Hey all
So it's been an impossibly long time since I've posted anything, but I figured that now was as good a time as any for one. A series of life changing events brought me headlong into the heart of Nebraska to further my education as a full-time, working student. As such, herping has been in short supply, despite being surrounded by fantastic habitat. As we just had our first snow on the ground, I decided to post, looking back on the time that I spent in the heart of the midwest, in Kansas and Missouri. Hope you enjoy
Chad Whitney should remember this one. Here's the dark side to roadcruising (and why you should never attempt to pursue a coachwhip off road in your vehicle)
This gorgeous milk was the result of a lot of hiking into uncharted territory
These are a big deal in Nebraska. Not so much in Kansas.
Great plains rats were always abundant in the right habitat. (which was everywhere.)
Fall was always a good time to be in Kansas. Lots of little guys crawling around, like this young viridis.
These are large, cantankerous, and smelly and I still love them.
These were always abundant but I never got tired of seeing them.
Eastern Kansas black rat, flipped in a huge tin site.
Watch your fingers
Double milks flipped under tin. This was a strange one, a large adult was at one end, and a YOY was at the other. Had never happened to me before, and hasn't happened since.
Lemon racer
Another eastern Kansas milk
Big horridus flipped in a massive tin pile out in the middle of nowhere
Young prarie king. Love the spots on this guy.
Tin
This was the result of a night of roadcruising in the fall. I found 4 horridus AOR and 2 DOR on this night. Little did I know what this spot was capable of...
Little guy
Young bullsnake
Radix
Who doesn't love this sight?
Duel copperheads flipped under a huge rock in Missouri
Beautiful Missouri milk
A pair of bulls I found mating in the road
I love this gentilis for some reason
Another nice timber
Nice copperhead, found with several other forum members.
Chocolate Missouri milk
Lemon king Dan Krull and Chad Whitney cruised
Really nice rat snake
Orange syspilla
A friend called to tell me she thought she might have a snake in her window well. 14 lined snakes later...
When I saw this baby sauga sitting in the road, I was sure that I had found a hognose, as they are far more common in this area.
Dexter Mardis and I photographing a copperhead. This was one crazy night.
Timber found a few minutes later.
On a warm evening, I found three hogs crossing the road in less than fifteen minutes. Nothing else seen the entire night.
A not so great shot of my first Kansas eastern hog.
I seldom flip out over a garter snake but this thing was just pretty.
One of the nicest Missouri milks that I've seen
Missouri cottonmouth
That's Mike Pingleton's hand
More Kansas syspilla
This sauga was just...wow.
Big viridis
These guys have a limited range in Kansas. Red spotted toad. Cute.
My first pigmy, from Oklahoma.
Watch where you step, Rob
Biggest horridus I've seen.
One morning I took a stroll in a field and practically tripped over this beautiful kingsnake.
I climbed into a well in the middle of a well-populated city and came up with a bunch of tigers.
Missouri emory
You always remember your first. This was my first Kansas milk, and a screamer at that.
Thamnophis, but the wrong kind. Found out west cruising for checkered garters...
This big goofy rat snake was found crawling around in broad daylight.
I saw this huge coachwhip in the road and gave chase, but upon being captured, he played dead in my hands.
Pretty Kansas hog.
My first Kansas longnose, but not my last.
Cow milk
Sauga found at the beginning of March on the road, after dark
I finally got the hang of finding these guys.
Godzilla
Regina
And just because, here's a New Mexico suboc.
Viridis getting a meal in the road
And a hooknose from New Mexico.
I think that about does it. If you made it to the end, thanks for sticking around. I'll see you all next spring
Kevin
Looking back at the Midwest
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Looking back at the Midwest
Yeah...I need to get out to the mid west one day....
Milks...
Milks...
Re: Looking back at the Midwest
Those Tigers.....
Re: Looking back at the Midwest
Great to see you back on here Kevin!
Congrats on a really productive year!
Some really nice milks and timbers!
We are still finding between 4 and 6 coachwhips and great plains rats here in Missouri each year.
Nebraska should be fun herping plus you are still close to Kansas and Missouri.
Good luck to you!
Gary
Congrats on a really productive year!
Some really nice milks and timbers!
We are still finding between 4 and 6 coachwhips and great plains rats here in Missouri each year.
Nebraska should be fun herping plus you are still close to Kansas and Missouri.
Good luck to you!
Gary
- Brian Willey
- Posts: 100
- Joined: June 21st, 2010, 6:32 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Re: Looking back at the Midwest
A lot of good stuff in this post!
Re: Looking back at the Midwest
Nice post, I really enjoyed it.
Re: Looking back at the Midwest
Great great post for sure! I liked all those milks and the kings too. Those tigers were a neat find. Thanks for posting.
Re: Looking back at the Midwest
Hilarious! I can't wait to see you dominate NE now...