Ernie Caldwell Diaries.....

[Cflaguy]

Something you don't see everyday......

Cruising down Pinetree Rd. I spotted a yellow crab crossing the road. Or thats what went through my mind. After a second I knew what I had. He had fallen on the road and couldn't get back up the curb. I took him to a recently active giant hole. I found that day it appears to be abandoned. It will make a good home for the little tike. If you look close at the last pics you'll see something else as well.

 

[Cflaguy]

For the last.....

Look to the left of the blue ribbon.....

 

[SnakeAround]

Is it an egg shell?

 

[Cflaguy]

Yes......

Is it an egg shell?

finger on nose. Not sure of what. I didn't wanna get to close after I saw it. Gophers lay their eggs near the front of the hole. Didn't wanna step on anybody.

 

[Nanci]

You have the best job...

 

[The_Thunderer]

You have the best job...

I'm with Nanci on this one... must be really great to be able to work around these guys!

Sad to see that your work here is at an end...??? Does it mean the end of one of my favorite threads??? Say it isn't so!!!!

BUT, is it the beginning of a new "favorite" thread?

 

[Cflaguy]

Well.....

I'm with Nanci on this one... must be really great to be able to work around these guys!

Sad to see that your work here is at an end...??? Does it mean the end of one of my favorite threads??? Say it isn't so!!!!

BUT, is it the beginning of a new "favorite" thread?

I'm heading to (can't spell this, nobody can) Immaucalee to oversee the builring of an earth dike to restore the original path of the Kississimmee River. Four months. Just above Lake Okechobee. I'll be taking a 30 minute boat rife to and from the site. There are herps there including Burmese Pythons. Of course, many other types of animals as well.

 

[Irish Eyes (Mrs.Z)]

Oh, I'm going to MISS your posts to this thread when you're done! Unless, of course, you're kind enough to keep it going while you're in Immaucallee . This is my favorite of all the threads, here. I look every single day to see if you've posted to it. Don't make me have withdrawls, 'k?

 

[Cflaguy]

New resident.....

in pond 300. Small, only about 3 or 4 feet long......

 

[Cflaguy]

I forgot.....

in the last pic look at the gator... at two o'clock you'll see a softshell.

Cruising the road I ran into this old lady, she had fallen onto the road and couldn't climb the curb.....

 

[Cflaguy]

Last post for today.....

Yesterday was a boring day. I did nadda. I left about ten minutes early. At that ten minutes I get a call. The guys had a rattlesnake crossing the road. About four feet long. On one hand end I'm ticked. All this time and I miss the only E. Diamondback to date and I'll be leaving soon.
But....but...was it a rattler? These guys have miss-identified snakes many times. Earlier in the day they called me in a tizzy. They had a pygmy rattler cornered! Well, when I arrived...and I'll say it first......
WHAT A CUTE HOGGIE!

 

[SnakeAround]

That hoggie has a fabulous pattern going on, and great contrasting colors!

 

[Cflaguy]

He was striking.....

That hoggie has a fabulous pattern going on, and great contrasting colors!

probably his first or second of his life. Guys gave me heck for picking him up w/o a hook. I didn't tell em it wasn't a pygmy until after I picked him up.

 

[Cflaguy]

SHED!

probably his first or second of his life. Guys gave me heck for picking him up w/o a hook. I didn't tell em it wasn't a pygmy until after I picked him up.

first or second shed......

 

[Irish Eyes (Mrs.Z)]

I am loving these pix, but I must admit to finding it distressing to see how many animals (turtles and tortoises) who fall on the road and can't get up the curb to get off of it. What are these guys gonna do when you're not there to rescue them??

 

[Cflaguy]

Well.....

I am loving these pix, but I must admit to finding it distressing to see how many animals (turtles and tortoises) who fall on the road and can't get up the curb to get off of it. What are these guys gonna do when you're not there to rescue them??

I have two skeletons of Mud Turtles on my dashboard.

 

[dogsNdragons]

What a pretty Hoggie!
I helped a Gopher cross the street on Friday. I know we are not supposed to mess with them but I couldn't stand to see it get hit.

 

[Cflaguy]

Looks like we lost a few posts.....

Once again, here is the tweener racer. I love his pose in the bucket. BTW, the guy who brought this snake to me was the guy I got the ticket torn up.

FWC (Florida Wildlife Commission) will give you the business to the point of you believing you're going to jail. They don't want you to mess with Gophers and they use scare tactics. Officer probably had a bad day.

 

[Cflaguy]

Do you remember back in.....

post 149 I mentioned a Blue-Striped Garter eluding me to the creek. I was upset I missed this guy due to what I thought at the time was an odd color variation. Well, I'm even more upset today. I found him first thing this morning DOR. He is unlike any garter I've ever seen. I've not done alot of herping in West Florida and according to my field guides they don't come East of Withlacootchhee Satae Park. But this goes beyond my perception of the Blue Garter. The ones I've seen look like normal Easterns with blue stripes along the sides only. If you wish, check this guy out. And the size as well. By my best estimate, close to 30."

*****Warning Pictures are grahic WARNING********

 

[Cflaguy]

WHOA NELLIE!

Good catch today. I'll tell ya the genes at EC are great. Odd colored snakes and impressive sizes. Remember the 6'4" DOR Coachwhip?
Got the call today to go to North Pinetree. Guys had seen a snake cross the road and head under a pump. I stood on one side, a pipe was stuck underneath the other. This guy came right to me....