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Reptile Encounters: 2025

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#261 ·
I heard a rustle in the leaves right next to me when I was speed at my turnaround point today. It was a decent size California King - San Diego variety, solid brown with a yellow strip instead of the usual banding. He disappeared into a hole before I could get my phone out.

It looked like he had a few scars from hawk encounters.
 
#263 · (Edited)
From the humid side of the country:
Timber Rattlesnake chillin' in the sun last Saturday morning. It appears to be about halfway between black phase and brown phase. Didn't move much since it was about 8:15 and roughly 60 degrees.
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#264 · (Edited)
Critters didn't mind the hazy/dusty conditions this morning. Not pictured, but also had a small coachwhip dart across the trail in front of me.

One of many not-small desert spiny's out today, but this one was the only one that stayed still for a moment.
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While trying to get a good angle on the above guy, I happened to look down and saw this fella right at my feet. Looks like an ornate tree lizard. At least that's my best guess.
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And at long last, nice little diamondback stretched out on the side of the trail.
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Oh, and his cousin at home last night:
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#266 ·
#267 ·
Scales errrrywhere.

Had one more visit from the local population at home last night:
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And today was a really nice collection.. started out with a coachwhip staring me down from afar.
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Then came across a chungus horned lizard smack in the middle of the trail. Only the 2nd one I've seen this year (and the only one to stay put for some pics.)
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Then came across a few other riders all stopped in their tracks for a big ass dback stretched across the trail. Didn't get a ton of pics since I ended up playing snek-charmer with the monopod to get it off the trail, but it's definitely been around the block a few times.
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Discussion starter · #269 ·
Hurricane Jeff said:
I think its about time that @Thoreau starts his own Reptile encounters post! He's so lucky! I live in the NF and have only seen about 3 snakes this year, 1 Rubber Boa and 2 Garter snakes as well has a ton of various lizards.
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If you want to meet up for a ride/reptile hunt next Spring, just lemme know. If the weather is behaving, we can meet up in JTree for a roll through the rocks there. That place crawls with 4 legged reptiles. I only wish it had more snakes to offer. Night driving down in JV in the heat of Summer can yield some snake encounters.
 
#270 · (Edited)
Sadly, no ride time today, but still got to get some time in with a couple home snex and some edit cactus wrens (that almost looked ready to attack the snake I relocated, but scampered off in the opposite direction.)

Diamondback relaxing under a plant next to the sidewalk:
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Little edit cactus wren eyeing things up to see if there's a good meal to be had:
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Went to circle back on the other snake I had spotted during the dog walk, but it was gone. However this other fella was crossing an opening:
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#271 · (Edited)
And posting apart from the others because I'll be damned if the first one didn't make me 2nd guess my ID skills. Sadly, only cell phone images, but the tail was VERy mojave-ish, yet the pattern, head scales, and eye stripes don't support anything but diamondback.

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Discussion starter · #272 ·
#275 ·
Rides have been mostly nada (although I've gotta get some pics of some more desert spiny's and a couple horse-sized jackrabbits off the camera from last weekend still.) But at least home continues to produce. Kinda lost count, but just to show signs of life, this little fella was out and about last night.

And whileI haven't had an occasion to put it to use since the class, I have to say that I highly recommend Phoenix Herp's rattlesnake relocation class. Tons of fantastic info, great instruction from Cale and Isaiah, and it was nice getting pro hands-on instruction (in air conditioning no less!) in picking up/bucketing/releasing live snakes (first a very active gopher, then a super chill diamondback.) Worth every penny, and the moola goes to help fund the sanctuary and all the work they do. (In case anyone else is ever interested, Linky McLinkface)

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