South GA Herping Report 06-19-04

[BWSmith]

UnBoalievable showed up at the house at Midnight Friday night and we headed out for some herping in extreme South Georgia. We got to some good roads at about dawn or so. We were only finding DORs until about 10 am when we found a very brown Gray Ratsnake. The Travelling Frog thought he could handle this one.

(More frog pics from this trip soon)




So we went and checked into General Coffee State Park. Taked to the Park Manager for a while (mainly making fun of Ed_r and Herpkingdom ). We also went down to meet the new naturalist. Got to see her new little baby Gopher torts little Gator. She invited us down to help out with the Gopher Tortoise Survey on the park later this year. Never turn down a chance to legally tackle and work with a protected species

Here is one of the 4 Gopher torts that live in the camping area.


Then we headed back down to do some night road cruising. we saw alot of DORs, but very few live snakes. For the DOR snakes we stopped to ID, we saw 2 racers, a baby garter, a small Banded Water Snake, a beautiful Easter Kingsnake with bands so thick that it looked like a Cali King, a subadult Cottonmouth, and a large Canebrake. We did find the Joe Pesci of Water Snakes. This little thing was less than 2 feet, but would flip into the air to strike nonstop and slammed it jaws back together with so much force that it sounded like a clap. Definately a fun snake. We ran into several other herpers including Swampy. They had a very good night for snakes and last time we talked to them, they already found 3 Pygs and several nonvenomous. Meanwhile, I almost caught an Armadillo and we had to dodge a Barred Owl.

We may not have caught as many snakes, but finding about a 12" Scarlet Snake makes up for Quantity with Quality!



SOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!

Of course, we still had not slept yet. And once we started seeing elephants with dreadlocks, fairies dodging the windshield, and a train in our lane ont he highway, we decided that 40 something hours straight was long enough it was time to call it a night and finally get some sleep.

	Cottonmouth Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Also known as a Water Moccasin.

[schatzie001]

You should call these jaunts of yours EXTREME HERPING as well! Definately not for lightweigts such as I!
Love the pics, especially froggy! Glad to see you both made it home safe.

[muzixman]

Sounds like a good time, nice frog he looks like a true herper snake hook and all , love the scarlet

[Ed_r]

ya know I think we should have honorary rights down there with all the flag your dishing out over there.lol

[Stormyva]

That is herping to the extreme! I think I like my sleep to much to do a marathon herping run like that!

[toker]

That would be awesome to go herping like that! I doubt I could keep up with ya but it would be a blast trying!

Great pictures!

[BWSmith]

It is not that extreme. A couple buddies of mine put that to shame. Last time I went out with them, I didnt get to bed until Sunday night!

[unBOAlievable]

I don't think I had enough tylenol p.m. to make it to Sunday night
We did take a little break during the hottest part of the day to let the frog stretch his legs and play for a while.

[JuliusSqueezer]

So...where's my pygs?