JeffreyRichard
07-29-2003, 09:42 AM
I'l like to send out a HUGE thank you to Al for hosting my daughter Elizabeth, my nephew Ben and myself on a FABULOUS snake-hunting day this past Saturday :thumbsup:
For those of you who don't realize that Al isn't just a Discus guy and webmaster extraodinaire ;), he is a biologist who knows his stuff ... he had some great stories about visits to the Everglades, Texas, and other exotic US spots. Turns out we both share a passion for reptiles, so he put together this outting.
Al lead us through an AWESOME state park in Eastern Connecticutt. A beautiful deep lake, a wild beaver pond, and lots of rocky ridges for snakes. Our goal was to find the Black Rat Snake and the venomous Copperhead.
We hiked around for several hours, and found lots of misquitos and horse flies (or did they find us?) ::) We found an interesting minature tree frog, and "discovered" a Loudmouth Red Backed salamander (named for my extremely persistant nephew !!! ;D). But alass, no snakes. Of course, we joked we'd end up finding one next to our cars once we got back from the long hike.
And guess what? Yep, 100 yards from the parking area, in the last rocky ridge around, I decided to take a quick look. And lo and behold, I found a four foot Black Rat Snake ... GORGEOUS!!! ... a real beaut. We held him for a bit, let the kids pick him up (he did bit me once but it didn't even hurt, as far as you all know). We let him go and left satified with, at least my first objective.
Al then treated us to a cookout on his family's campsight with some grilled burgers and 'dogs and we relaxed for a bit before heading back to Rhode Island.
A grand day ... :sun:
Al has some pix I'm sure he'll post.
Thanks AL!!!!
For those of you who don't realize that Al isn't just a Discus guy and webmaster extraodinaire ;), he is a biologist who knows his stuff ... he had some great stories about visits to the Everglades, Texas, and other exotic US spots. Turns out we both share a passion for reptiles, so he put together this outting.
Al lead us through an AWESOME state park in Eastern Connecticutt. A beautiful deep lake, a wild beaver pond, and lots of rocky ridges for snakes. Our goal was to find the Black Rat Snake and the venomous Copperhead.
We hiked around for several hours, and found lots of misquitos and horse flies (or did they find us?) ::) We found an interesting minature tree frog, and "discovered" a Loudmouth Red Backed salamander (named for my extremely persistant nephew !!! ;D). But alass, no snakes. Of course, we joked we'd end up finding one next to our cars once we got back from the long hike.
And guess what? Yep, 100 yards from the parking area, in the last rocky ridge around, I decided to take a quick look. And lo and behold, I found a four foot Black Rat Snake ... GORGEOUS!!! ... a real beaut. We held him for a bit, let the kids pick him up (he did bit me once but it didn't even hurt, as far as you all know). We let him go and left satified with, at least my first objective.
Al then treated us to a cookout on his family's campsight with some grilled burgers and 'dogs and we relaxed for a bit before heading back to Rhode Island.
A grand day ... :sun:
Al has some pix I'm sure he'll post.
Thanks AL!!!!