My personal herp haven

[Russ]

Recently my father purchased a 40 acre piece of land complete with wetlands, oak/pine forest, island, and a grassy field. The week after he bought it, I took my friend, Matt, over to go snake hunting. We didn't find any, but we did see a 4-foot alligator going into the water. This was back in November. Last week, my dad saw a massive eastern indigo, but he wouldn't go near it. Plus the fine for one is mighty huge I hear... So that was the first snake sighting. Today, I was out riding our new Christmas present, a huge 4 wheeler and i found a little bump, where, on a down slope, part of it sharply drops making a little carve in the hill. I decided to jump it, but when I did, I noticed the all too familiar color of a corn snake in the carved out part. I quickly jumped off the ATV and looked for the snake, quickly finding and grabbing it by the tail. I yelled at my step brother to go get a stick, he came back a few times until i basically told him to get a surveying stake, which worked quite well for catching him. After showing my prize off to my dad and grandpa, I let him go by the water. Rode the ATV back over to the same ridge and not five minutes after letting the corn go, I see a black racer within 5 feet of where I had the corn snake just minutes earlier. Completely amazing. This is like a once in a lifetime thing. I doubt that will ever happen again, but it was awesome. Both snakes were very mean, and I managed not to get bit, although the black racer got away after about 20 min of me trying to catch it by going under my ATV. Before that though, it went under my step brother's and he screamed like a little girl. :D lol. Too bad I didn't have a snake hook and bag handy. Anyway, I'm so glad I found the 2 snakes and this is only the start of the awesome herps I am going to find on this property.

[Tom C]

Great story Russ...:)

I am originally from upstate NY..I hate the west coast, but Its where the money is for me now..:(...

I hope to nail a ton of acres back east when my work is done here...:D

[reptiledude2]

wow thats awesome

[arbs&giants]

that's good Russ

[n2retics]

When I use to go out riding my four wheeler I would carry one of those extendable hooks by Midwest and carry a bag under the seat just in case never hurts to be prepared for the unexpected.

[RachelS.]

That is really cool!!! Would be cool to see that indigo again.... :D

[Russ]

Thanks for all the comments. I'll keep everyone posted on what I find at the property. I was there earlier today but only for a few minutes because my father and my step mother insulted my ability to run the 4 wheeler by not turning the screw-thing so the speed would go up (I don't even know why they have those things. what's the fun in not being able to go full speed.). Also my step-mother had the nerve to tell me I was going too fast over the clay bridge connecting to the island. So when the opportunity arose, I went home.
My dad is out there now on his tractor clearing things to make it look "pretty." Personally, I'd prefer him leaving it alone instead of clearing it out, but I can't stop that raging idiot. I guess his instinct to manipulate nature goes along with the fact that he's a home builder. Hopefully he will soon learn the importance of leaving nature alone.

[Lynn]

Nothing like being able to herp in your own back yard.

[Russ]

Tell me about it! I have 7 acres at my mom's and ten acres of pine trees at my dad's, plus that 40 acre property we're moving to. I'm never going to have to ask permission to go on other people's land to look for snakes or illegally trespass on their property again. lol.

[jc22_uk]

Sounds like a really nice location Russ!