Herping in Simi Valley and Moorpark

[cj65]

I have a buddy who is an advanced herp guy. I am but a novice hiker, who enjoys a chance encounter with any snake, rattlers included. My dog has her snake shots, and I generally keep her on a leash, but not always. Anyways, today we found 2 snakes! We pulled off of Easy St. on the flood channel of the Arroyo Simi and flipped over garbage looking for snakes. Under a mattress, within 15 min. We found this rattler. Apparently a female as per my friend. I was within 1 foot of it when it was coiled up sleeping under the mattress. He was going to grab it, but decided not to. My kids, my dog, (although on a leash) was not a good time for him to do it. He had this one calm, and under control. We put her back, full respect for the animal.

The baby gopher snake was the second find, about 45 min. into the trip. It was under a plywood sheet. No bites, nor hiss which they are famous for. The boys were enjoying this one, and wanted to bring it home, but I teach them that they are already in their home.

I learned alot, and I am blessed to have a friend who enjoys on a whim going herpin'. We pulled this together right after work. I even let the boys wait on their homework....

Also caught a nice alligator lizard, and saw many a fence lizard.
The kids and dog had a great time.

 

[ROCK6]

What boy doesn't like looking for snakes, lizards, frogs and salamanders?

Looks like a great time and they learned a lot...that gopher snake is a beauty:thumbup: Thanks for sharing...

ROCK6

 

[WILLIAM.M]

What boy doesn't like looking for snakes, lizards, frogs and salamanders?

Looks like a great time and they learned a lot...that gopher snake is a beauty:thumbup: Thanks for sharing...

ROCK6

Ditto:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[tknife]

That's really cool. I haven't seen a single snake in these parts this year.

 

[dttomcat]

When I lived in MP (I lived in Simi, also for a time), I was on a horse farm and we kept the grain up against an exterior wall of the house just beneath a window. The mice would get into it (until I bought a bunch of metal trash cans w/ lids .... ). The mice attracted the snakes. And the cats who would sit just inside on the sill would go nuts. One day I saw a beautiful rat snake that looked like the one in your pics. Another time, before the containers, I reached the coffee can into the grain and a bird started flappin' and flew out. I about shat myself. Scared the Bejeesus out of me. Anyway, during my five years in the area that was the only snake I saw. A handful of small lizards were the only other reptiles I came across. Never once saw a rattle snake. Nice pics.

 

[tonym]

Great stuff!

I stil enjoy searching for snakes and think I always will.


Thanks for the pics!

 

[cj65]

There are 3 main reasons I like to do things like this.

Fun exercise

Zero cost

Teach my kids how to appreciate and respect nature.

I owe it all to my buddy. If I led the expedition, we probably would not have found any snakes.

I will now make me a hook. I was amazed at how calm he had that rattler in just a few minutes. It was a rush for me, but a little worried. My wife would kill me if our kids got hurt doing something like this. I know there is always a chance, but you can encounter rattlers golfing, so hiking is not much different.

thanks for the comments.

Chris

 

[s7brad]

looks like fun! the only snake I have came across this year was a copperhead that bit my dog in the backyard. against my wifes approval i simply relocated him a couple miles away. Dog was fine, just a bit of swelling on hind leg. thanks for posting, great pics

 

[tek77]

I was taking a walk the other day and I ran into this little fella. He didn't seemed bothered by my presence. Not aggressive at all. Looks like a gopher snake (now I know, thanks to your post).

Here is some info on it:

Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer)
SUMMARY
This gentle and easy-going snake can be found throughout Mojave Desert. It’s pattern is similar to a rattlesnake and is often mistaken as one and unfortunately killed. It may be yellowish or cream colored and have brown or reddish blotches along the back. It is a very large and powerful snake and occasionally reaches 6 feet in length. Females lay up to 15 eggs in loose sand in April/May with young being born at about 8 inches. It lives over much of the desert in rocks, sandy washes and is a skilled climber. Its prey consists of rodents, rabbits and lizards and it kills its prey by constriction. This snake is very gentle and normally easy to handle.

Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer
Family: Colubridae Order: Squamata Class: Reptilia

 

[cj65]

I was taking a walk the other day and I ran into this little fella. He didn't seemed bothered by my presence. Not aggressive at all. Looks like a gopher snake (now I know, thanks to your post).

Here is some info on it:

Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer)
SUMMARY
This gentle and easy-going snake can be found throughout Mojave Desert. It’s pattern is similar to a rattlesnake and is often mistaken as one and unfortunately killed. It may be yellowish or cream colored and have brown or reddish blotches along the back. It is a very large and powerful snake and occasionally reaches 6 feet in length. Females lay up to 15 eggs in loose sand in April/May with young being born at about 8 inches. It lives over much of the desert in rocks, sandy washes and is a skilled climber. Its prey consists of rodents, rabbits and lizards and it kills its prey by constriction. This snake is very gentle and normally easy to handle.

Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer
Family: Colubridae Order: Squamata Class: Reptilia

Way cool. My buddy called it a San Diego Gopher snake, (common names are highly subjective) and he qualified it in regards to they are found in many regions of CA.

I have to laugh at the "gentle" description. The first time I grabbed a 4' plus gopher snake when I was a kid, it hissed, doubled back and struck at me. I let it go, and my older brother got mad at me for not getting it. It was my "White Whale" for that summer. I have had gopher snakes hiss and bite. It adds to the rush, and although a bite may break the skin, it really does not hurt much. Truly they are completely harmless, so gentle is fine. King snakes (at least in my experience, never bite humans) are very gentle, but musk when you pick them up leaving an unpleasant necrotic odor on your hands, but they are so cool, you just have to get over it. I do like to spread good will towards God's creatures such as snakes, because they really do keep rodent populations in check. Some scientists believe that a lack of snakes is in proportion to Lyme's disease occurrances. Rodentia and tick populations are vectors for this disease.

 

[Joezilla]

Great Herping pics! I was going to go to the herptelogical meeting down town, my friend is presenting and all of my other herp buds would be there but I scheduled it during a special camp I ran. October is a great month for hognose.