Some More SE Texas Herping! Lifer!

[DutchHerp]

Hi,

Yesterday I did some herping without a camera. Came across some Nerodia and a dead Texas Rat Snake. It was dead in the water with no visible damage; I collected it and now it's in my freezer. Not sure what I'll do with it yet. Also found some nice cottonmouths in the morning; all in all, a pretty good day.

Today I went out again to a spot most of you SE Texas herpers will know. As far as snakes are concerned, the place seems dried up. In 5 hours of herping, I found four. It's a beautiful place for Americans Alligators though

At 8am I went to a spot where I knew there were copperheads. I'm embarrassed to say that I'd never seen a copperhead before, and even though I always actively look for them, I had yet to find one. **NOTE** I don't drive, so I can't go out to spots where I know I can find them. I only have a few places where I regularly go where copperheads were a possibility /**NOTE**

Anyway, 30 seconds on the trail gives me my first copperhead (and last one of the day...)!

Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix LIFER

In situ



Find it!











Find it again!



Also, a box turtle (someone help me on the species?) on the same trail.



Afterwards we come across a few nice American Alligators (Alligator mississipiensis. According to some people, if you give them a wide range you have SOME CHANCE of not getting attacked.









While hiking a different trail, I spot some Chickadee and Titmouse flying around a tree. Binoculars on there gives me a pretty good sized Texas Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri) chilling about 30ft up in a tree. No photos unfortunately.

Another trail gives us two Broad-Banded Water Snakes (Nerodia fasciata confluens)

First one



This second one gave me a run for my money!



Wait a minute... I don't need that hook!



This guy wiggled a little bit, resulting in me only grabbing his tail tip. When he twisted some more, it broke off! Anyone seen this happen before? I felt really bad about it...

Thanks for looking,
Matt

[mainbutter]

Great pics!

I miss texas All I've seen of interest here in MN was a frog a few days ago, and a couple turtles while fishing.

[Blu Mongoose]

I'm so jealous! There isn't anything like that up here!

Nice finds!

[llovelace]

Nice pics, beautiful copperhead Thanks for sharing.

[daniel1983]

Great copperhead photos and I am jealous of the watersnake photos....I NEVER get good pictures of watersnakes

Looks like an Ornate box turtle(Western box turtle)(terrapene ornata).

Surprised the alligator let you get so close. It must have been enjoying its basking

Ha ha.....the gators around here usually bolt once they realize I am watching.

[DutchHerp]

Great copperhead photos and I am jealous of the watersnake photos....I NEVER get good pictures of watersnakes

Looks like an Ornate box turtle(Western box turtle)(terrapene ornata).

Surprised the alligator let you get so close. It must have been enjoying its basking

Ha ha.....the gators around here usually bolt once they realize I am watching.

That first fasciata went right into the grass when I got closer. I had to chase the second one around before he got tired!

As for the box turtle, a dude on the fieldherpforum ID'd it as a Three-Toed Box Turtle. Not sure, though.

And it's a state park with a LOT of people. They're not very scared of people at all.