man :beer:
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