- Joined
- Dec 29, 2003
- Messages
- 2,355
What an amazing trip!
We saw the first rattler 15 minutes within arriving in Leader, SK.
What an incredible animal - feisty and beautiful, what more could you want?
We were a little concerned that we would have difficulty locating them - we had contacted several of the local herpers but had no response. The conservation officers there, however, are really awesome and helpful. The locals are amazing! Our second snake was actually one that was caught by a local rancher on his property - we found him just as he was leving to go release it! It was so cool to see such a positive attitude about the snakes from the people that work on the land. Very encouraging for the future of the species.
There were several others, a total of 12 including the rancher's find. We also travelled to the grasslands park and were very successful there! It was incredibly cool to find them so far east.
Most have dispersed from the dens now, which is to be expected for this time of year and especially given the early heat this year but they are certainly findable - and what a rush it is when you do!
We were really really lucky - finding den sites is not easy but we will have several to visit this fall when they return!
It was also cool to see the western widow, Latrodectus hesperus making use of the den sites after the rattlers had vacated;
Lelle will post some more tomorrow, as will I - we just returned a few hours ago after about 5000 kilometers of driving in 7 days!
Oh - and finally after 18 long years of searching... I saw a badger!!! This was not just any sighting. This was observing it from a few meters away for about 20 minutes. Digging its den, checking us out, shaking off the dirt from its coat and wandering around. It was incredible - I can hardly explain how excited I was. At least now I have proof that they really *do* exist.
Next time... a cougar.
We saw the first rattler 15 minutes within arriving in Leader, SK.
What an incredible animal - feisty and beautiful, what more could you want?
We were a little concerned that we would have difficulty locating them - we had contacted several of the local herpers but had no response. The conservation officers there, however, are really awesome and helpful. The locals are amazing! Our second snake was actually one that was caught by a local rancher on his property - we found him just as he was leving to go release it! It was so cool to see such a positive attitude about the snakes from the people that work on the land. Very encouraging for the future of the species.
There were several others, a total of 12 including the rancher's find. We also travelled to the grasslands park and were very successful there! It was incredibly cool to find them so far east.
Most have dispersed from the dens now, which is to be expected for this time of year and especially given the early heat this year but they are certainly findable - and what a rush it is when you do!
We were really really lucky - finding den sites is not easy but we will have several to visit this fall when they return!
It was also cool to see the western widow, Latrodectus hesperus making use of the den sites after the rattlers had vacated;
Lelle will post some more tomorrow, as will I - we just returned a few hours ago after about 5000 kilometers of driving in 7 days!
Oh - and finally after 18 long years of searching... I saw a badger!!! This was not just any sighting. This was observing it from a few meters away for about 20 minutes. Digging its den, checking us out, shaking off the dirt from its coat and wandering around. It was incredible - I can hardly explain how excited I was. At least now I have proof that they really *do* exist.
Next time... a cougar.
