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Great Basin Gophersnake Hatchlings

tyflier

tyflier

[Insert Witty Commentary]
Found 5 or 6 Great Basin Gophersnake hatchlings this evening between sunset and moonrise. All of them were very young, probably only a few days to a couple weeks old, and all were out warming themselves on the pavement for what could very well be their first meal…

Anyhow, I got some decent pictures of a couple of them, so here they are!

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Anyhow…it was a really nice night. I took a new Eastern Sierra Herpetology Club member out for his first roadcruise, and we were lucky enough to find several hatchlings. Not bad, if you ask me.

Thanks for taking the time to look!!
 
Gorgeous! I love GB Gophers, they are so awesome. I came across some earlier this summer when my guy and I were out rock hounding. I have pictures somewhere. Anyway, great find on the hatchlings! Awesome pictures, thanks for sharing.
 
Oh, squealing over their cuteness here! That aside, what a great way to show the 'triangle head' threat display.
 
dionythicus said:
Oooh, baby hissies!! I love them. I want to hug them and pet them and call them George.
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Funny you should say that...

The little angry guy, with his head flattened out...I actually straddled him in the road because I saw him too late. I stopped the truck, but didn't want to back up and risk running him over, so I grabbed my weak-baby flashlight to find him...couldn't find him. I looked everywhere, but couldn't see him. Then I heard him hissing at me. I couldn't see him, but I knew he was close because I could hear him hissing at me. I turned around and he was striking at my foot from about 6" away. I never felt a thing, but I heard him hissing up a storm!!

Thanks for the comments, everyone! These little guys and girls always make the night worthwhile!
 
Chris, I would have a VERY hard time not collecting if I ran across the snakes you do! Of course, when reptile folks from other parts of the country have been here, they are impressed with our corns, kings, copperheads and such that I barely give a second glance at. Grass may seem greener on the other side, but snakes out west>snakes out east!
 
Wow, I wish I could find someone out here who wants to go out looking for snakes. My wife doesn't want to, and my brother in law's think that its boring.... I even put an add on craigslist...lol.

Those are some cuties Chris.
 
You don't have to have company to go herping! You can even road cruise at night, and not even get out of the car until you spot something. If I lived in New Mexico, I'd be doing the western equivalent of flippin' tin all the time!
 
elrojo said:
You don't have to have company to go herping! You can even road cruise at night, and not even get out of the car until you spot something. If I lived in New Mexico, I'd be doing the western equivalent of flippin' tin all the time!
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I actually go out to my in-law's feed store all the time and flip tin... I remember doing it as a kid and finding a slue of snakes, but that was when I lived in Louisiana, NM is a different monster all together, and with my luck I will never find a living snake.... :(
 
elrojo said:
Chris, I would have a VERY hard time not collecting if I ran across the snakes you do! Of course, when reptile folks from other parts of the country have been here, they are impressed with our corns, kings, copperheads and such that I barely give a second glance at. Grass may seem greener on the other side, but snakes out west>snakes out east!
Click to expand...

I would trade a day full of Panamints and Gophersnakes for a day full of Copperheads and Timbers, any chance I had. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my local snakes, but there are some simply outstanding eastern snakes...

I guess it is a matter of the grass being greener. What we see all the time loses it's lustre and impact.
 
Outcast said:
I actually go out to my in-law's feed store all the time and flip tin... I remember doing it as a kid and finding a slue of snakes, but that was when I lived in Louisiana, NM is a different monster all together, and with my luck I will never find a living snake.... :(
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New Mexico is desert habitat, for the most part. Cruise back roads after dark, under little or no moonlight. If it's 75*F or below after sunset, cruise paved roads. If it's warmer, cruise dirt roads. You *should* be able to find plenty of snakes.

If you happen to go alone, and I do it when I have to, please be careful. You got some dangerous critters in NM. Getting tagged by an atrox in the middle of nowhere, all alone is not going to be fun...
 
tyflier said:
New Mexico is desert habitat, for the most part. Cruise back roads after dark, under little or no moonlight. If it's 75*F or below after sunset, cruise paved roads. If it's warmer, cruise dirt roads. You *should* be able to find plenty of snakes.

If you happen to go alone, and I do it when I have to, please be careful. You got some dangerous critters in NM. Getting tagged by an atrox in the middle of nowhere, all alone is not going to be fun...
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is why I prefer to take someone with me. Going alone doesn't suit my style. I enjoy sharing the experience.... Much like how I would never go snorkleing alone, when I was stationed at Eglin AFB, Florida.

Btw, are snake bite kits worth it?
 
IMO, no. The only snakebite kit is your car keys. Cut and suck kits are pretty much considered bad medicine these days.
 
I agree with elrojo. All the research I have done indicates that cutting, sucking or applying a tourniquette are all very bad ideas.

Stay calm and get the hospital as soon as safely possible. If possible, call 911 and inform them of where you are, where you are going, and the route you will take. They will usually alert the hospital and any nearby law enforcement, so you don't get pulled over, which can waste an incredible amount of time.

The good news is that very few people actually die from North American rattlesnake bites. Stay calm, get treatment, and you'll most likely be OK.
 
You must spread some Reputation around...

Spot on the money, Chris, as far as the medical advice & info is concerned. I had to learn this a few years ago from the health care worker end!
 
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