Lookie what I found...

#1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2002, 03:40 PM

Finally, after living at this place for 10 months, my "backyard" has always looked like snake haven but until yesterday, I've never even seen a glimpse of one.

Grace and I were just out walking, and I was collecting a rock for one of my snake's cages. I flipped one small log - nothing. Turned over a small rock, nothing. Turned over a larger rock, JACKPOT!!!

Found this little dude. First, he's a Eastern Coachwhip, on my wishlish. Second, he's essentially brand new, probably hatched in July or August and finally, coachwhips aren't "supposed" to be found this far north, he's about 2 counties further north than their known range in NC. He's a little firecracker - I think he bit me four times in the 20 yards it took me to walk from the woods edge to the steps to my apartment.

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telefrag · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2002, 05:38 PM

looks more like a juvie black racer.

haha!

finally got some herping in eh?
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SteveP · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2002, 07:00 PM

Very cool find J! When I lived in Las Vegas and worked out in the Mojave Desert south of there I used to find quite a few coachwhips (Masticophis flagellum), which people would mistakenly call red racers. They definitely have attitude, especially when little. I found one that was easily in the 6 foot long range and ironically was relatively docile compared to smaller specimens I'd found. Guess he figured he'd gotten big enough he could afford to chill a little!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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faze · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2002, 07:56 PM

>>looks more like a juvie black racer.

yup thats what it looks like to me also customers bring them into me all the time [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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#5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2002, 02:09 AM

Drat! I knew it was too odd for it to be a coachwhip, too far north. He just seemed so long and slim for a racer. Nevertheless, I think it's too late into the fall for me to let him go now. I'm a big fan of Coluber too, perhaps I'll keep him, at least until the spring.
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eddie · #6 (**permalink**) 10-14-2002, 02:25 AM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> I'm a big fan of Coluber too, perhaps I'll keep him, at least until the spring.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

If you're gonna keep him that long then I would reccomend keeping him for a pet forever.
Not just for the possible bugs he could take outdoors with him when he leaves but also that it may well be humanized by then.

But it is a good find, especially with our oddball weather lately!
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#7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 06:32 PM

I will be releasing this little fella exactly back where I found him tomorrow. Hopefully he'll survive the winter. I'll be looking for him in the spring.
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Seany · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 06:36 PM

Sorry he wasn't what you hoped he'd be... I wish I could just find snakes in my back yard...
Better luck next time [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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#9 (**permalink**) 10-16-2002, 06:41 PM

I released this little fella this morning, right beside the rock I found him under. I hope he survives the winter, the cute little guy. Maybe I'll run into him in the spring [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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JuliusSqueezer · #10 (**permalink**) 10-16-2002, 09:33 PM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> it may well be humanized by then </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Odd thing about reptiles. They do not really humanize. Even after many generations of captive breeding, they are still wild animals born or hatched with every instinct that their wild relatives have. No reptile will ever come when you call him though some will respond to your presence if they think you are going to feed them....but wild iguanas and other wild animals will do this too sometimes but still remain wild. There is no chance of a high strung people hating black racer doing this though. No reptile will pass on an opportunity to escape no matter how "tame"...they all want to get away. If released in a native habitat where their basic needs can be found...they have the same chance of survival as anyother reptile in the wild. The only concern would be that of picking up non-native parasites or illnesses from your exotic collection and then transfering them to the native wildlife.
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#11 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 01:49 PM

Nah, not at my place [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I have no exotics, unless you consider a Bullsnake exotic. Every other snake of mine can be found in NC. But then, I'm sure you imparting that information for everyone, not just me.

And there was absolutely no chance of that lil black racer EVER getting used to me! heh heh, at least he didn't bite me goodbye.
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